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College Placement Test Preparation (2014)

College Placement Test Preparation (2014) helps you master complex topics with simplified explanations.

Benjamin Clark
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 1 preview imageAmericanLiteratureEXAM GUIDEVisit our website atclep.collegeboard.orgfor the most up-to-dateinformation.
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 2 preview image
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 3 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgContents1Introduction1CLEP Study Materials: A Word of Warning1American Council on Education (ACE)2I. The College-Level Examination Program2How the Program Works2The CLEP Examinations2What the Examinations Are Like3Where to Take the Examinations and How to Register3College Credit Recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE)3How Your Score Is Reported4II.Approaching a College About CLEP4How to Apply for College Credit5Questions to Ask About a College’s CLEP Policy7III.Deciding Which Examinations to Take7IfYou’reTakingtheExaminationsforCollegeCreditorCareerAdvancement . . .9IV.Preparing to Take CLEP Examinations9Using the Examination Guides11Assessing Your Readiness for a CLEP Exam12Suggestions for Studying13Test Preparation Tips15Accommodations for Students with Disabilities16V.Taking the Examinations16Test-Taking Strategies for Multiple-Choice Questions17Answering Essay Questions17Test-Taking Strategies for Essay Writing18VI.Interpreting Your Scores18How CLEP Scores Are Computed18How Essays Are Scored19VII. Examination Guide19American Literature41Appendix41What Your CLEP Score MeansCollege-Level Examination Program
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 4 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgIntroductionThis is the onlyofficialguide to the College-LevelExamination Program®(CLEP®)exams.CLEPexamsare administered on computers at test centers acrossthe country.This guide has been written for adults making plansto enroll in college, and it contains information ofinteresttoothersaswell.College-boundhighschoolstudents, current college students, military personnel,professionalsseekingcertification,andpersonsofallages who have learned or wish to learn college-levelmaterialoutsidethecollegeclassroomwillfindtheguidehelpfulastheystrivetoaccomplishtheirgoals.CLEP is based on the premise that some individualsenrolling in college have already learned part of whatis taught in college courses through job training,independent reading and study, noncredit adultcourses,andadvancedhighschoolcourses.Often,their jobs and life experiences have enhancedandreinforcedtheirlearning.CLEPgivestheseindividuals a chance to show their mastery ofcollege-level material by taking exams that assessknowledgeandskillstaughtincollegecourses.ThefirstfewsectionsofthisguideexplainhowCLEPcan earn you credit for the college-level learning youhave acquired and provide suggestions for preparingfortheexams.Theindividualexamsectionincludestestdescriptions,samplequestions,andstudytips.This guide also has an answer key for each exam, aswell as in-depth information about how to interpretyourscores.CLEP Study Materials:A Word of WarningThere are many free or inexpensive sources for CLEPpreparation materials, including public or collegelibraries,bookstores,andeducationalwebsites.CLEPexamsreflectthematerialtaughtinintroductorycollegecourses.Checkwithlocalcollegestoseewhattexts are being used in the subject you hope to studyforaCLEPexam.College Board provides theCLEP Official StudyGuideand individual exam guides so you get to knowthetypesofquestionsontheexams.Youalsogetimportanttipstogetreadyforthetests.Theguidesare not meant to help you learn all the subject matterCLEPexamscover.Wesuggestyoustudyatextbookfor the relevant course at your college or accessone of the suggested resources listed on the CLEPwebsite to learn or review the content of the exam inwhichyou’reinterested.ManyprivatecompaniesofferpreparationservicesforCLEPexams.Somecompaniesarelegitimate,butothers make promises they can’t keep and sell servicesandproductsyoudon’tneed.We’ve received complaints from CLEP candidatesregarding the following practices (practices we considerunfairorinappropriate).ƒAttempts to sell preparation services for manyCLEP exams at once, with sizable payment up frontor on creditƒCredit agreements with companies other than theone selling the preparation materialƒContacts from salespeople to you or your familyat homeƒPromises that you can get college credit withoutenrolling in collegeƒEffortstoselldictionariesorencyclopediasaspartof a test preparation packageIf you feel you have been cheated, we recommend youseek the assistance of an organization such as theBetter Business Bureau (bbb.org) or the Federal TradeCommission (ftc.gov).American Council onEducation(ACE)If you still have general questions about continuingor adult education after reading this book,ACEcanprovide advice and information:American Council on EducationOneDupontCircle,NWWashington, DC 20036202-939-9300acenet.eduCollege-Level Examination Program1
