tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20955296150174657962024-03-07T21:55:29.004-08:0060+ Credits in 60 DaysClep, DSST, ECE, DANTES, TEST OUT, COLLEGE CREDIT, CLEP OUT, CLEP TEST, EXAM PREP, GRE PREP, STUDY GUIDES,MILITARY CLEP, MILITARY DANTES60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-35597545335227239062011-03-28T23:53:00.000-07:002011-03-28T23:53:24.619-07:00Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union DSST<div id="post_message_20050" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wow, what a test. This one hurt the ole' noggin. I passed it with a 58. Minimum score needed was a 45. <br />
-There were no questions on Andropov, or Chernenko. Spend most of your time studying Lenin, Stalin, Bhreznev, and Gorbachev.<br />
<br />
-The only question about Chernobyl Nuclear Accident was "What did the Soviet Union immediately do when the accident occured..", obviously, the tried to cover it up from the world.<br />
<br />
-Study up on the Battles of Stalingrad and Lenningrad during the "Patriotic War" or WW II.<br />
<br />
-There were some questions about what side and efforts the Bolsheviks took with regards to the Spanish Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.<br />
<br />
-Read up on the Soviet Unions Constitution. Know what Gorbachev did in reference to amending an article (#6, I believe)<br />
<br />
-Know all the names that the Soviet Secret Police have been called (ie. Cheka, GBU, NKVD, KGB)<br />
<br />
-Know which countries became part of the CIS after the break up of the Soviet Union.<br />
<br />
-Know what Lenin put in his last statement to the Communist Party that the leadership did not want everyone else to know about.<br />
<br />
-Know about "War Communism" and the "New Economic Policy"<br />
<br />
-Know what was gained by the Red Army's invasion of Finland.<br />
<br />
-Know about the Great Purges.<br />
<br />
-Know about Maxim Gorky and Vsevolod Meyerhold<br />
<br />
-Know about the Molotov-Ribbentop Pact.<br />
<br />
-Know about the "Marshall Plan"<br />
<br />
-Know that during WW2, that Stalin was upset because the Allies would not open up a Western European Front when he needed it.<br />
<br />
-Know that from 1941 to 1943, Stalin mass deported Volga Germans and Crimean Tartars to Siberia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia.<br />
<br />
-Know that the 'Korean War', was a hard lesson the Soviets learned when they walked out of s 1950 UN Security Council meeting. This was the only time they ever did that. If they had stayed during the Security Council vote, The Korean War might not have happened.<br />
<br />
-Know that Boris Yeltsin became the popular political figure in the Soviet Union after the failed 1991 coup.<br />
<br />
-Know that the Soviet Union's War in Afghanistan was the worst military mistake in Soviet History.<br />
<br />
-Know that Perestroika was economic reforms and only that. (This was one of those "could it be I, II and IV., or I, III, or IV, or I only. Chose the one that states 'Economic Reforms only".<br />
<br />
I know that there are a couple formats out there for this test. My test was 100 questions long, I had 2 hrs to take and did it in 45min. And boy does my brain hurt.<br />
<br />
Hope this helps. Thanks to all the previous posters here. They were very instrumental in my passing this exam.</div><div><br />
</div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-30764614211579565332011-03-25T17:45:00.000-07:002011-03-29T05:26:08.196-07:00General Anthropology DSST<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I took the DANTES General Anthropology exam. I think it went quite well, and I am pretty sure I passed it.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">I didn't think it was TOO hard an exam. Definitely harder than CLEP Sociology, but not as hard as DANTES Intro to World Religions.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">As usual with DANTES, there were quite a few questions that I didn't know the answer to. But I am hoping that I was able to correctly answer enough questions to pass.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Only time will tell!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Resources:</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Wikipedia (I looked lots of terminology up).</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://http:%2F%2Fcla.calpoly.edu:16080%2F%7Etljone...ew%25202004.html/" target="_blank">http://cla.calpoly.edu:16080/~tljone...ew%202004.html</a></span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.umanitoba.ca/anthropology/kintitle.html" target="_blank">http://www.umanitoba.ca/anthropology/kintitle.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Things to Know (based on MY version of the exam):</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Cross-cousins (identify on a kinship chart)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">ziggurat</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Catal Huyuk</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Superposition/Stratigraphy</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Mana</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Ethnology</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Ethnography</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Linguistics (Sapir)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">DNA (just know what it is)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Genetic Drift</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Natural Selection</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Hominids (know this stuff well. Know the different kinds of hominids, where, when, what they did first, where their fossils/bones have been found, etc.)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Oldest hominid found so far in USA</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Dating Technology (<a href="http://archaeology.about.com/od/dating/Dating_Archaeological_Sites_and_Artifacts.htm" target="_blank">Scientific Dating of Archaeological Sites and Artifacts</a>)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Civilization (definition)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Culture (definition)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Ideal/Real Culture</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Ethnocentrism</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Cultural Relativism</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Diffusion</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Emic/Etic</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Status</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Symbols</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Band/Caste/Chiefdom/Class/Clan/Tribe/Kinship/State etc.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Lineage (Matri/Patri)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Endogamy/Exogamy</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Monogamy/Polygamy/Polyandry</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Hunter-gatherer/Horticulture/Agriculture/Industrial/Market Exchange.