Failed English Comp & A&I Lit, Intro to IT & Computers

[Mckeen]

OK, I need some serious advice here. I'm in my early 40's and never completed my college degree and now I am a senior with only 36 electives left and I'm done. I'm not the smartest kid on the block but I apply myself and have a 4.0 GPA.

I would have to take 6 more courses to get my degree and that would mean 6 more months in school and honestly I'm fried with working full-time,a family and going to school full time. So I bought the Collegeboard study book and signed up here on IC. I prepared for the A&I Lit, English Comp and Intro to IT Computers with the stated material and FAILED all three tests miserably. I knew 80-90% of the material in the flash cards and book and felt very prepared, I dont get it!!!!!

I'm beyond frustrated. In addition I do not feel the material I studied actually prepared me for the material on the test. It was like I was expected to be a subject matter expert.

Maybe I'm just 20 years to far removed from this process to make it work for a 40 year old brain.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I just dont know what to do from here other than take 6 more classes and grunt though it.

Thanks

[malcs]

Age may make it harder, but I am 52 and finished 10 mostly upper level courses this month. As you get older you need to use different techniqes. Take a bit of time and try to figure out what is not working for you. For me the IC cards get me half the way there, but I need other information. After all of your testing you may just have hit a few tests that did not match the study material.

Think about the following:
1) Try to analyze your test taking technique. Are you able to get the answers down to the two best choices? Can you rule out the invalid answers without looking at the question? Do you go back and mess with answers after you get to the end ?(always a bad idea). I have gotten real good at this, and I used to be terrible!
2) Use the companion web sites for the book, and answer ALL of the end of chapter questions.
3) On the same site read the chapter summaries and vocabulary lists.
It seems like most of these tests follow the recommended textbook. Information in other books is usually missing the items you need for the test.
4) Maybe go back and take an easy test as a confidence builder.


Hang in there, you will get it done!

[tvelasquez]

I was in the same situation last November; I failed Biology, Natural Science and Technical Writing, yes Technical Writing, the one that everyone is saying it’s so easy. It’s only easy if you study and prepare for it and like you I’m in my 40’s, studying and memorizing is not like it was in my 20’s so when they say “it’s easy” or “common sense” I take it with a grain of salt. I also use additional studying sources, like REA and AP.

I needed 31 credits to finish and I was in a rush to complete my degree and found that I was too much in a rush that I put myself father behind, by failing those exams. I got so depress and I mean really depress (I want go into details but you get the picture).

Here is what I did: I TOOK A BREAK (4 months)! And started working out doing P90X and finally two weeks ago (March) I started studying for Environment and Humanities DSST Exam, took the test last Friday and passed with a 58. Now I feel I’m back on track and currently preparing for ECE Ethics and theory. I’m more focus and not so much in a rush, but taking my time because I know I will get there! and so will you!

[cookderosa]

OK, I need some serious advice here. I'm in my early 40's and never completed my college degree and now I am a senior with only 36 electives left and I'm done. I'm not the smartest kid on the block but I apply myself and have a 4.0 GPA.

I would have to take 6 more courses to get my degree and that would mean 6 more months in school and honestly I'm fried with working full-time,a family and going to school full time. So I bought the Collegeboard study book and signed up here on IC. I prepared for the A&I Lit, English Comp and Intro to IT Computers with the stated material and FAILED all three tests miserably. I knew 80-90% of the material in the flash cards and book and felt very prepared, I dont get it!!!!!

I'm beyond frustrated. In addition I do not feel the material I studied actually prepared me for the material on the test. It was like I was expected to be a subject matter expert.

Maybe I'm just 20 years to far removed from this process to make it work for a 40 year old brain.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I just dont know what to do from here other than take 6 more classes and grunt though it.

Thanks

>>

Awwww. I'm sorry to hear you are off to a rocky start. Well, like the others suggested- studying for three tests at a time is probably too much. A few times I did 2, and both times I felt like my brain was going to explode. LOL I always did best preparing for 1 test at a time.

Another suggestion, use practice tests to help gage your success. You can use the one in your Official CLEP book (but that only works once!) and you can get free exam prep books from your library. REA is my favorite- they always include at least 3 exams in each book. You can also use any of the CLEP prep books- there are many- plus get them from various years too. You can probably pull together at least 10 practice tests without paying anything if you hit a few libraries.

Last suggestion, learn to read the answers as hints about additional study needs. For example, lets use this made up question:

Which of the following is a secondary color?
A. red
B. orange
C. blue
D. yellow
E. black

From this study question, I need to know the following:
What are "secondary" colors? What rules include/exclude colors this group?
What other classifications of colors are there?
What are "primary" colors? What rules include/exclude colors in this group?
What are black and white considered?
Do I have a list classifying each of the above colors?
Are there several schools of thought- or an industry consensus on how these colors should be ranked?
Who invented this system?
Who is the primary user of color classifications?
Can I pick out the color if I am shown a picture of it?