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 5 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgI.The College-LevelExamination ProgramHow the Program WorksCLEP exams are administered at over 2,000 testcenters worldwide, and 2,900 colleges and universitiesawardcollegecredittothosewhodowellonthetests.This rigorous program lets self-directed students ofa wide range of ages and backgrounds show theirmastery of introductory college-level material andpursueacademicsuccess.Studentsearncreditforwhat they already know by getting qualifying scores onanyofthe34examinations.CLEP exams cover material taught in introductory-levelcoursesatmanycollegesanduniversities.Faculty at individual colleges review the exams toensure that they cover the important material currentlytaughtintheircourses.Although CLEP is sponsored by College Board,onlycollegesmaygrantcredittowardadegree.To learn about a particular college’s CLEP policy,contactthecollegedirectly.WhenyoutakeaCLEPexam, request that a copy of your score report besent to the college you’re attending or planningtoattend.Afterevaluatingyourscore,thecollegewill decide whether or not to award you credit for,ortoexemptyoufrom,oneormorecourses.If the college decides to give you credit, it recordsthe number of credits on your permanent record,indicating that you completed work equivalenttoa courseinthatsubject.Ifthecollegedecidesto grant exemption without giving you credit fora course,you’llbepermittedtoomitacoursethatwould normally be required of you and to take acourseofyourchoiceinstead.The CLEP program has a long-standing policy that anexamcan’tberetakenwithinthespecifiedwaitperiod.This waiting period gives you a chance to spend moretime preparing for the exam or the option of taking aclassroomcourse.IfyouviolatetheCLEPretestpolicy,the administration will be considered invalid, the scorecanceled,andanytestfeesforfeited.Ifyou’reamilitaryservicemember,notethatDANTES(DefenseActivityforNon-TraditionalEducationSupport)won’tfundretestingonapreviouslyfundedCLEPexam.However,youmaypersonallyfundaretestafterthespecifiedwaitperiod.The CLEP ExaminationsCLEPexamscovermaterialdirectlyrelatedtospecificundergraduatecoursestaughtduringastudent’sfirsttwoyearsincollege.Thecoursesmaybeofferedforthree or more semester hours in general areas suchas mathematics, history, social sciences, Englishcomposition,naturalsciences,andhumanities.Institutionswilleithergrantcreditforaspecificcoursebased on a satisfactory score on the related exam,or in the general area in which a satisfactory score isearned.Thecreditisequaltothecreditawardedtostudentswhosuccessfullycompletethecourse.What the Examinations Are LikeCLEP exams are administered on computer and areapproximately 90 minutes long, with the exceptionof College Composition, which is approximately125 minutes long, and Spanish with Writing, which is110minuteslong.Mostquestionsaremultiplechoice;othertypesofquestionsrequireyoutofillinanumericanswer, to shade areas of an object, or to put items inthecorrectorder.Questionsusingthesekindsofskillsare called zone, shade, grid, scale, fraction, numericentry,histogram,andordermatchquestions.CLEP College Composition includes a mandatoryessay section, responses to which must be typed intothecomputer.CLEPSpanishwithWritingcontainstwo writing tasks that measure interpersonal andpresentationalcommunication.Someexaminationshaveoptionalessays.Youshouldcheck with the individual college or university whereyou’re sending your score to see whether an optionalessayisrequiredforthoseexams.Theseessaysareadministered on paper and are scored by faculty at theinstitutionthatreceivesyourscore.College-Level Examination Program2