</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Reciprocity</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Redistribution</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Potlach</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Animism</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Revitalization</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Cargo Cults (know what they are. I LOVE those guys:</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_cult" target="_blank">Cargo cult - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</a>)</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Myth</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Folktale</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Shamanism</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Taboo</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Totem</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Applied Anthropology</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Names (just know why each name is important):</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Darwin</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Mendel</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Tylor</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Boas</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Rivers</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Frazer</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Malinowski</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Sapir</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Benedict</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Civilizations to Know:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Maya</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Inca</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Aztec</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Aborigine</span><br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Olmec</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">Bonus Point: Which civilization first invented "zero"?</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-1274745815575998452011-03-22T03:54:00.000-07:002011-06-19T12:47:59.263-07:00Geology DSST<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well, not the most popular exam, is it? I needed science credits, and I don't know why I chose Geology, except that I just think rocks are cool. I studied for one week. I speed read my way through The Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology, by Tarbuck/Lutgens, and Exercises in Physical Geology by Hamblin and Howard. Both books are very good, lots of pictures and excellent illustrations. I scored a 54, a 'B'. I think I could have scored much higher if I had learned all the terminology better. Here's a few things I remember:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Which planet has plate tectonics like Earth?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Rocks older than 180 million years are not found on the ocean floor, why is that?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-What is the ocean floor made of?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-What are the mineral compositions of granite, quartz, and feldspar?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-What distinctive landscape features are caused by glaciers?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-What climates are most/least conducive to chemical weathering of rocks?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Know the law of superposition, be able to recognize a diagram of it, with laccoliths, dikes, and faults, and be able to say which of all these things occurred in what order.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Know how to figure out the rate of sea floor spreading.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Know all about transform faults</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-How were the Aleutian Islands formed?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Know Bowen's Reaction Series really well</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-How is an oxbow lake formed?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sorry it's not much, that's all I can remember. I found the subject matter fascinating. I definitely think that the key terms--vocabulary and knowing all the definitions is key on this one. Good luck!</span></span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-37124131954909016962011-03-12T10:25:00.000-08:002011-03-29T05:27:05.432-07:00World Conflicts Since 1900 ECE<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The test was almost wholly fact memorization, with a few theoretical scenario questions thrown in (130 questions total). Hope that helps someone, I didn't know much about any of the writers, or half of the terms, but had a basic knowledge of all the conflicts and I looked through the ECE study guide and read "Complete Idiot's guide to World Conflicts".</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Conflicts</span></u><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">World War 1 - lots of questions especially on causes.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">World War 2 - a few questions, most notably on Germany and Hitler. Several questions on Hitler's motives/strategy. Also a couple on European powers breaking up and administering the conquered lands.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Korea - Several questions on Korea, esp. causes and international actions (*** this one was NOT listed on the study guide).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Veitnam - Causes, how it ended.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Balkans - lots of questions on the breakup of Yugoslavia, and Slobo's motives (one specific question was: which state was the first to break away). Also, know why each state declared independance..ie...cultural reasons, safety<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Gulf War - Causes, UN action (also, specific question was: what year did it start?).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Iraq - there were a few questions on Iraq's motives for invading Kuwait, and for attacking Iran...and questions about who the US supported, why...and UN action.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Cold War - several questions on the cold war, mostly about nuke deterrent, proxy wars, when the cold war ended and why (specific question: what action most closely depicts the end of the cold war? answer was the fall of the Berlin Wall)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Arab/Israeli - several questions on the different wars, and who signed what treaty and why (specific question: when was the first Arab/Israeli war? answer: as soon as Israel was created)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Pakistan/India - couple questions, mostly on kashmir and nukes (specific questions: which nation gained its independance from Pakistan? answer: bangladesh; question: why did Pakistan start nuke testing?)