Which is better: InstantCert - or - REA?

[cobrajet]

I have been using REA but it seems to take forever. Is InstantCert better??

[ShotoJuku]

[COLOR="Navy"]IC of course is second to none while REA is also an excellent study resource.

As for faster, "Slow and Steady Wins The Race." Whether you use IC, REA, Petersons, Idiot's Guide, etc., one can only study (absorb) information at their own particular rate of speed. So in the end, it isn't about speed as much as it is about time.[/COLOR]

[Maniac Craniac]

IC of course is second to none while REA is also an excellent study resource.

Of course a moderator would say that, and I know that Shoto 100% believes that, but I have to disagree wholeheartedly. Textbooks are the best study resource because it is from textbooks that the material for the exams are produced. IC is good for review- it will help you remember names and definitions, but in my experience, but it doesn't teach you the framework of your course like a textbook would. I tried using IC for a bit and I found that it helped me get a few questions right on practice exams, but I never really knew WHY they were right, only that InstantCert said it was. That's not what I call "learning." Consider IC to be one of what should be many tools use to help you along. If you study well, then go over the flashcards for review, you will not only pass, you will destroy the test and embarrass its creators .

REA is good for both teaching and review- but it seems to be hit or miss depending on which test you are using it for. I found the practice exams for the Spanish test to be tremendously more difficult than the ones on the real exam, and the concepts to be much more advanced. After using REA, the only reason I didn't get a perfect score is because I didn't realize you could take notes during the listening portion banghead

As for faster, "Slow and Steady Wins The Race." Whether you use IC, REA, Petersons, Idiot's Guide, etc., one can only study (absorb) information at their own particular rate of speed. So in the end, it isn't about speed as much as it is about time.[/COLOR][/B]

Quote of the year! I'm going to print this and hang it on my wall. Achieving your learning outcomes are more important than how long it takes to learn them. Remember, that for each exam, you are supposed to learn as much as you would in a full semester class.

[ShotoJuku]

[COLOR="Navy"]I'm glad you liked my Tortoise Vs. the Hare analogy and have included some others below. Trust me here when I say that each little tidbit and morsel of advice has proven their individual value and collective worth time-and-time again. I'm hoping to see some of them in a fortune cookie one day too!

I submit that my high level of endorsement of IC stems from my educational successes and not as being a (the) moderator here in the forums. Aside from that, I also support many-many others study sources as listed below too.

To that end let me submit yet another bit of Shoto-Advice:[/COLOR] "The Proof Is In The Pudding!" :iagree:

[SIZE="2"]

Shoto-Advice:
[SIZE="3"]"[/SIZE]EC[SIZE="3"]"[/SIZE]
"CCU"
"Prayer"
"A Pass is a Pass"
"Slow and Steady - Wins the Race"
[B][I]“Sometimes The Easy Way Is Not Always The Best Way”
"Passing a Petersons = Conquering a CLEP -or- Defeating a DSST"
"The 5 R's of Study: Repetition - Re-Enforces - Recognition - Recall - Retention"[/B][/I]
"Always be Ready to Release Your Mind & Incorporate the Advice of Others into Your Plans."
"Studying is much like Boiling Water, if it is not Heated Constantly it will Once Again Become Cold Water."

Other Sources of CLEP & DSST Study Material
REA Books, Comex Books, Pass Your Class Guides, Standard Deviants DVD's, Petersons Practice Exams, [COLOR="Gold"]Dummies Books, Idiot's Guides [/COLOR]. [/SIZE]

[L_Hancock]

Why not do the best of both worlds? I just use Instant Cert and whatever text book I can get my hands on pertaining to the test from the library. Also, check out this:

CLEP suggested book list: CLEP Study Guides & Book Reference
DSST suggested book list: DSST Dantes Study Guides Reference Material

[cobrajet]

I have only taken two CLEPs and I am hardly an authorty but I have always looked up the course at my college book store (most have online searches for necessary books by course) and bought a used book if available.

Used books are great for a few reasons.
1) They are cheaper than new books
2) They are already highlighted!!
3) When you are done you can sell them back to the same book store

In addition to the necessary text book I also buy the REA book with the practice tests. Everyone is different I guess. I don't think it matters which books you study, as long as you study (hard!). I was just curious to learn what people were having the best luck with.

[Maniac Craniac]

I have only taken two CLEPs and I am hardly an authorty but I have always looked up the course at my college book store (most have online searches for necessary books by course) and bought a used book if available.

Used books are great for a few reasons.
1) They are cheaper than new books
2) They are already highlighted!!
3) When you are done you can sell them back to the same book store

In addition to the necessary text book I also buy the REA book with the practice tests. Everyone is different I guess. I don't think it matters which books you study, as long as you study (hard!). I was just curious to learn what people were having the best luck with.

I just use the library and get whatever I can find. Since you can't divide by zero, I couldn't give you a cost-benefit analysis

[Maniac Craniac]

[COLOR="Navy"]I'm glad you liked my Tortoise Vs. the Hare analogy and have included some others below. Trust me here when I say that each little tidbit and morsel of advice has proven their individual value and collective worth time-and-time again. I'm hoping to see some of them in a fortune cookie one day too!

I submit that my high level of endorsement of IC stems from my educational successes and not as being a (the) moderator here in the forums. Aside from that, I also support many-many others study sources as listed below too.

To that end let me submit yet another bit of Shoto-Advice:[/COLOR] "The Proof Is In The Pudding!" :iagree:

Here are a few others:

There's no such thing as a waste pitch. (borrowed from baseball)
Act the role that you want to have.
Set for yourself, not limits, but goals.
"He who watches the wind will not sow any seed; and he who watches the clouds will not reap." (Ecc 11:4)

[Maniac Craniac]

[COLOR="Navy"]I submit that my high level of endorsement of IC stems from my educational successes and not as being a (the) moderator here in the forums.

RIGHT! I'm sorry, I think I may have given the impression that I was accusing you of bias. NO!!!! I was saying the exact opposite, not that you endorse IC because you are a moderator, rather that you are a moderator because you endorse IC.

[studygoddess]

I have used only IC, this forum, and the peterson's practice tests to study. I have passed several CLEP and 6 DSSTs. I did take the CLEP American Literature and used the Idiots Guide because there were not any IC flashcards. I personally could not use a text book. I can't read it. It is too much information. I also began using IC because I did not want to read text books.