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 6 preview imageI. The College-Level Examination Programclep.collegeboard.orgWhere to Take the Examinationsand How to RegisterCLEP exams are administered throughout the yearat over 2,000 test centers in the United States andselectinternationalsites.Onceyouhavedecidedto take a CLEP exam, log into My Account atclepportal.collegeboard.org/myaccounttocreate and manage your own personal accounts,payforCLEPexams,andpurchasestudymaterials.You canself-registeratanytimebycompletingtheonlineregistrationform.Through My Account, you can access a list ofinstitutions that administer CLEP, and you can locateatestcenterinyourarea.After paying for yourexam through My Account, you must still contactthe test center to schedule your CLEP exam.If you’re unable to locate a test center nearyou,call800-257-9558forhelp.College Credit Recommendationsof the American Councilon Education(ACE)For many years, the American Council on Education’sCollege Credit Recommendation Service(ACECREDIT)has periodically evaluated CLEP processesand procedures for developing, administering, andscoringtheexams.ACErecommendsauniformcredit-granting score of 50 across all subjects (withadditional Level-2 recommendations for the worldlanguage examinations), representing the performanceof students who earn a grade of C in the correspondingcourse.ThescorescaleforeachCLEPexamisdecidedby a panel of experts (college faculty teaching thecourse) who provide information on the level of studentperformance that would be necessary to receivecollegecreditinthecourse.ACE, the major coordinating body for all the nation’shigher education institutions, seeks to provideleadership and a unifying voice on key higher educationissuesandtoinfluencepublicpolicythroughadvocacy,research,andprograminitiatives.Formoreinformation,visit ACE CREDIT atacenet.edu/higher-education/topics/Pages/Credit-Evaluations.aspx.How Your Score Is ReportedYou have the option of seeing your CLEP scoreimmediately after you complete the exam, except forCollegeCompositionandSpanishwithWriting;scoresfor these exams are available online two to three weeksaftertheexamdate.Onceyouchoosetoseeyourscore, it will be sent automatically to the institution youdesignatedasascorerecipient.Itcan’tbecanceled.You’ll receive a candidate copy of your score beforeyouleavethetestcenter.Ifyoutestedattheinstitutionthat you designated as a score recipient, it will haveimmediateaccesstoyourtestresults.Additionally,you’ll be able to view your CLEP exam scores bylogging into My Account and clicking onView MyCLEP Exam Scores.Scoresareavailableonlineonebusiness day after taking an exam with the exception ofCollegeCompositionandSpanishwithWriting.If you don’t want your score reported, you may selectthat as an option at the end of the examinationbeforethe exam is scored.Onceyouhaveselectedtheoptiontonotviewyourscore,thescoreiscanceled.Thescorewon’t be reported to the institution you designated,and you won’t receive a candidate copy of your scorereport.Inaddition,scoresofcanceledexamscan’tbeviewedonMyAccount.You’llhavetowaitthespecifiedwaitperiodbeforeyoucantaketheexamagain.CLEPscoresarekeptonfilefor20years.Duringthisperiod, for a small fee, you may have your transcriptsenttoanothercollegeortoanyoneelseyouspecify.Your score(s) will never be sent to anyone withoutyour approval.College-Level Examination Program3
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 7 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgII.Approaching a CollegeAbout CLEPThe following sections provide a step-by-step guide tolearning about the CLEP policy at a particular collegeoruniversity.Thepersonorofficethatcanbestassistyoumayhaveadifferenttitleateachinstitution,butthefollowing guidelines will point you to information aboutCLEPatanyinstitution.Adults and other nontraditional students returning tocollegeoftenbenefitfromspecialassistancewhentheyapproachacollege.Opportunitiesforadultsto return to formal learning in the classroom arewidespread, and colleges and universities have workedhardtomakethisasmoothprocessforolderstudents.Manycollegeshaveestablishedspecialofficesstaffedwithtrainedprofessionalswhounderstandtheproblemsfacingadultsreturningtocollege.Ifyouthinkyoumightbenefitfromsuchassistance,besuretofindoutwhethertheseservicesareavailableatyourcollege.How to Apply for College CreditStep 1.Obtain, or access online, the generalinformation catalog and a copy of the CLEP policyfrom each college you’re considering.Learn about admission and CLEP policies on thecollege’s website atclep.collegeboard.org/school-policy-search, or by contacting or visiting theadmissionoffice.Askforacopyofthepublicationthatexplainsthecollege’scompleteCLEPpolicy.Also,get