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Major things to study:</span></u><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">UNITED NATIONS! study basically everything about UN actions, abilities, lots of questions.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Treaties - several questions on major treaties and accords like Versailles, Camp David, Oslo, nonproliferation.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">American Wars/motives - seemed to have alot of questions on specifically American wars/motives (America is the nation that has been involved in the most conflicts in the 1900's).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Political Scientists/writers - there were a LOT of questions on the writings/theories of: Stoessinger, Huntington, Waltz.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Terrorism - causes, why it's easier today (also, NGOs), definition of terrorism.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Globalization - a couple questions on impact.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Terms to KNOW:</span></u><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Balance of power<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Bipolar/multipolar<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Collective security<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Realism<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Liberalism<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Marxism<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span><o:p></o:p></div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-61774913849548869392011-02-13T23:47:00.000-08:002011-02-13T23:47:34.107-08:00General Test Taking/Preparation Advice - DSST / CLEP<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Yes, it's all about the basics really. Most of these exams are called "Intro to...." or "Principles of....". That alone should tell you something about the depth to which the MAJORITY of questions will go.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">I am NOT saying that these exams are easy, or that you shouldn't study as hard as you possibly can. Rather, I am saying that you have to focus your studies on what will provide the highest return on the actual exam. For most of these exams, the thing that will provide the highest return is THOROUGHLY knowing all the basics such as key terminology, concepts, principles, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The REALLY hard stuff should only be considered important if you desire to earn 'bonus points' on the exam, or if a simple passing score is not pleasing enough for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">On most exams, I went ahead and conquered the hard stuff too. But on certain exams, such as Accounting, Statistics, Principles of Finance, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, etc., I just found myself getting SO overwhelmed by some of the more advanced topics that it was hurting my self-confidence and causing me to get confused by even the basic stuff. So in the end, for these exams particularly, I focused the vast majority of my time and energy on truly MASTERING the BASICS.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">When it came time to take the exam, I found that I could answer almost every single easy and average difficulty question. Any question I came across that was too hard, I simply guessed and moved on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">If you can do that, you can afford to miss most of the really hard questions, and still do well. Also, since these are multiple choice exams, you have a 20-25% chance of getting even the MOST diffficult questions right simply by guessing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">With that in mind, I would recommend that you make sure you will be able to get every single "easy" question right, almost all of the "average" questions right, and hopefully pick up one or two bonus points by guessing on the extremely hard questions. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Obviously this is a different approach than most people would consider. It would seem more logical to try and master absolutely EVERYTHING when preparing for an exam. But with some of these exams, it's just not worth the 'mental anguish, pain, and suffering' that such an attempt would cause.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="apple-style-span"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's my 10 Step Program for passing an exam:</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">1. Research the exam. How many questions, what is covered on it, time limit, paper-based or computer-based, minimum passing score, graded or pass/fail, score needed to get an 'A' (if applicable) etc.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">2. Read (or ask for) feedback from other people who have already passed the exam. Was it easy, was it hard, what areas to focus my studies on, which materials they found useful etc.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">3. Gather together everything I will be using to study. This might include: Instantcert, study guides, pdf files, web site links etc.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">4. Read a good overview of the subject. Wikipedia.com is often good for this, or I might read a study guide, or a web site etc.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">5. Go through Instantcert and make my own notes. I find that WRITING the information down in my own words helps me to remember it.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">6. Keep going through Instantcert until I feel comfortable with the majority of the material. This involves actually understanding the concepts/explanations rather than merely memorizing which words go in the blank spaces.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">7. Fill in any gaps in my notes. There may be a topic that is not covered in Instantcert, or that is not covered deeply enough for my liking.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">8. Study from my notes. Memorize wherever possible.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">9. Take a mock test or two (admittedly at this this stage, I can more or less tell whether I am ready for the exam without having to take a mock).</span><br />
<br />
<span class="apple-style-span">10. Take and pass the actual exam!</span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-32142583276636402972011-02-13T23:42:00.001-08:002011-02-13T23:42:35.838-08:00Limited Learning In College<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I stumbled across this article on Yahoo and thought you would be interested:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110118/ap_on_re_us/us_college_learning" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Student tracking finds limited learning in college - Yahoo! News</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Student tracking finds limited learning in college<br />
