CLEP Calculus

[BillyTheKid]

I'm looking into taking the CLEP calc test, but I had a question about where to start. I'm definitely going to pick up the REA study guide, but do I need other texts as well? Is the REA guide meant to take you from square one to being ready to take the test? Or do I need another text if I have no real prior knowledge of Calculus?

[KayV]

Billy, don't forget you can also take Calculus I through Saylor now. It's a good source for learning, even if you decide to do the CLEP test instead. Good luck!

[UptonSinclair]

I am working on Straighterline Calculus at the moment which uses Thinkwell videos. The videos do a great job of explaining things in an accessible manner. You can purchase the videos on their website.

[PonyGirl93]

I'm trying to decide whether to take CLEP Calculus.

My school requires a 69 for credit, which is making me slightly, maybe just a tiny bit terrified.

So far, I have Precalculus Demystified & have reserved so many Calculus books from the library that I don't even remember what they all were.

I have taken Algebra in-class, but not Trig, so I need to do some serious Trig prep as well.

Any thoughts?

[bluebooger]

better than khan academy
PatrickJMT calculus

PatrickJMT trigonometry

[bricabrac]

Here's a 2 month free trial link for homeschoolers. You will need your parents name and an email. Fill in the students name and it takes a few days to be sent the access code. Request Free Trial

Then use precalc and prep for calc courses to help prepare for your exam.

ALEKS Course Products: PreCalculus
ALEKS Course Products: Prep for Calculus

[BGSU_Alum_86]

PonyGirl93, I am curious. What school is requiring such a high passing score? I have heard of requiring a 55 or maybe a 60, but 69?

[PonyGirl93]

PonyGirl93, I am curious. What school is requiring such a high passing score? I have heard of requiring a 55 or maybe a 60, but 69?

Community college, go figure. They hate CLEP in general.

[feature4]

Bumping this forum.

Should using REA calculus and Thinkwell calculus be enough? I've taken lots of upper-division science and engineering classes - I'm just paranoid about this class.

[adavis84]

Bumping an old thread (rather than start a new one) because it helped me pass:

Took this today and got a 75. Even though I already did SL's Calc I last summer, my plans have changed and I now need a more portable Calc I credit than SL. Prior to SL, I completed 100% of the Khan Academy Differential Calculus course, and 50% of the Integral Calculus course. The KA preparation got me a rather effortless "pass" at SL (76%, good enough but not great).

After reading this thread, I decided to pony-up for the REA practice tests. I wanted to chime in on the thread to reinforce how good the REA practice tests are. My initial assessment was a 48 (ouch), exam 1: 54 and exam 2: 65. I also took the sample exam in the official CLEP Test Information Guide (2012-2013). Using their table for score conversion, I scored a 73 on that.

The REA practice tests are harder than the actual CLEP (in my experience) in that the REA is made up almost entirely of the hardest style of questions you'll see on the CLEP. There were a bunch of simple, straight-forward derivative and integral questions on the CLEP and nearly zero on the REA. The REA is mostly word problems and conceptual questions. These were an EXCELLENT practice tool.

I also used the REA book (PDF version) because it packages the concepts exactly the way they are presented on the CLEP. Thinkwell, Khan Academy, Mooculus, etc, are all GREAT tools, but none of them use the same language as the CLEP. The REA book does that very well. However, the REA book has an alarming number of typos in it that require caution when reading. There was more than one time I thought I was doing something wrong before I verified that it was the book not me.

To anyone else prepping for this:
Your best friends are the REA book, REA tests, Thinkwell, Khan Academy, and this thread. Good luck!