the name and the telephone number of the personto contact in case you have further questions aboutCLEP.Step 2.If you haven’t already been admittedto a college that you’re considering, look atits admission requirements for undergraduatestudents to see whether you qualify.Whether you’re applying for college admission asa highschoolstudentortransferstudent,orasanadult resuming a college career or going to collegeforthefirsttime,youshouldbefamiliarwiththerequirements for admission at the schools you’reconsidering.Ifyou’reanontraditionalstudent,besureto check whether the school has separate admissionrequirementsthatapplytoyou.Someschoolsareselective,whileothersare“openadmission.”Contacttheadmissionofficeforaninterviewwithacounselor.Statewhyyouwanttheinterview,andaskwhat documents you should bring with you or send inadvance.(Thesematerialsmayincludeahighschooltranscript, transcript of previous college work, orcompletedapplicationforadmission.)Makeanextraefforttogetalltheinformationrequestedintimefortheinterview.Duringtheinterview,relaxandbeyourself.Bepreparedto state honestly why you think you’re ready and abletodocollegework.IfyouhavealreadytakenCLEPexams and scored high enough to earn credit, you haveshownyou’reabletodocollegework.Mentionthisachievement to the admission counselor because itmayincreaseyourchancesofbeingaccepted.Ifyouhaven’t taken a CLEP exam, you can still improve yourchances of being accepted by describing how your jobtraining or independent study prepared you for college-levelwork.Discusswiththecounselorwhatyoulearnedfromyourworkandpersonalexperiences.Step 3.Evaluate the college’s CLEP policy.Typically, a college lists all its academic policies,including CLEP policies, in its general catalogoronitswebsite.You’llprobablyfindtheCLEPpolicystatementundera headingsuchasCredit-by-Examination, Advanced Standing, AdvancedPlacement,orExternalDegreeProgram.Thesesections can usually be found in the front of thecatalog.Checkouttheinstitution’sCLEPpolicyonclep.collegeboard.org/school-policy-search.Many colleges publish their credit-by-examinationpolicies in separate brochures distributed through thecampustestingoffice,counselingcenter,admissionoffice,or registrar’soffice.Ifyoufindanoverlygeneral policy statement in the college catalog, seekclarificationfromoneoftheseoffices.College-Level Examination Program4
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 8 preview imageII. Approaching a College About CLEPclep.collegeboard.orgReview the material in the section of this chapterentitled Questions to Ask About a College’s CLEPPolicy.Usetheseguidelinestoevaluatethecollege’sCLEPpolicy.Ifyouhaven’ttakenaCLEPexam,thisevaluationhelpsyoudecidewhichexamstotake.BecauseindividualcollegeshavedifferentCLEPpolicies, reviewing several policies helps you decidewhichcollegetoattend.Step 4.If you haven’t yet applied for admission, do soas early as possible.Most colleges expect you to apply for admission severalmonths before you enroll, and it’s essential that youmeetthepublishedapplicationdeadlines.Ittakestimetoprocessyourapplicationforadmission.Ifyouhaveyet to take a CLEP exam, you can take one or moreCLEP exams while you’re waiting for your applicationtobeprocessed.Besuretocheckthecollege’sCLEPpolicy beforehand so that you’re taking exams yourcollegewillacceptforcredit.YoushouldfindoutfromthecollegewhentosubmityourCLEPscore(s).Complete all forms and include all documentsrequestedwithyourapplication(s)foradmission.Normally,anadmissiondecisioncan’tbereacheduntilalldocumentshavebeensubmittedandevaluated.Unless told to do so, don’t send your CLEP score(s)untilyou’vebeenofficiallyadmitted.Step 5.Arrange to take CLEP exam(s) or to submit yourCLEP score(s).CLEP exams can be taken at any of the 2,000 testcentersworldwide.Tolocateatestcenternearyou,visitclep.collegeboard.org/search/test-centers.If you have already taken a CLEP exam, but didn’t haveyourscoresenttoyourcollege,youcanhaveanofficialtranscriptsentatanytimeforasmallfee.Priortosending a transcript to an institution, please ensure thatyouhaveverifiedtheinstitution’sCLEPcredit-grantingpolicy.OrderyourtranscriptonlinebyloggingintoMyAccount (clepportal.collegeboard.org/myaccount)usingthesameaccountyouusedtoregister.Please note there are some instances in which CLEPexamscorescannotbeordered.Ifyouhaveascoreonhold,tookanexamthatwasDANTES-fundedorretook a CLEP exam within the 3-month waiting