<br />
By ERIC GORSKI, AP Education Writer Eric Gorski, Ap Education Writer – Tue Jan 18, 12:43 pm ET<br />
<br />
<br />
You are told that to make it in life, you must go to college. You work hard to get there. You or your parents drain savings or take out huge loans to pay for it all.<br />
<br />
And you end up learning ... not much.<br />
<br />
A study of more than 2,300 undergraduates found 45 percent of students show no significant improvement in the key measures of critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing by the end of their sophomore years.<br />
<br />
<br />
Not much is asked of students, either. Half did not take a single course requiring 20 pages of writing during their prior semester, and one-third did not take a single course requiring even 40 pages of reading per week.<br />
<br />
The findings are in a new book, "Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses," by sociologists Richard Arum of New York University and Josipa Roksa of the University of Virginia. An accompanying report argues against federal mandates holding schools accountable, a prospect long feared in American higher education.<br />
<br />
"The great thing ” if you can call it that” is that it's going to spark a dialogue and focus on the actual learning issue," said David Paris, president of the New Leadership Alliance for Student Learning and Accountability, which is pressing the cause in higher education. "What kind of intellectual growth are we seeing in college?"<br />
<br />
The study, an unusually large-scale effort to track student learning over time, comes as the federal government, reformers and others argue that the U.S. must produce more college graduates to remain competitive globally. But if students aren't learning much, that calls into question whether boosting graduation rates will provide that edge.<br />
<br />
"It's not the case that giving out more credentials is going to make the U.S. more economically competitive," Arum said in an interview. "It requires academic rigor ... You can't just get it through osmosis at these institutions."<br />
<br />
The findings also will likely spark a debate over what helps and hurts students learn. To sum up, it's good to lead a monk's existence: Students who study alone and have heavier reading and writing loads do well.<br />
<br />
The book is based on information from 24 schools, meant to be a representative sample, that provided Collegiate Learning Assessment data on students who took the standardized test in their first semester in fall 2005 and at the end of their sophomore years in spring 2007. The schools took part on the condition that their institutions not be identified.<br />
<br />
The Collegiate Learning Assessment has its share of critics who say it doesn't capture learning in specialized majors or isn't a reliable measure of college performance because so many factors are beyond their control.<br />
<br />
<br />
The research found an average-scoring student in fall 2005 scored seven percentage points higher in spring of 2007 on the assessment. In other words, those who entered college in the 50th percentile would rise to the equivalent of the 57th after their sophomore years.<br />
<br />
Among the findings outlined in the book and report, which tracked students through four years of college:<br />
<br />
_Overall, the picture doesn't brighten much over four years. After four years, 36 percent of students did not demonstrate significant improvement, compared to 45 percent after two.<br />
<br />
_Students who studied alone, read and wrote more, attended more selective schools and majored in traditional arts and sciences majors posted greater learning gains.<br />
<br />
<br />
_Social engagement generally does not help student performance. Students who spent more time studying with peers showed diminishing growth and students who spent more time in the Greek system had decreased rates of learning, while activities such as working off campus, participating in campus clubs and volunteering did not impact learning.<br />
<br />
_Students from families with different levels of parental education enter college with different learning levels but learn at about the same rates while attending college. The racial gap between black and white students going in, however, widens: Black students improve their assessment scores at lower levels than whites.<br />
<br />
Arum and Roksa spread the blame, pointing to students who don't study much and seek easy courses and a culture at colleges and universities that values research over good teaching.<br />
<br />
Subsequent research found students one year out of college are not faring well: One-third moved back home, and 10 percent were unemployed. The findings are troubling news for an engaged citizenry, Arum said. Almost half of those surveyed said they rarely if ever discuss politics or public affairs with others either in person or online.<br />
<br />
The report warns that federally mandated fixes similar to "No Child Left Behind" in K-12 education would be "counterproductive," in part because researchers are still learning how to measure learning. But it does make clear that accountability should be emphasized more at the institutional level, starting with college presidents.<br />
<br />
Some colleges and universities do not need convincing. The University of Charleston, in West Virginia, has beefed up writing assignments in disciplines such as nursing and biology to improve learning.<br />
<br />
President Edwin Welch is among more than 70 college and university presidents pledging to take steps to improve student learning, use evidence to improve instruction and publicize results.<br />
<br />
"I think we do need more transparency," Welch said. "I think a student at a private institution who might go into debt for $40,000 or $50,000 has the right to know what he can learn at the institution."<br />
</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Thoughts?</span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-71705442749617877142011-02-12T10:15:00.000-08:002011-02-12T10:17:34.668-08:00Principles of Finance DSST<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">I just passed it with flying colors.. I used the new official 2011 test prep guide that had alot of the questions on the exam or close to it... You can order it from getcollegecredit.com for about 30 bucks.... I used that along with the notes everyone recommended... Thanks guys...My test was heavy on bonds, payback, npv and only a few pv, fv calculations. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;">There were at least three questions regarding EOQ, or economic ordering quantity.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 14px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Be sure to study dol, dcl, dfl, and irr. Know bonds, call feature, npv with outflows, break even, total asset turnover formula, which forms you use to calculate roa, definition of beta, capm formula, discount rate formula, effective rate formula, study section on eoq, There are questions about actual and required rate of return. