Today, we continue with a few more interesting facts about this excellent credit by examination method.

1. No penalty for guessing

For students familiar with the SAT, you will remember that points are deducted for every question you answer wrong, while they are added for every question you answered correctly. On CLEP tests, however, you will receive points for every question you answer correctly, while incorrect questions will be treated just the same as unanswered questions.

Because of this, you will want to employ an elimination technique on difficult CLEP questions. When you don’t know the answer to a question, don’t skip it or answer randomly. Instead, look for answers that you know are wrong. If you guess randomly, you will have a 20% chance of choosing correctly. If you rule out just one possibility, however, your chances will increase to 25%.

2. CLEP tests are free for certain military members

Depending on your branch and various other factors, you might be eligible for free CLEP tests. While these tests are highly affordable to begin with, free college credits are pretty spectacular!

Just remember that you will probably have to pay out of pocket to retake a failed test, so try to succeed your first time through.

3. Tests are kept on file for 20 years

Are you still in high school but want to get some college credit? Or are you busy with work but want to go back to college someday? In either case, you may be concerned that your college credit will “expire” before you are ready to transfer them into an actual college.

Thankfully, this is not a problem. As long as you transfer within the next twenty years, your test results will still be on file with the CollegeBoard.

4. Instant feedback on most tests

One of the most nerve racking parts of college is the waiting time after taking a test. Particularly if you know it is close, the week or two while waiting for the test to be graded and returned can be absolute misery.

Because CLEP tests are computer-based, however, this wait will no longer be a factor in this phase of your college education. After finishing the test, you will instantly receive your grade – along with an explanation of the ACE recommended requirements. Although some colleges will have different grade requirements, the ACE recommendations will usually hold true.

(The only tests that are not graded instantly are those that require an essay to be graded.)

5. The average passing grade is a “C”

Normally scored as a 50 (on the 20 to 80 point CLEP grade system), the average passing requirement for a CLEP test is a “C” or average grade. Because CLEP tests are normally pass/fail on your transcript, it can be tempting to get a 51 and move on to the next test. Resist this temptation.

Just like any other class, the topics that you study for CLEP tests are crucial to your success in the remainder of college and in the real world afterward. Study now and thank yourself later.

First, the book is the only official study guide on the market. While many other resources are useful, I felt that I could trust this one a little more because of its source.

Second, and more importantly, everyone I talked to seemed to agree that the practice tests in this book are more accurate in assessing a student’s preparedness than are most independently published practice tests. Because of this accuracy, the CLEP Official Study Guide is the perfect complement to SpeedyPrep. After studying via our practice questions, you can use the book’s practice quiz to give a final evaluation before tackling the real thing.

Decent Test Introduction

For each of the CLEP tests, this book includes a useful breakdown of each topic covered using percentages to show where you should study the most. This can be quite helpful as you plan your study schedule – particularly if you want to include outside reading.

However, in my experience much of the same information can be found online, and most is actually available on the CollegeBoard website itself.

Excellent Practice Tests

Practice tests are the truly useful feature of the CLEP Official Study Guide. Perhaps better referenced as “quizzes”, these practice evaluations are about the length of half a CLEP test. Formatted in the normal multiple-choice manner, the paper based tests can be quite useful in assessing your preparedness for the actual test.

Because the book only provides one practice set per test, I generally like to save it until I am already fairly confident in my knowledge of the subject. If I am uncertain, I prefer to take one of the REA or Peterson’s practice tests to help me find my weak spots mid-study. Once I am doing well in my study and (possibly) my other practice tests, I will use the CLEP Official Study Guide to double-check one last time.

Is it better than past versions?

Despite the yearly editions, the actual content of the CLEP Official Study Guide has not changed substantially from year to year. Not only is the study guide content often the same, but the actual practice questions are generally identical. Because of this, it is not uncommon for students to use a 2004 guide until 2009 or a 2009 guide through 2012. If you already have a copy or you can get an older version for cheap, saving the money on the latest edition is usually a good idea.

