My Degree Plan @ TESC and Progress

[Lady Grace of Pemberley]

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Principles of Public Speaking DSST
Score: 67/pass on speech

The multiple-choice part of this exam was not hard at all -- mostly common sense with a few easy-to-remember definitions sprinkled in. The speech part was kind of difficult for me. I got a bit nervous when the clock was ticking down and I got a topic I had not prepared for at all. I studied for this test for about 3-4 days. On a scale of 1-10, this test is probably a 6.5, mostly due to the speech. I used the following study materials:


~The Official DSST Principles of Public Speaking Fact Sheet. http://getcollegecredit.com/images/uploa...080509.pdf

~Peterson's Free Practice Tests. DANTES Prep

~The Wise Owl Guide To... Dantes Subject Standardized Test (DSST) Principles of Public Speaking. This was my main study resource. Although it is not very long at all, it explains everything you need to know.

For the speech, I made up statistics, told a short story, and spoke slowly (which I found out is quite difficult to do when stressed!! ). The speech outlines in the Specific Feedback section were very helpful, too.

**Tips for the speech**

Sample speech topics (part of my study, I found 4 arguments for each of these points and then made outlines/speeches for about 6 or 7 of these topics. I also practiced coming up with arguments/outlines for some of the topics without any prior research) :

~Should drug testing be allowed in the workplace?
~Should healthcare be subsidized by the government?
~Should high school students have to do community service in order to graduate?
~Should term limits be imposed for members of the house or senate?
~Should women be in combat?
~Should guns be controlled by the government?
~Should gay marriage be legal in your state?
~Should the government possess eminent domain?
~Should college athletes be paid?
~Should uniforms be necessary in school?
~Should drug testing be required in schools?
~Is an aging population harmful to the U.S?
~Is our quality of education diminishing?
~Should our immigration policy be stricter?
~Should gambling be lawful in each state?
~Do schools have the right to search students’ lockers?
~Is physical force a justifiable method of punishing children?
~Is it morally acceptable to experiment on non-human animals to develop products and medicines that benefit human beings?
~Should continued office for public officials be dependent on (successfully) taking a drug test?
~Should the minimum driving age be raised to 18?
~Can terrorism ever be justified?
~Are zoos good for animal conservation?
~Is love more powerful than hate?
~Is human cloning moral?
~Some people believe that all states should be allowed to pass laws requiring the death penalty for certain crimes. Others feel that the death penalty is wrong and should be abolished. State your opinion.
~Should graduating high school students be required to give government/military service?
~Should colleges consider race when accepting applicants?
~Should the drinking age be lowered to 18?
~Should abortion be illegal?
~Should social security be privatized?
~Should schools be allowed to teach creationism alongside evolution as part of their science curriculum?
~Should abortions be paid for by the government?
~Does television have a negative influence on society/children?
~Are beauty contests harmful?
~Is nuclear power safe/viable power option?
~Should spaying/neutering pets should be a legal requirement or the choice of the pet owner?

Audience examples:
~A co-ed college auditorium
~A retirement home
~A political convention
~A room of teachers
~A group of political leaders
~A room of high school seniors
~A men's sports team
~Members of the military
~A college public speaking class consisted of males/females ages 18-30

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Introduction to Statistics ALEKS
Score: 70

I did not originally intend to take this class; I began to prepare for the Statistics DSST using the Complete Idiot's Guide to Statistics. Less than a week into my study time, I decided that I didn't want to take the DSST, and switched over to the ALEKS. I think I got a 26% on my initial assessment.

I made the mistake of applying to ACE for credit once my pie chart showed 70% completion. I didn't know that I had to get 70% on an assessment. Frustrating, but it only took me another day or so to complete the course. All in all, it took me a week to finish the whole ALEKS course.

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Astronomy DSST
Score: 72

I love astronomy, so I really enjoyed this test. I studied for less than a week, and on a scale from 1-10 of difficulty, this exam was probably a 5. In order to study for it, I used:

~The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy. This book provided the information in a very interesting way, but went into more depth than I found to be necessary for this exam.
~Official Fact Sheet. http://www.getcollegecredit.com/images/u...tronomy.pd
~The Free Clep Prep practice test. I found it to be pretty accurate. Free Clep Prep
~InstantCert.
~A great study guide from the Specific Feedback section.

One thing that I found I was a bit shaky on was how one astronomer's theories/observations affected another's work.

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Natural Sciences CLEP
Score: 62

I passed this CLEP after just over a week of studying. On a scale of 1-10 in difficulty, this was ~7, and it would have been easier if I had a taken a chemistry class in highschool. The physics was very basic, and I found that I should have studied a bit more geology.

My science background is:
~Highschool biology
~Interest in Creation science
~Environment and Humanity DSST
~Astronomy DSST
~Biology CLEP (a HUGE help to me on this test!!)

In order to study I used Free Clep Prep's study guide, the REA guide for Natural Sciences, referencing the highschool "Exploring Creation with Chemistry" textbook by Wile, Peterson's free practice tests, the Official CLEP Study Guide practice tests, KHAN ACADEMY!!!!!!, this site about cellular respiration, and this video:

YouTube

For an additional practice test, the following are mini-test that could be mashed together and randomized to create another practice test:

1. http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalSer...-sheet.pdf
2. CLEP Natural Science Free Test Practice Questions
3.CLEP Exam Practice Tests - Free Sample Practice Test Natural Sciences CLEP Questions
4. CLEP Natural Science Exam Practice Questions
5. 4Tests.com - Free, Practice CLEP - Natural Sciences Exam
6. Rader's PHYSICS 4 KIDS.COM The short physics articles on this site were good, in addition to their brief quizzes.

I would also recommend going over this page; there were a few questions on this. List of diseases caused by insects - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My practice test scores were:
1st REA: 65 scaled
Official CLEP Study Guide: 68% (a TON of questions similar to the real thing! Very accurate.)
Peterson's: 48% I think (much harder than the real thing! Do not freak out when you see this test!!!)

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College Composition CLEP
Score: 62

I studied for this exam for ~4 days and, on a scale of 1-10 in difficulty, this particular test would be a 5 or so. In order to study for this CLEP, I used the following materials:

1. Official Fact Sheet. http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalSer..._sheet.pdf
2. Peterson's free practice tests. CLEP Prep
3. I reviewed a few parts of the REA guide.
4. Cracking the CLEP by Princeton Review.

My practice test scores were:
1st Peterson's pt: 78%
2nd Peterson's pt: 68%
3rd Peterson's pt: 88%

Random thoughts on the test:
Although I was a bit concerned about memorizing all the differences in the different methods of citation, but I don't remember any multiple-choice questions asking which style of citation was being used. The time for the multiple choice part went by so quickly! The Peterson's practice tests were extremely accurate to the actual exam. The topic for my second essay (the essay requiring citation) was the exact same topic as the one for my Public Speaking DSST speech, which made me feel much better about that essay!! Preparing for that DSST definitely helped me for this test.