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Things covered different types of ratios (memorize all the types of ratios!) you should know which ones are profitability, asset utilization, etc. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a couple questions on EOQ, you should memorize the formula and know how to use it.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You must know all how to calculate future cash flows using all three methods (payback method, NPV, IRR)<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were questions and problems on financial leverage, operating leverage, and combined leverage. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a couple questions on credit terms (i.e 2/10 net 30).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had a question on calculating foreign currencies. While I studied and knew how to work these problems, the question was weird and I probably got it wrong. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Know that common stock is the most expensive investment!<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Know what beta is and how to calculate CAPM<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You need to know the steps to go through for determining net income on an income statement, as they will just give you parts of an financial statement and require you to calculate from it.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PVIF, PVIFA, FVIF, FVIFA. What's been said earlier in this thread is also very helpful -- make a list of formulas and study them -- EOQ, SML, YTM, and so on -- all the ratios<br />
. How to use the 4 financial tables you received from Prometric to calculate PV, PVA, FV, FVA, IRR (by guessing based on initial and subsequent cashflows given) and NPV (by subtracting initial investment from the PV calcuated using the table).<br />
. Cash Discount. Know your terms (eg 2/10 net 30) and the cost of that cash discount. eg. If the net days increased from 30 to 60, how would your cost of cash discount be affected?<br />
. Components (accounts) of a balance sheet to calculate ratios off of (not in ic).<br />
. Know your four type of ratios and most popular ones. For example, If I gave you a balance sheet and told you to calculate Debt to Asset ratio, you need to know what values to pick out from the provided balance sheet.<br />
. Components of a Cash flow statement (high level, not the detail).<br />
. Know Net Working Capital and the basic balance sheet components that make it up.<br />
. Formula for DOL, DFL and DCL (degree of leverage for operating, financial, combined) and know what leverage (debt or fixed costs) is and how it relates to assets and equity.<br />
. Know how to compute EOQ from different variables given. (not in ic)<br />
. CAPM and Constant Growth.<br />
. Simple Currency conversion. (not in ic)<br />
. Break Even Point theory and calc. eg. If var costs decreased, how would that affect BE? incr, decr, no-change, not enough info?<br />
. WACC<br />
. Bonds<br />
. Tax margin. Convert something to its "after tax" value.<br />
. Systematic and unsystematic risk. (not in ic)<br />
. Factoring.<br />
. "Cost of Capital" section in IC.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> You will also have to solve for a recurring annuity payment. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There is a LOT of overlap. PV, FV, all them ratios, payback period, IRR, net present value—I had to relearn it all a year later.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Present and Future Value – You should know what semiannual means.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">EOQ – there's at least a couple of problems that require knowledge of this formula and concept<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">CAPM – I don't recall using the formula to solve a problem, but there were several questions regarding the concept<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Tax Margin – two questions regarding that. Those were two of my guesses<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Systematic and Unsystematic Risk – definitely know that. Despite the advice in the Specific Feedback section, I never got around to looking that up—as it seemed obvious. It's not—at least not the way these questions are phrased. You should know this.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Leverage – DOL, DFL, DCL. The Q(P-VC) formulas won't help you much but the concepts will. In other words, you aren't going to have to do a raw computation, but you'll have to take it from half-way in and be able to finish and answer several questions relating to how leverage works and how other changes may or may not impact leverage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Stock valuation formulas – at least be able to recognize them<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Foreign Currency Conversion – it's one of the few problems where they give you unfriendly numbers to work with<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Cash Discounts<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Credit Terms<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Net Working Capital<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Weighted Cost of Capital<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Factoring - know what it is. Easy points.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Bond debentures, indentures, floating-rate, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Valuation of Stock - I knew CAPM and Constant Growth--which you should know as well, but I didn't know the other P=D/K variations--and I should have.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Payback Period, IRR, NPV –<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Statements – there are several questions that require you to know which items are on which statements (Income, Balance) and which to use (and not use) when calculating things like net income, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="Body"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make sure you also know the following well:<br />
Cost of Bonds and Preferred Stock as well as YTM on Bonds. Detailed parts and how to calculate.<br />
EOQ and Inventory (FIFO/LIFO) there were at least 4 questions on EOQ.<br />
Invoicing - Cost of Trade Credit concepts<br />
Effective Interest Rate (what it is and how to calculate)<br />
Source/Uses of Cash and after-tax concepts</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Know and practice how to solve time value questions, NPV, IRR, and cashflow problems with the calculator and bond/stock valuation, cost of debt, capital, and other terms. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">basic understanding of proforma statements<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br />
- Computing "net worth" from a list of figures (not as intuitive as one might think)<br />