period,thoseexamscoresareconsiderednon-orderable.Inaddition,CLEPTranscriptRequestsarenonrefundable.Onceordered,arequestcannotbecanceled,changed,orrerouted.Transcripts only include CLEP scores for the past 20years;scoresmorethan20yearsoldarenotkeptonfile.Your CLEP scores will be evaluated, probably bysomeoneintheadmissionoffice,andsenttotheregistrar’sofficetobepostedonyourpermanentrecordonceyouareenrolled.Proceduresvaryfromcollege to college, but the process usually begins intheadmission office.Step 6.Ask to receive a written notice of the credityou receive for your CLEPscore(s).A written notice may save you problems later whenyousubmityourdegreeplanorfileforgraduation.In the event that there’s a question about whetherornotyouearnedCLEPcredit,you’llhaveanofficialrecordofwhatcreditwasawarded.Youmayalsoneedthisverificationofcoursecreditifyoumeetwithanacademic adviser before the credit is posted on yourpermanentrecord.Step 7.Before you register for courses, seekacademic advising.Talking with your academic adviser helps you avoidtaking unnecessary courses and lets you know exactlywhatyourCLEPcreditwillmeantoyou.Thisdiscussionmaytakeplaceatthetimeyouenroll.Mostcollegeshave orientation sessions for new students prior toeachenrollmentperiod.Duringorientation,studentsare assigned academic advisers who give themindividual guidance in developing long-range plans andcourseschedulesforthenextsemester.Inconjunctionwith this counseling, you may be asked to take someadditional tests so you can be placed at the propercourselevel.Questions to Ask About aCollege’s CLEP PolicyBefore taking CLEP exams for the purpose ofearning collegecredit,trytofindtheanswerstothese questions:1.Which CLEP exams are accepted by the college?A college may accept some CLEP exams for creditand not others—possibly not the exams you’reconsidering.Forthisreason,it’simportantyouknowthespecificCLEPexamsyoucanreceivecreditfor.College-Level Examination Program5
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 9 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgII. Approaching a College About CLEP2.Does the college require the optional free-response (essay) section for exams incomposition and literature, as well as themultiple-choice portion of the CLEP exam you’reconsidering? Do you need to pass a departmentaltest such as an essay, laboratory, or oral exam inaddition to the CLEP multiple-choice exam?Knowing the answers to these questions ahead oftime will enable you to schedule the optional free-response or departmental exam when you registertotakeyourCLEPexam.3.Is CLEP credit granted for specific courses at thecollege? If so, which ones?You’relikelytofindthatcreditisgrantedforspecificcourses and that the course titles are designatedinthecollege’sCLEPpolicy.It’snotnecessary,however,thatcreditbegrantedforaspecificcourseforyoutobenefitfromyourCLEPcredit.Forinstance, at many liberal arts colleges, all studentsmusttakecertaintypesofcourses.Thesecoursesmay be labeled the core curriculum, generaleducation requirements, distribution requirements,orliberalartsrequirements.Therequirements,areoftenexpressedintermsofcredithours.Forexample, all students may be required to take atleast six hours of humanities, six hours of English,three hours of mathematics, six hours of naturalscience, and six hours of social science, with noparticularcoursesinthesedisciplinesspecified.Intheseinstances,CLEPcreditmaybegivenas“6hrs.EnglishCredit”or“3hrs.MathCredit”withoutspecifying for which English or mathematicscoursescredithasbeenawarded.Toavoidpossibledisappointment, you should know before taking aCLEP exam what type of credit you can receive orwhether you’ll be exempted from a required coursebutreceivenocredit.4.How much credit is granted for each exam you’reconsidering, and does the college place a limiton the total amount of CLEP credit you can earntoward your degree?NotallcollegesthatgrantCLEPcreditawardthesameamountforindividualexams.Furthermore,some colleges place a limit on the total amountof credit you can earn through CLEP or otherexams.Othercollegesmaygrantyouexemptionbutnocredittowardyourdegree.Knowingseveralcolleges’ policies concerning these issues mayhelpyoudecidewhichcollegetoattend.Ifyouthink you’re capable of passing a number of CLEPexams, you may want to attend a college that allowsyoutoearncreditforallormostoftheexams.Find your institution’s CLEP policy by visitingclep.collegeboard.org/school-policy-search.College-Level Examination Program6
