CLEP language tests: how does computer work? (Spanish, etc)

[burbuja0512]

Do you have access to the specific feedback forum? There are some really good suggestions and I also included my write-up there as well. Since it's been almost a year since I took it, I don't recall everything, but I do remember the need for scratch paper.

You'll hear very long (at least they feel like it at the time) listening portions. Each monologue or dialogue will seem to contain long lists of facts that there is no way you would likely remember even in English, so TAKE NOTES. For example, you'll hear a list of items such as "Maria likes to eat apples, oranges, mangoes, bananas, and pears." One of the questions might ask you which fruits she likes. This is tough to remember if the dialogue is 3 minutes long and full of other facts, but if you've been furiously jotting down notes.

Also, literally NONE of my listening portion was spoken with Mexican accents. This can be tricky if you've practiced your Spanish with your Mexican-American friends or have been watching Mexican TV to practice. Don't sweat it, but you may want to check on youtube to find something simple with a Spanish, Central American, and South American accent. None of the accents are obnoxious such as an overly pronounced lisp on the Spanish accent (for example the way that people from Spain will say corathon instead of corazon) but they do sound different than what you may be used to.

Other than that, just relax and don't worry. You will have time to complete the test and your comprehension will be better if you're not nervous. Suerte!