- Understand the effects of stock splits/reverse stock splits/stock dividends/cash dividends on retained earnings, par value, stock price, EPS. <br />
- If EOQ goes up by a certain amount, how much does that affect inventory level?<br />
- If cost of capital is X% and internal rate of return is X%, what does that say about the NPV? In other words, it's not enough to just know how to compute IRR or NPV on your calculator, you need to understand the formula and the effects of variable changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">pay particular attention to the circumstances and effects of the cost of debt. There are at least 8 questions that revolve, at least in part, around this series of concepts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I had probably 10-12 questions that were to solve for PV or FV or annuities. One combination-type question asks for the future value of an account with different deposit amount for about 5 years, then no deposits for 15 years earning interest, and what is the future value at the end. <br />
I had around 5 questions that were on the CAPM formula (this is where you'll find Beta) where it gave you everything but 1 part of the equation and you had to solve for the required rate of return. You want to have that formula memorized. A few questions about EOQ, economic ordering quantity. I also had a question that asked what happened to inventory if the EOQ went up. I think inventory would increase, but I don't know if I got that right or not. There are several questions on the 3 types of leverage (financial, operating, and total or complete), so it would be good to memorize these 3 formulas and know that DFL x DOL = DCL. I had to solve for the present value of a perpetuity (annual return divided by interest).I think I had to value a bond. To do so, use the cash flow for each period multiplied by the PVA (or find the PV's for each period and add them all together, as I had to do), then add the PV of the amount due at maturity and this is the Bond valuation. <br />
Understand internal rate of return, and Net Present Value, which is not the same thing as Present Value as NPV takes into consideration the initial cash investment. On the test, they use the terms asset utilization and debt utilization, so I would look online to get those in your brain. Know that leverage refers to debt. Liquidity looks at current obligations and Leverage looks at long term obligations. 4 ratio types to be liquidity, activity, leverage, and profitability<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I did have a question where it asked for the collection period to be calculated.<br />
I was also given a currency conversion (from what it would look like in a newspaper I think) and needed to look at it and answer 2 questions about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The top line said something line $USD to German DM and then had some numbers after it.<br />
Also, I was given a “stock's market price of 7-7.5” and you had to tell which was the ask and the bid?<br />
Know what EBIT is, and Net income, (that net income is after taxes, but before any dividends are paid out).<br />
Know the 3 sections of a cash flow stmt, (operating, investing, financing) and know that non-cash "expenses" like depreciation, are ADDED back into your net income on a cash flow, so it an increase to cash, and there at least one question about this. A cash flow statement begins with Net Income. <br />
<br />
There were a good number of questions on cost of capital and on capital budgeting.<br />
You will have to calculate break-even, which is Quantity (or break even quantity) = FIXED COST divided by (PRICE less VARIABLE COST). You will want this memorized to answer a few questions on it.<br />
Know what earnings per share is, and what price per earnings ratio is. Other things I know I had questions on was Return on assets, return on equity. <br />
Regarding bonds, know what a call option is, a put option, know that a debenture is an unsecured bond, and that the indenture is the bond contract. <br />
Know that issuing common stock is most expensive way for a firm to raise capital. Know what flotation costs (legal, etc.) are. <br />
Know what systematic risk and unsystematic risk is. Diversified risk is unsystematic risk. You can almost eliminate unsystematic risk by diversification, but you can't eliminate systematic risk. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Total risk is made up of diversifiable risk and non-diversifiable risk. Know about bonds being sold at a premium or a discount to their par value, how to calculate their yield. Know what a call is. Call price less par value = call premium. <br />
Know that current or short term means less than one year. <br />
Know that preferred stock gets paid a dividend, normally. <br />
Know that a bond sold at a discount increases it's yield, and that a bond sold at a premium reduces it's yield. Know that the par value is the value at maturity. Know how to find the yield of a preferred stock. It is the annual dividend divided by the required rate of return. I am certain I had this on the test. <br />
Know how to find the yield on common stock. Year 1 dividend divided by (investors required rate of return less the growth rate of dividends). <br />
Know what a revolving line of credit and a commitment fee is, know that interest is paid in advance on a discount loan, which increases the interest rate as the usable funds are lower since interest was taken right off the top. Know what commercial paper is. Know what a lien is. Know what factoring is. I had questions on these. <br />
Capital expenditures. <br />
Know the difference between independent projects and mutually exclusive projects. <br />
Know about those capital budgeting techniques from InstantCert and that if IRR is greater than the cost of capital, they should accept the project. Know that NPV and IRR can conflict with each other.<br />
Know that "payback period" does not factor in time value of money. <br />
I had one question about the “times interest earned formula”?<br />
Make sure you know all the risk concepts inside and out, since they tie into almost everything else. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There wasn't much on CAPM, maybe 3 or 4 questions, but they did require knowing the formula and how to use it.<br />
• Calculation of IRR from given values<br />
• Calculation of CAPM from given values<br />
• Cost of retained earnings<br />
• Calculation of current ratio<br />
• Calculation of quick ratio<br />
• Calculation of NPV<br />
• Constant Growth Value is also known as what?<br />
• Questions on WCCA<br />
• Questions on Interest Rates<br />
• WACC<br />
• If a person can spend 5000 annually on a car within 4 years and the interest rate is 6%, what is the price of a vehicle that the person can afford (calculate present value and sum it)<br />
• A question on opportunity cost<br />
• Diversification<br />
• If the rate of inflation is 6 % in USA and 2 % in Australia how will this affect USA $ vs. Aus $<br />