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 10 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgIII.Deciding WhichExaminations to TakeIf You’re Taking theExaminations for College Creditor Career Advancement . . .Most people who take CLEP exams want to earn creditforcollegecourses.Otherstaketheexamstoqualifyforjobpromotions,professionalcertification,orlicensing.Whateverthereason,it’svitalformosttest takers to be well prepared so they can advanceas fast as possible toward their educational orcareergoals.Those with limited knowledge in the subjects coveredby the exams they’re considering are advised to enrollinthecollegecoursesinwhichthatmaterialistaught.Although there’s no way to predict whether you’ll passaparticularCLEPexam,youmayfindthefollowingguidelineshelpful.1.Test DescriptionsFor each exam, read the test description and theoutline set forth in the Knowledge and Skills Requiredsectionprovidedinthisguide.Areyoufamiliarwithmost of the topics and terminology in the outline?2.TextbooksReview the textbook and other resource materialsusedforthecorrespondingcourseatyourcollege.Youcanfindalistofsuggestedtextbooksandfree online resources for each exam atclep.collegeboard.org/exams.Areyoufamiliarwith most of the topics and terminology used incollege textbooks on this subject?3.Sample QuestionsThe sample questions included in this guide arerepresentativeofthecontentanddifficultyoftheexamquestions.NoneofthesamplequestionsappearonanyCLEPexamination.Usethemtogetanunderstandingofthecontentanddifficultylevelofthequestionsonanactualexam.Knowingthecorrect answers to all of the sample questionsis not a substitute for college-level study ora guaranteeofsatisfactoryperformanceontheexam.Following the instructions and suggestions inChapter V, answer as many of the sample questionsfortheexamasyoucan.Checkyouranswersagainsttheanswerkeyattheendofeachsection.ƒWere you able to answer almost all of thequestions correctly? You may not need tostudythesubjectextensively.ƒDidyouhavedifficultyansweringthequestions?You’llprobablybenefitfrommoreextensivestudyofthesubject.4.Previous StudyHave you taken noncredit courses in this subjectofferedbyanadultschooloraprivateschool,through correspondence, or in connection withyour job? Did you do exceptionally well in thissubject in high school, or did you take an honorscourse in this subject?5.ExperienceHave you learned or used the knowledge or skillsincluded in this exam in your job or life experience?For example, if you lived in a Spanish-speakingcountry and spoke the language for a year or more,you might consider taking the Spanish Language orSpanishwithWritingexams.Or,ifyouhaveworkedatajobinwhichyouusedaccountingandfinanceskills, Financial Accounting would be an exam toconsidertaking.Orifyouhavereadaconsiderableamount of literature and attended art exhibits,concerts, and plays, you might expect to do well ontheHumanitiesexam.College-Level Examination Program7
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 11 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgIII. Deciding Which Examinations to Take6.Other ExamsHave you done well on other standardized tests insubjects related to the one you want to take? Forexample, did you score well above average on aportion of a college entrance exam covering similarskills, or did you get an exceptionally high scoreon a licensing exam in this subject? Although suchtests don’t cover exactly the same material as theCLEP exams and may be easier, people who do wellonthesetestsoftendowellonCLEPexamstoo.7.AdviceHas a college counselor, professor, or some otherprofessional person familiar with your abilityadvised you to take a CLEP exam?If you answered yes to several of the above questions,you have a good chance of passing the CLEP examyou’reconsidering.It’sunlikelyyouwouldhaveacquiredsufficientbackgroundfromexperiencealone.Learninggained through reading and study is essential, and you’lllikelyfindadditionalstudyhelpfulbeforetakingaCLEPexam.InformationonhowtoreviewforCLEPexamscanbefoundinChapterIVandinChapterVII.College-Level Examination Program8
