How long are your study sessions on average?

[WendyR]

I'm curious to know how long most of you study for at one sitting. I see a lot of "I studied for a week and passed" and I'm wondering what that equates to timewise.

Thanks!

[Chuckers]

Usually 1-2 hours a day for about 2 weeks, but it depends on how much prior knowledge I had on the subject.

[larry7crys]

Depends on when I'm taking the test. If it's a week from today, then 2 hours until the night before the exam, which becomes a cramming session. Otherwise, I'm known to pull all nighters.

[johnysc430]

I usually spend about 8-20 hours per exam. I usually go through IC once and If I don't feel comfortable I'll do it twice. Honestly, I feel I can get by, studying like this with all exams except for ECE ones and tough math exams. I don't think I have the mental capacity to study anything for 45 hours. I usually lose interest very quick.

[cinderly]

I don't think I have the mental capacity to study anything for 45 hours. I usually lose interest very quick.

It's actually not capacity so much as lack of it - I don't memorize things well, so to be able to recall, I have to put in a good chunk of time prior to testing. I've tried the plug-and-chug method in the past and it doesn't work for me. (Sustaining interest isn't always easy, but what I lack in RAM, I make up for in pitbull-like determination. I've out-stubborned a two-year-old.)

I wish it did - I'm insanely jealous of those folks who can retain information after going over it once or twice. My memory is either not trained or not wired to work that way. As in so many other things, effective test prep comes down to knowing what works for you.

[PatsGirl1]

It depends on the subject- usually I put in anywhere from 15-20 hours per subject, but I only keep loose track of time put in. If I know it already, it’s more like 10-ish hours. For things like Astronomy or Sciences (my sort-of weaknesses) I’m probably looking at more like 30-ish hours, but after awhile, you reach diminishing returns where it’s just too much cramming and nothing new is sinking in so you may as well take the test.

[ShotoJuku]

Three weeks on an average of 2 hours per day (or around 45 hours total) including flashcards, reading material, and taking practice exams.

[Basket Weaver]

I set goals of two sections per day until I knew all of the material 100 percent; this normally took me 3-4 hours...any longer than that I burned out. Using this method I was able to knock out a test every 7-10 days max. When the IC sections were longer than 40 questions, I split them down the middle and treated them as separate sections.

Trying to fit this into your schedule is difficult but it can be done. Instead of sacrificing a lot of family time, I gave up personal things like games/Internet and I threw away the TV (Major waste of time!). It will all be worth it in the end and you will not have missed anything. Lee

[Gary]

Thank you all for posting the truth. Someone tried to tell a 49 yr old father of two he could get approx 90 credits in 6 months. An outstanding feat, even w/taking Cleps/DSST's. As someone posted on here before, take no test for granted. At that age you have enough problems trying to focus on life let alone schoolwork. I'm sure it's been done by others, but it is a monumental task if you ask me. My two cents worth. FREE OF CHARGE!

[gcalvin]

Hi Gary,

I'm pretty sure I'm your first "someone" -- I told drandalray in this post that he could earn 82 credits in six months. I still stand by that, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Anybody trying to earn three years' worth of college credit in six months should understand that it's a major undertaking, and it's not something you can accomplish in your "spare time" -- you have to make it a very high priority to have any chance of success.

I'm not far from 49 myself (I just turned 47 last Tuesday), but I'm not married and I don't have children, and I cut way back on my work schedule while I was doing my 120 credits in 60 days blitzkrieg. Still, I hope that if I were married, and my spouse wanted to attempt a similar feat, I'd give her all the backing I could, and run interference for her on the household responsibilities (and I'd collect some payback at the end of it all ). If the kids are old enough, I think they can be called upon to sacrifice a bit for the cause too. I remember helping my mom with her math homework and pitching in on laundry, shopping, cooking, etc. while she was going to nursing school.

I think if you're on an accelerated schedule to earn a degree, and doing the bulk of it with CLEP and DSST exams, you're already meeting the family more than halfway. You're kind of saying "I know this will disrupt our lives, but I'm trying my best to keep the disruption as short as I can, and the result will benefit all of us." That being the case, I think it's more than fair to ask the family to pitch in.

-Gary-