• When is ordinary annuity paid (some choices are in the middle of the month, end of month etc)<br />
• How often do banks pay interest on savings (some choices are monthly, annually, sami-annually etc.)<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Comparing average tax rate to the marginal tax rate?<br />
<br />
Banks pay interest? (answers: daily, weekly, quarterly, semi-annually) <br />
<br />
Pure discount bonds sell at ? Below value, above value, etc. I never came across the term "pure discount". <br />
<br />
How many years to double your money at XX% interest? This is actually easy to figure out using TVM on calculator. Just plug in any value - say $100 for PV, then FV of $200, Interest=XX. Then compute N (time period).<br />
<br />
I had the question listed in the forum feedback about the car payment ($5000 for 4 years how much could the family afford to buy)<br />
<br />
A question about how to calculate beta from some values presented?<br />
I did have 2 or 3 questions using CAPM formula<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><i><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pure discount bonds sell at ? Below value, above value, etc. I never came across the term "pure discount".<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cost of retained earnings -- not just what it is, but how to calculate it from given values, the values given assume you know how other financial factors affect retained earnings</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Effect of inflation on risk under the CAPM<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Effects of differing levels of risk aversion on securities risk rating; calculate beta from given values<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yield to maturity on bond given values -- I could not remember how to work the function on my calculator<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Several PV, NPV and one IRR calculation question<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The 'family finances car' PV question<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Calculating retained earnings from an income statement<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember the accounting equation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Current ratio, practically the same question 3 times<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Know the implications of/effects on SML (which is CAPM)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which activities increase cash?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No inventory calculations, but know that inventory is least liquid current asset<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If a business has a lot of assets in slow-moving inventory, which measure is the best indicator of their situation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One where cost of equity /cost of capital is supposed to be a guide to return on assets. There's a relationship here I'm clueless about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which measure is best to determine return on assets (ROA is not one of the choices)?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pick which of the following is characteristic of common stock<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Know the definition of net present value, as well as how to figure it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beta on portfolio given betas of stocks in it<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How would a firm minimize exchange rate risk?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is a spot rate trade? None of the given answers made sense. I chose the one that looked like a typo of a sensible answer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No questions on Dupont directly, but one that looked like it may have assumed knowledge of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Calculate EPS (a 'what to leave out' question)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As mentioned in previous feedback several stock questions are used to test your knowledge of related topics; this makes stocks seem over-represented on the test.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quick Ratio, Current Assets - Inventory / Current Liabilities. <br />
Pure Discount Bond<br />
-Beta concepts and how to calculate it<br />
-A lot of characteristic questions over stocks and bonds(really know these)<br />
-Value of Bonds <br />
-Capital Budgeting; Payback period<br />
-Effective Annual Rate</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">These included DOL, EPS, PV of bond, PV perpetuity, PI ratio, Gordon model, CAPM, current ratio, quick ratio.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The DSST Fact Sheet is pretty straightforward. Make sure you tackle each topic.<br />
- There were a surprising number of questions on Floatation Costs on my exam.<br />
- Several questions that involved PV/FV/CF calculations<br />
- Capital Budgeting/IRR<br />
- Cost of Capital/Cost of Debt/Cost of Equity<br />
- Balance Sheet/Income Statement/Cash Flow Statement<br />
- Ratio Analysis - what does it mean, how is it applied<br />
- Annuities and Annuities Due - know the difference and application<br />
- Short term and long term sources of funds and implications of each<br />
- Bonds - evaluation, calculating value, return<br />
- Sensitivity - what it measures, how it is applied<br />
- Risk and Return - figuring expected return and how things affect risk<br />
- Effective/Nominal interest rates<br />
- Standard Deviation<br />
- CAPM<br />
- SML<br />
- Diversification - questions specific to diversifying/risk<br />
- Exchange rates/Intl financial markets/Spot vs Forward <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> I needed was present value, future value, current ratio, quick ratio, nwc, price over sales (don't even know what that is), how to value a bond, theoretical knowledge of what capm is and what it is used for (not the formula), currency conversion question, interest rate conversion (nominal to effective). <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">NPV, IRR, MIRR, Payback, and PI.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> Current, Quick, EPS ratios seemed to pop up often.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had 3 calculations on the Current Ratio (which is good cause it's an easy formula) and 1 using the Quick Ratio.<br />
<br />
Comparing average tax rate to the marginal tax rate?<br />
<br />
Banks pay interest on savings accounts? (answers: daily, weekly, quarterly, semi-annually) <br />
<br />
Pure discount bonds sell at ? Below value, above value, etc. I never came across the term "pure discount". <br />
<br />
How many years to double your money at XX% interest? This is actually easy to figure out using TVM on calculator. Just plug in any value - say $100 for PV, then FV of $200, Interest=XX. Then compute N (time period).<br />
<br />
I had the question listed in the forum feedback about the car payment ($5000 for 4 years how much could the family afford to buy)<br />
