Are You Scared Yet?

I'm going to take a test today, and I'm scared sick.

It's a DANTES test, which always gets me worked up because there's no "official" guidebook, which means there's no one holding my hand and telling me exactly what to do. That's scares me.

I've read the "Complete Idiot's Guide" to this subject, taken a couple of Peterson's tests, and scored pretty well on them. Nevertheless, I feel a little sick to my stomach.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I'm still trying to figure that out. On one hand it spurs me on to greater feats of self-discipline and studying, on the other hand I feel this way before almost every test, and it's rarely justified. Maybe I'm just freaking out for no reason at all, and it's actually bad for my nerves.

What do you think? How do you feel when you take tests?

Scared Face, a photo by Cass Chin on Flickr

So How Do I Start?

This is certainly an important question. After all, the journey of a million miles begins with a single step, so that single step is a pretty big deal! If you're new to CLEPing you may wonder if some tests are better to start with than others.

I would recommend getting your feet wet with one of the easier tests. One of my first CLEPs was Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, and boy, am I grateful! That test was a breeze, and I actually scored an 80 on it! It was a huge moral booster, and that's valuable for kick-starting enthusiasm.  


A few other fairly easy ones (in my opinion) would be Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Social Sciences and History, and Humanities. Of course, it's all relative to your background, interests, and education. If English is your second language then the Spanish, French, or German CLEPs could be easy cheesy. History might come naturally for you, so try out College Composition. Maybe you're obsessed with technology (like my little brother) and Information Systems and Computer Applications might be just the thing to get you started.


Just look through the list of subjects and choose one that you're familiar with or interested in. It's much easier to pour yourself into studying something that you care about rather than something you're just wanting to get through.


Once you've passed your first couple of "easy" tests then it might be time for something a little more challenging and outside your comfort zone (College Algebra did that for me!). Work your way up slowly, don't burn out, and study creatively to keep your interest level high. Hold yourself accountable, work hard, and you're almost guaranteed to pass your exams with flying colors! 


                                               Happy CLEPing, my fellow non-conformists!

Do It!, a photo by jenni from the block on Flickr.

Which Study Books for DANTES?

It's an unfortunate fact of life: DANTES study guides are a bit hard to come by. With a little research, though, you can find some great materials to help you pass with flying colors!

• The Official DSST Fact Sheets usually provide a couple of recommended resource books per test.
• Always check out Free CLEP Prep and look over their detailed study outlines and recommended resources.  
• InstantCert is, as usual, a great resource for brain-busting flashcards that ingrain important information into your skull. As of right now they offer courses for 27 out of the 38 DANTES subjects.
• Finish College Fast products have some great reviews, and they offer study guides for 24 out of the 38 DANTES subjects.
• Apparently Jack Rudman's books are fairly well-respected, but best paired with other materials. They may be out of date and behind the times.
• Though perhaps not comprehensive, the Wise Owl Guides to the DANTES exams score some pretty high reviews on Amazon.com.
• I hesitate to recommend these (I haven't read many reviews) but there are some pricey guides available from the DANTES Exam Secrets Test Prep Team. 

                                                         

                                                           Happy CLEPing and DANTESing!

Image credit: iStockPhoto

Which Test Prep Book To Choose?

They say not to judge a book by its cover....

You've decided to take a CLEP test, you've picked one out, and you're gearing up to study. But which study book should you choose? There are a multitude of options. Type "English Composition CLEP Study," for example, into Amazon.com and you'll find almost thirty results! That can be a little overwhelming.

Well, you'll be happy to know that every CLEP test has at least one study book made specifically for it, so you won't have to scramble to find a suitable textbook or Dummy's guide (which I've had to do for several DANTES tests)! Here's a rundown of the top test-specific study guide makers:

Research and Education Association (REA): These guys are clearly the industry leaders. I use their books every time I can! With up-to-date books on every single CLEP topic (with the exception perhaps of French and German languages), written by qualified professionals, they provide complete, expert, well-written products--most of which now come with practice tests on CD to simulate the actual test-taking experience! There are usually two or three practice tests for every study book. Baseline: If you're looking for a reputable, solid study guide, look no farther

Comex Systems: This is another pretty popular publisher, but their most recently published book was in 2010. I've had less experience with this publisher than with REA, but have used Comex to pass a couple of CLEPs. Some reviewers say that a Comex book is OK, but needs supplementary information, while others insist that it's all you need. There are frequent reports of the book's questions not lining up with the questions on the actual test. I was personally frustrated with the small number of practice questions. Baseline: Comex guides are usually good for studying a test's general content, but not so great for preparing for the test itself.

The #1 thing you must look for in a test prep book is a multitude of positive reviews! There are quite a few "ripoff" book series out there purporting to be professional guides, when they're really poorly-written and unhelpful. Don't fall for these! Go for the ones that have solid reviews from people who have actually passed the CLEPs you want to pass.

Of course, there are other guide makers (Ace the CLEP, CLEP Exam Secrets Test Prep, Jack Rudman, Perfect Score Software), and this isn't a comprehensive list. But really, why would you go with a lesser-known book when the "big guys" are so good? The lesser-known books aren't necessarily cheaper than the better-known ones, so there's really no excuse not to buy the quality, well-reviewed guides!

                                                                                                Happy CLEPing!

My Personal Record

As you know, I have the tendency to overstudy. Not everyone has this problem, but I can tell you that it can be debilitating. Spending a month on a test that others pass in one week is almost a sure way to pass, but it can also put you way behind on your goals. 


So a couple of weeks ago I determined to pass the Human Growth and Development CLEP as quickly as possible. 

• Tip #1: Never aim low! Set a high goal and do your best to reach it.

I didn't have a study plan mapped out, though, so my goal of "as quickly as possible" was intangible and therefore hard to quantify.

• Tip #2: Create solid, realistic goals. A goal is specific and measurable. Read about dreams, resolutions, and goals here.  Download this worksheet called The Power of Goals by Dan Miller.