Do double check, though, that the tests you need are covered. As CLEP tests are retired or launched, the study guide is updated to reflect the new material. If, for instance, you are studying for one of the fairly recent College Composition tests, you might want to get one of the newer versions.

Is this resource it necessary?

While I highly recommend it and have benefited from using this book myself, the CLEP Official Study Guide is definitely not necessary. The practice questions and explanations here at SpeedyPrep provide plenty of study material to pass the test.

Before you begin studying, assess your current position. Have you studied this topic much before? If so, how much time has passed since then? Depending on your answers to those questions, you might only need to use one of these study resources, or you might be better off using all of them!

SpeedyPrep

Clearly one of our favorite resources, this website provides practice questions for most of the CLEP tests. For a small monthly charge, you will gain access to hundreds of questions for each of twenty-four CLEP exams. By using fill-in-the-blank questions when the actual tests use multiple-choice questions, our study resource will over prepare you for success. After each question, you will be given an explanation of the correct answer.

Using our innovative progress bar to track your progress, you will be able to tell how prepared you are for the test. Once you have reached 100% progress (meaning you fully understand the study material), you will qualify for our 100% pass rate guarantee.

Research and Education Association CLEP Guides

If you prefer to study through reading books, the REA CLEP series just might be the perfect fit. With detailed explanations of each CLEP tests, these study guides walk you through the study process. Starting out with a basic introduction and breakdown of the various subjects tested, REA covers all the necessary details in an engaging, easily absorbed manner.

Once you have the material learned, you can use the included practice tests to assess your knowledge. Whether you prefer a paper test or a more realistic, computerized format, REA study guides have you covered.

Comex Study Guides

While REA study guides are generally more thorough, the Comex series often provides a good supplement. Particularly if you find the REA book confusing on some topic, switching to the corresponding Comex study guide can provide the slightly different perspective that will help everything to “click” into place.

Keep in mind, though, that Comex study guides do not included practice tests or questions. They are great for learning the subject, but you will need to go elsewhere to practice the test.

Official CLEP Study Guide

Nearly the precise opposite of the Comex study guides, the Official CLEP Study Guide provides practice tests, but very little study material. While the REA and Comex series publish different books for each test, the Official CLEP Study Guide is actually a single book.  For each test, it provides a quick outline of the topics covered and a practice test.

While other practice tests can be useful and fairly accurate, the Official CLEP Study Guide is generally much more trustworthy than any of the other study guide sets. Even if you use the other materials, finishing your study with the official practice test is a great way to double-check your level of preparedness.

Conclusion

As you choose your study guide or guides, keep your goal in mind. Are you only interested in passing the test, or do you really want to learn the subject? Simply passing the test might seem great right now, but the long-term benefits will only come if you truly learn the subject. Don’t be ashamed to spend a little more time studying to really learn.

How do you prepare for your CLEP tests?

Today, we will examine ten of the most popular CLEP tests. If any of these pique your interest, you just might be able to save money and time while studying a fascinating subject!

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature

Providing a basic introduction to the world of literature, this is probably the most popular CLEP tests for beginners. Although it doesn’t require understanding of particular works, this test does evaluate your understanding of general poetry, fiction, drama, and nonfiction. Students are expected to read various passages and answer questions proving their understanding.

Western Civilization I

Covering everything from ancient civilizations to the beginnings of modern Europe, this test evaluates your understanding of many founding western cultures. Ancient Greece and Rome are included, while the Reformation and Renaissance also make an appearance. Among history aficionados, this is probably one of the most enjoyable tests.

Western Civilization II

Continuing where Western Civilizations I left off, this exam covers everything from 1648 to the present. You will enjoy learning about the Scientific Revolution, the Age of Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, and more! Because it covers more recent history, this material can be useful in evaluating current events and trends.

