Help! I've Forgotten Algebra.

It's OK, don't panic! Unless you're one of those sick people who actually enjoys math, it's completely natural for your brain to clean house on all arithmetic knowledge the moment that high school diploma hits your hand. 

Thank goodness I started studying for the College Algebra CLEP almost immediately after finishing Algebra 2 in high school, before my brain hit the "clean" button and turned every formula in there to ash. I bought the REA book on the subject and dove in, but little did I know that the next year would have to be devoted to plodding through textbooks, pretests, sessions with a personal tutor, and frequent bouts of tears. Math is my arch-nemesis, in case you couldn't guess.

Be forewarned: the Algebra CLEP is not for everyone. There are several points to consider before deciding to take this test, on which I will give my personal opinions here:

1. If you're not a math whiz and want to get credit for Algebra the simple way, I'd recommend a college course. Just go to classes, do the homework, and get a private tutor.
2. If you're not a math whiz and want to get credit the cheap way or at your own pace, consider taking the CLEP. It takes self-discipline, but the advantages are a custom study-schedule and affordability.
3. If you're somewhere in the middle between whiz and non-whiz, then maybe you want to study for the CLEP test so that even if you don't pass it you'll be better equipped to breeze through a college algebra class. This is the middle road, with the CLEP acting as a safety net.
4. If you're a math whiz and don't have the discipline required for self-study, then enroll in a college course, breeze through, and you're on your way.
5. If you're a math whiz and want to skip the stuff you already know, take the CLEP test, then move on to something more advanced if you wish.

Going to a brick and mortar college wasn't an option for me, and I wanted to get math out of the way, so I tackled the CLEP. If you're doing the same, but are hindered by a bad case of math-memory loss, here are some resources that might prove helpful.

The College Algebra REA Guide

This is a great place to get started. Take one of the practice tests and see how well you do, then gauge how far you have to go. Keep studying until you can master most of the problems in this book, and you should be ready to pass with flying colors!

College Algebra Demystified

This is a book I used, and it was awesome! Rhonda Huettenmueller explains complex problems in a beautifully elemental way, and was able to help even my math-impaired brain through the steps of algebraic equations.

Basic Math & Pre-Algebra Workbook for Dummies

If you've really forgotten everything you ever learned,

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.

Just Take the Pretest!

This is for those who might doubt the Power of the Pretest:

1. For those who have the tendency to--shall we say--overstudy.

I know what it feels like: you've been studying for days or weeks, beating your brains out over your textbook, trying to absorb algorithms, lists, functions, processes, rules, etc. You've finished the book, you've read over your notes, and you're still not sure you're ready.

This is where the pretest comes in.

The pretest is a God-send and a lifesaver, and whenever I study for a CLEP or DANTES that doesn't have one (these are fairly few and far between) I get horribly nervous. The preliminary test can be a fantastic tool to decide if you're really ready to take the real thing or not. 

Sometimes I'm so unsure of myself that I don't even want to take the pretest until I've burned all the information possible into my brain. If you've ever been like that, don't be! Just take the pretest, even if you're not confident. A personal example: I was studying for the Natural Sciences CLEP (science = not my thing) and even after reading two books was feeling very shaky on my knowledge of chemistry. I took the test, was terrified the whole time, and ended up with a 63!  

2. For those who have the tendency to--shall we say--understudy.

Free Flash Cards for Your Memory

209., a photo by d3b...* on Flickr.

It's something we learned in kindergarten: flash cards are great study tools. That goes for CLEP tests too! Decide where your weakest areas are, find out the right questions and answers, and then burn them into your brain with a hot iron, a.k.a. flash cards.


It can be a pain to write everything out on index cards, but with the wonder of the internet you can learn from others and make flash cards of your own for free online!


Here are some of the top helpful, free websites:

Quick Tip: Study and Listen

handwriting, originally uploaded by *L*u*z*A*

One of the things I love to do when studying for a history CLEP (History of the United States 1 & 2, Western Civilization 1 & 2, Social Sciences and History) or DANTES (The Civil War and Reconstruction, Western Europe: Since 1945, History of the Vietnam War, Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union) is to listen to era-appropriate music.

Pandora.com is an awesome resource for this, since you can create a "radio station" with just the right composers. For example: I'm studying Russia right now, so I'm in the mood for some Russian classical music. Bring up the Wikipedia article on "Music of Russia" and I read about the Mighty Five: Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, Borodin, and Cui. Voilà, I have an entire station devoted to Russian classical music. It really helps get me in the mood, and lends some interest to hours of sometimes-tedious study.

If you don't have a Pandora account then I highly recommend it. It's free to sign up at www.pandora.com!

                                                                                                               Happy CLEPing,

How is a CLEP Scored?

It's a college level test, so they have to develop some incomprehensible new scoring system just to look cool. OK, granted, they probably have better reasons than that, but it seems to me that it would be so much easier if they just based it all on percentages. Ah well, if I ruled the world....

The Raw Score

This is the initial scoring system (the one you'll never see), where each correct answer counts for one point, and there is absolutely no penalty for incorrect or unanswered questions (a really good reason why you should always answer every question, even if you have no idea what they're talking about). If you get 70 questions right on a 120-question test, then your raw score is 70. 

The Scaled Score

This is where things get complicated. Your raw score is now translated into a more "sophisticated" scaled score by a statistical process called "equating". I picture it as a magical little machine into which you insert a perfectly logical number and a weird scores pops out from the other side. This number will always be somewhere between 20 and 80. The ACE (American Council on Education) recommended passing score is 50 for most tests, but the actually credit-value for your test's score varies greatly by test and college.

When Your CLEP Scores Don't Matter

What Kind of Test Taker are You?

paranoia originally uploaded by katiew

Just as there are many kinds of students, there are many kinds of test takers. This was beautifully illustrated for me just today!


My friend, Cameron (Aubrey's brother), and I went in to the testing center together, each of us vying for precious college credits. He was taking the Human Growth and Development CLEP and I was taking Social Sciences and History CLEP. These are, of course, completely different tests, but the preparation methods should be about the same for both, right?

Wrong! They could hardly have been more different.

But I'm An Extrovert!

Pho Chang College of Art Students, originally uploaded by Ian Fuller.

I'm social!

I love people!

I want to interact!

Why would I choose CLEP testing‽

So you want the college experience--I completely definitely understand. There's a gorgeous campus in a town not far from here (John Brown University), and every time I go there I feel a longing to be actually walking down those sidewalks as a student, being a regular at the cafe, stressing over homework on those cushy couches.... Sometimes I have regretful pangs about pursuing an online degree, no matter how cheap and quick and educational it is.


But distance learning does not mean that you have to forfeit the college experience! In fact,

The Harvard Error

Copyright 2009, Frederik Questier and Yanna Van Wesemael

We've already seen that a traditional education can be outrageously expensive and that CLEPing out of many subjects is a low-cost alternative. However, I know what some of you are thinking: Ivy covered walls, a history of excellence, prestigious professors, special clubs--surely there's something that students at prominent universities have that I don't. 

Ah, but is that true?

Does the name and legacy of a college really give you a better education? What it really comes down to is individual professors and textbooks--not the school itself. There's no guarantee that you will learn more from a class at Harvard than a class at your local community college, online lectures, or a textbook! It's more about you than them. If you're really willing to learn, you can learn just about anywhere! Watch the video below to hear about a student who got a Harvard level education as he studied for a CLEP test!