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 12 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgIV. Preparing to Take CLEPExaminationsHaving made the decision to take one or more CLEPexams, most people then want to know how to preparefor them—how much, how long, when, and howshould they go about it? The precise answers to thesequestionsvarygreatlyfromindividualtoindividual.However,mosttesttakersfindthatsometypeoftestpreparationisbeneficial.Most people who take CLEP exams do so to showthat they already learned the key material taught in acollegecourse.Manyneedonlyaquickreviewtoassurethemselves that they haven’t forgotten what they oncestudied,andtofillinthegapsintheirknowledgeofthesubject.Othersfeelthattheyneedathoroughreviewandspendseveralweeksstudyingforanexam.SomepeopletakeaCLEPexamasakindof“finalexam”forindependentstudyofasubject.Thislastgrouprequiressignificantlymorestudythandothosewhoonlyneedto review, and they may need some guidance fromprofessorsofthesubjectsthey’restudying.The key to how you prepare for CLEP exams often liesin locating those skills and areas of prior learning inwhich you are strongest and deciding where to focusyourenergy.Somepeoplemayknowaconsiderableamountaboutasubjectareabutmaynottestwell.These individuals would probably be just as concernedabout strengthening their test-taking skills as theywouldaboutstudyingforaspecifictest.Manymentaland physical skills are required in preparing for atest.It’simportantnotonlytorevieworstudyfortheexams but also to make certain that you are alert,relatively free of anxiety, and aware of how to approachstandardizedtests.Suggestionsaboutdevelopingtest-taking skills and preparing psychologicallyandphysicallyforatestaregiveninthischapter.The following section suggests ways of assessingyour knowledge of the content of an exam and thenreviewingandstudyingthematerial.Using the Examination GuidesThe individual exam guides contain the same informationyouwillfindintheCLEP Official Study Guide.Eachexam guide includes an outline of the knowledge andskills covered by the test, sample questions similar tothose that appear on the exam, and tips to get ready fortheexam.You may also choose to contact a college in yourareathatoffersacoursewithcontentcomparableto that on the CLEP exam you want to take, orread the suggested resources for each exam onclep.collegeboard.org/exams.Ifpossible,usethetextbook and other materials required for that coursetohelpyouprepare.Togetthisinformation,checkthecollege’scatalogforalistofcoursesoffered.Thencalltheadmissionoffice,explainwhatsubjectyou’reinterested in, and ask who in that academic departmentyoucancontactforspecificinformationontextbooksandotherstudyresourcestouse.Youmightalsobeabletofindthecoursesyllabus,whichwilllistcoursematerialsandassignments,onthecollege’swebsite.Be sure the college you’re interested in gives credit fortheCLEPexamyou’repreparingfor.Begin by carefully reading the test description andoutline of knowledge and skills required for the exam intheexamguide.Asyoureadthroughthetopicslisted,askyourselfhowmuchyouknowabouteachone.Alsonote the terms, names, and symbols mentioned, and askyourselfwhetheryou’refamiliarwiththem.Thiswillgiveyou a quick overview of how much you know about thesubject.Ifyou’refamiliarwithnearlyallthematerial,you’lllikelyneedaminimumofreview.Iftopicsandterms are unfamiliar, you’ll probably require substantialstudytodowellontheexam.If, after reviewing the test description provided in theexamguide,youfindthatyouneedextensivereview,putoffansweringthesamplequestionsuntilyouhavedonesomereadinginthesubject.Ifyoucompletethem before reviewing the material, you’ll probablyCollege-Level Examination Program9
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 13 preview imageclep.collegeboard.orgIV. Preparing to Take CLEP Examinationslook for the answers as you study, and this will not beagoodassessmentofyourabilityatalaterdate.Don’trefer to the sample questions as you prepare for theexam.Thesamplequestionsarerepresentativeofthetypesofquestionsyou’llfindonaCLEPexam,butnoneofthequestionswillactuallyappearonanexam.Concentrating on them without broader study of thesubjectwon’thelpyou.If you think you’re familiar with most of the test material,try to answer the sample questions, checking yourresponsesagainsttheanswerkey.Usethetest-takingstrategiesdescribedinthenextchapter.College-Level Examination Program10
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College Placement Test Preparation (2014) - Page 14 preview imageIV. Preparing to Take CLEP Examinationsclep.collegeboard.orgTake CLEP ExamRead Exam Descriptionand Knowledgeand Skills RequiredDi˜culty AnsweringSample QuestionsUnderstand TermsDon’tUnderstand TermsTry Sample QuestionsReview Study MaterialsSuggested in the StudyResources Section ofEach SubjectMostSample QuestionsAnsweredCorrectlySelect CLEP Exam TitleAssessing Your Readiness for a CLEP ExamCollege-Level Examination Program11
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College Placement Test