Introductory Sociology

The introductory sociology test covers material normally taught in a basic introductory class. Although a detailed understanding is not necessary, you will get to learn more about how civilizations and cultures operate. The institutions that form society (political, religious, familial, etc.), the social patterns that result from it (demographics, rural/urban patterns, etc.), and the social processes that change it (social movements, socialization, etc.) are all covered in this fascinating exam.

US History I

Perhaps more interesting form American students than Western Civilizations would be, this exam spans the founding of modern American society to the end of the Reconstruction. You will see the ideals and teachings that led to the founding of our nation, the clash of the two schools of thought (Federalism and Anti-federalism), the war over the two ideas, and, finally, the resulting change.

US History II

Overlapping slightly with US I, this test begins with the end of the War Between the States and continues right up to the present. You will get to see the amazing changes of the early twentieth century, the horrors of the two world wars, the difficulties of the Great Depression, and, most of all, the strength of the American people in coping with these continual challenges.

College Composition

Having replaced the English Composition test, this exciting exam requires a basic understanding of communication. Grammar, rhetorical analysis, editing skills, structural awareness, and more are covered using the normal multiple-choice questions plus an additional two essays.

Introductory Psychology

Unfortunately, this test assesses the subject of psychology from a fairly mainstream perspective. Nevertheless, while care is required to know what is true and what isn’t, you can learn a fair bit about basic psychology from this exam. You will learn the various methods of psychology, behavior, states of consciousness, psychological disorders, and more.

Educational Psychology

Focusing on child education, classroom management, principles of learning, and evaluation of learning, this interesting test goes into a bit more detail than the general psychology test. You might even learn a few techniques that will help you study better!

American Government

Most of this test should be common knowledge for every voting US citizen, but it is still a useful review. You will learn about our three branches of government, the various political parties and interest groups, and the content and history of the Constitution.

Which of these tests have you taken?

Thankfully, there is a solution. Built to help all students manage their degree process, myEdu provides a convenient central location to plan your path and measure your progress. While it does not completely replace an academic adviser or college coach, this online program can help you keep a handle on things between consultations.

Let me introduce you to some of the best features this free service provides.

Pre-College

As you prepare for your college career, this website provides a number of useful tools.

Search Colleges

Using data on tuition costs, financial aid, admissions rates, and more for thousands of colleges, their search college feature will let you compare colleges and even degree programs. Bookmarking the best options, you can easily choose the best opportunities without wasting hours of time browsing websites and calling admissions offices.

From admissions requirements to graduation rates, they provide all the information you need to know to make an informed decision.

Assess Your CLEP Options

Most useful for SpeedyPrep users, myEdu includes a tool that will let you assess which colleges will take your CLEP credits. Simply enter your credit and the colleges you are considering and, viola!, the instant results tell you what credits will be excepted and how much they will save you.

With quite a bit of vague information online, this amazing tool is perfect for people who understand the power of CLEP tests.

Degree Comparison

Also using their incredible database of information, you can easily search and compare degrees. Not only do they provide course information, but they also provide degree templates, difficulty ratings, and career information.

College

Once you are enrolled in college, the usefulness of this web application is only beginning.

Class Scheduling

As you plan your semester, myEdu can help you optimize your class time by automatically finding the best classes for your degree and timing preferences. Even better, this amazing program will assign the classes with the best rated professors and highest average GPA.
Once you have adjusted the automatic results as necessary, it will also tell you which textbooks you will need to order.

Balance Your Workload

With over one-third of college dropouts referencing the large workload, managing your time properly is crucial to avoiding college burnout. Using the difficulty ratings assigned to courses on myEdu, you can easily optimize your semester load to include a range of difficulties.

Not only does this decrease stress and improve your GPA, but it will actually help you learn better!

Daily Calendar

Although plenty of other calendar options are available, the myEdu calendar is auto updated from the class schedule. Using this feature, you can easily see your week’s plan and avoid missing your deadlines.

Conclusion

As a distance-learning student, myEdu is an invaluable resource – particularly while assessing a school’s CLEP policy. As more schools and data are added to the site, this resource will only improve.