***

Ok, so that's how I study. It may seem a little much- and I don't START that way, but start with the basics- as you study deeper, start asking questions about the material. There is no teacher to prompt you to study harder- and no required homework- so you have to be your hardest critic. If you read the above question and only memorize "orange" your sunk.

So, I know you can do it- you just need to set yourself up for success.
1 test + Lots of practice tests + Understanding all the questions and all the answers= success

[Lindagerr]

I agree with what cookderosa said above, the other thing I would suggest is check your library or get someone to give you a code for Peterson practice test. I am 55 years old and I have been able to pass these test. You need to slow down and just study for 0ne exam at a time. Once you think you are ready take all the practice test you can find. Then go take that exam and you should be fine.

You say you took 3 or 4 exams did you take them all at once and what did you get? If you got a 49 and needed a 50 maybe what you need are just some test taking practice. Did you answer every question whether you knew the answer or not? Did you go through and answer the questions you knew first? Did you not go back and second guess yourself? All of these things can make a difference.

Good Luck

[MadMax396]

Its not over. Here are some tips I can provide. I am not an expert test taker or anything. however I have taken 6 200 question exams. The CCIE candidacy CCNA/CCDA A+ etc.

If instantcert has 60 cards in one area and 30 in the other area. You may do better than you would to know 100% of the cards in the 60 question area and 80% in the 30. Just I have noticed that the areas with a higher percentage of questions according to the test objectives are mapped the same way at instantcert. This is good to because it reminds you of what are you might see more questions in. This is common with standardized exams and I think instant cert gives you a great chance to pass.

Also dont just know the cards. Recognize the concepts and whether or not you feel comfortable. Feel free to use Finish College fast or some other thing to supplement. I went through the flash cards for college math and the first thing the cards taught me was that I was going to need a tutor. So I got one at yourteacher.com And it helped. They helped me with the computation. But instantcert info was invaluable when it came to logic.

Finally if I can offer anything else. Answers usually have only 2 or three possibilities out of 4 or 5. Th other answers are actually not distractors. Or if they do distract you you font know enough of the material. So, if you can spend little time on practice tests getting questions wrong and more time reviewing explanations. When I use instant cert I get all of the questions wrong because I am not trying to remember the word they chose, but the concept in the explanation. With all that don't give up success is right around the corner and use the exam feedback it will help you focus.

All the best

[namwen]

I feel for you. It can be pretty heart breaking when that happens. When I started my journey 4-5 years ago I failed my first two CLEPS and then became very gun shy. I shifted my goal and finished my degree at Cal Coast. Now I am back doing CLEPS to finish what I started in the first place.

I would recommend finding one of the easiest exams and going with those to build your confidence. Once you get into the swing of things you will be fine. Our brains are like muscles that need to get back into shape.

Also, do not allow yourself to become defeated. It's like not riding a horse again after getting bucked. If nothing else I would recommend passing at least a few CLEPS just to get the monkey off of your back.

That's just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth.

Good luck to you. I'm cheering for you.

[lmech]

YOU CAN DO IT. SIMPLE, 2 CENTS OF ADVICE.

1 cent: ONLY study for ONE test at a time.

2 cents: Research your test on the specific feedback section. It speaks volumes.

You will be fine. Push on, only 6 tests to go..

[Scholar Interrupted]

First, listen to all the wise people who have already responded. They know their stuff!

Second, use something other than InstantCert to study. It's always great as a supplement to a well-chosen book, and sometimes it's enough on its own, but it's better to be a bit over-prepared than under-prepared. Also, when you use IC, it's imperative to not just memorize the flashcard answers; you really have to read the explanations and digest them every time you go through, even when you already know what goes in the blanks. And if you find yourself still mentally "reaching" to grasp something in the IC cards, look up the concept in Wikipedia or just Google it.

Third, unless you came very close with A&I Lit (like 45 or higher), don't bother with it again. Many of us don't believe it's possible to prepare for that test; either you can interpret navel-gazing BS or you can't. (IMHO, they shouldn't be selling books that purport to quickly prepare you for it.) And plenty of very smart people can't, so you're in fine company there. If you need an English credit, I think I would first consider English Comp., or possibly Am. Lit.

Fourth -- and most important -- don't get discouraged now! You're in the home stretch and have worked way too hard. If you've come within 36 hours of the degree, then there is no doubt you can do this. Just slow down and take one test at a time.

[malcs]

For each subject I create a rambling notes file. I copy and paste from each item that I don't get right in InstantCert and other sources. For the next week or so I read through the list, and check off the ones that I know.

My notes files can end up being 25 pages long!

I wish it was still the good old days like when I went to grade school. We used to throw our papers out the bus window the whole way home on the last day of school. I wish I could still celebrate like that on the way home from the tests .