05-04-2010, 11:33 PM
I've been a huge slacker in posting feedback for the subject test and am just now getting back to this thread! I've been speed cramming tests, so I'm at the point where theoretically, I could graduate if I got a super good score. I know I won't but, that just makes the waiting that much more painful! :ack:
I have some thoughts for anyone considering a subject test (lit specifically) in the future, but first some quick background:
Although I am an avid reader, I had not any more experience with the classics than the average person and had never taken any Literature classes. I took one of the old tests before I started studying to see where I was and get a gauge of the difficulty. I score a 5%. Unfortunately, I was so stupid I still didn't understand how far I had to go. It was one of those cases where you don't realize how much you don't know until you start learning a little, if that make sense.
I studying for 3 months, while working and taking other tests. I took 4 more practice exams after that 5% scoring 33%, 52%, 66%, and 75%. The last came a week before the test date. On the actual exam, I feel like I had the knowledge to do as good or better than the last score, but I freaked out and badly mismanaged my time. I fear I will have done a whole lotta work for very little credit, but more on that later.
I attempted the lit gre mainly in hopes of gaining a large amount of credits in a short amount of time. I consider it a failure in that sense- particularly for someone so green to the subject. I think I could have taken 10 other tests with better odds of garnering 30 credits in less time with less stress. The GRE subject tests are a lot of things, but a way to increase your pace, they are not. They can be, however, a definite cost savings. Just gotta do well enough to pull out some upper level credit! I cannot stress enough how important it is to understand what you getting yourself in for and allow plenty of time to prepare.
That being said, it I had it all over to do again, I would. Even if I end up getting little to no credit for it. I cannot believe how many literary references I've been missing my whole life. It's made my every day reading so much richer. If you are one of those people that genuinely like to learn, it will be a very rewarding experience no matter what happens. So I feel a bit like I did the right thing for the wrong reason. I would have been in a better mental position day of test if I didn't feel like I had put myself in a do or die credit situation and enjoyed the process a bit more. So go for it! But do it because you want to get credit for something you love already or are really excited about learning about, not because it sounds like a short cut.
The single biggest piece of advice I have for this particular subject test is to practice like crazy. Take as many of the old exams as you can. Figure out a strategy for dealing with time and pacing and stick with it. I have to agree with Weaintgotnobadges about thinking that the three pass strategy that some of the books recommend is nuts. But whatever you do, be consistent and don't try any last minute changes like some idiots I know.
So the ETS line tells me that my scores aren't available yet and I should wait a week before calling back. Which is a riot seeing as how I can't go more than two days without trying again. I keep waiting for them to lock me out or something, but so far so good. He he.
I have some thoughts for anyone considering a subject test (lit specifically) in the future, but first some quick background:
Although I am an avid reader, I had not any more experience with the classics than the average person and had never taken any Literature classes. I took one of the old tests before I started studying to see where I was and get a gauge of the difficulty. I score a 5%. Unfortunately, I was so stupid I still didn't understand how far I had to go. It was one of those cases where you don't realize how much you don't know until you start learning a little, if that make sense.
I studying for 3 months, while working and taking other tests. I took 4 more practice exams after that 5% scoring 33%, 52%, 66%, and 75%. The last came a week before the test date. On the actual exam, I feel like I had the knowledge to do as good or better than the last score, but I freaked out and badly mismanaged my time. I fear I will have done a whole lotta work for very little credit, but more on that later.
I attempted the lit gre mainly in hopes of gaining a large amount of credits in a short amount of time. I consider it a failure in that sense- particularly for someone so green to the subject. I think I could have taken 10 other tests with better odds of garnering 30 credits in less time with less stress. The GRE subject tests are a lot of things, but a way to increase your pace, they are not. They can be, however, a definite cost savings. Just gotta do well enough to pull out some upper level credit! I cannot stress enough how important it is to understand what you getting yourself in for and allow plenty of time to prepare.
That being said, it I had it all over to do again, I would. Even if I end up getting little to no credit for it. I cannot believe how many literary references I've been missing my whole life. It's made my every day reading so much richer. If you are one of those people that genuinely like to learn, it will be a very rewarding experience no matter what happens. So I feel a bit like I did the right thing for the wrong reason. I would have been in a better mental position day of test if I didn't feel like I had put myself in a do or die credit situation and enjoyed the process a bit more. So go for it! But do it because you want to get credit for something you love already or are really excited about learning about, not because it sounds like a short cut.
The single biggest piece of advice I have for this particular subject test is to practice like crazy. Take as many of the old exams as you can. Figure out a strategy for dealing with time and pacing and stick with it. I have to agree with Weaintgotnobadges about thinking that the three pass strategy that some of the books recommend is nuts. But whatever you do, be consistent and don't try any last minute changes like some idiots I know.
So the ETS line tells me that my scores aren't available yet and I should wait a week before calling back. Which is a riot seeing as how I can't go more than two days without trying again. I keep waiting for them to lock me out or something, but so far so good. He he.
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