<br />
A question about how to calculate beta from some values presented? Again, I knew about beta but never came across how to calculate it. I guessed.<br />
<br />
Know the implications of/effects on SML (which is CAPM)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which activities increase cash?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No inventory calculations, but know that inventory is least liquid current asset<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If a business has a lot of assets in slow-moving inventory, which measure is the best indicator of their situation?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One where cost of equity /cost of capital is supposed to be a guide to return on assets. There's a relationship here I'm clueless about.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Which measure is best to determine return on assets (ROA is not one of the choices)?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pick which of the following is characteristic of common stock<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Know the definition of net present value, as well as how to figure it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 43.5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br />
</div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-66505482129968336222011-02-12T10:12:00.001-08:002011-02-12T10:12:24.939-08:00A History of the Vietnam War DSST<div class="MsoNormal">The Vietnam exam today was very challenging. I am pretty certain that I passed, but I have no clue whether it will be a high score or a barely passing score. A lot of DANTES exams are like that. But this one especially so.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I can't believe that the Vietnam exam is only lower level credit. In my opinion, it was every bit as difficult and challenging as both the Soviet Union, and the Civil War exams. The questions they asked, and the knowledge they required, were just as deep and complex for this exam as they were on the two upper level exams.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Luckily, I had studied equally as hard for History of the Vietnam War as I had done for Civil War and Soviet Union. So I really do think I was able to pull it off. But there are definitely EASIER lower level history exams to be taken. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I don't recommend this exam to anyone who just needs 'filler credit' to boost their electives. Leave it for the history majors who NEED this credit, and/or certified history buffs who would gladly CHOOSE to take this exam.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I enjoyed studying for this exam, and I actually enjoyed how challenging the exam was (I'm always up for a good challenge)....I just wasn't expecting it to be comparable in scope and depth to the two upper level history exams I had already taken.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I don't think I failed it. I really did study hard for it, and I think I knew the answer to most of the questions, even though they were not quite as straightforward as I anticipated.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Cederic was right on the money when he said, "I would compare the difficulty level to the Soviet Union exam."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You absolutely cannot take this exam for granted. Approach it as if it is one of the more difficult upper level DANTES exams. Studying for it is especially problematic since Instancert does not cover this subject. You are basically on your own.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here's my breakdown of the exam, for all who are undeterred by my words of caution!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To study I used ALL of the following sources:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">SparkNotes: The Vietnam War (1945-1975)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Vietnam War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(lots of links to follow if you want to get nice and deep into the subject)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Vietnam War Index<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">American Experience | Vietnam Online | PBS<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Vietnam War > University Without Walls Spring 2004<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Vietnam War > University Without Walls Spring 2004<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">http://www.donnan.com/vietnam_timeline.htm<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Viet Nam War Overview<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Vietnam War: 14 to 18 years Websites<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Make sure you adequately study the early history of Vietnam, the French aspect, and Laos/Cambodia. Even after studying all the above sources, I was still thrown for a loop by a few of the questions in these areas and had to make educated guesses. These were the areas that I felt least prepared for. Together, they make up approximately 19% of the exam (about 20 questions). It's not a huge loss if you miss a couple of them, but be prepared for some challenging questions in these sections (1/5th of the exam). Certainly don't skip over these areas as you prepare for the exam.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The rest of the exam follows the DANTES factsheet to the letter. There were few surprises in the actual content of the questions. Rather, it was the depth of knowledge tested that caught me off guard.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There will be plenty of "simple" questions to boost your score too...if you have studied hard and prepared well, you might be able to answer ALL of these 'low hanging fruit' correctly.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">NAMES:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Bao Dai<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Eisenhower<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ho Chi Minh<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Le Duan<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Le Duc Tho<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pham Van Dong<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Vo Nguyen Giap<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Duong Van Minh<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ky<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thieu<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ngo Dinh Diem<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ngo Dinh Nhu<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Madame Nhu<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Nguyen Khanh<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dulles<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Abrams<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fulbright<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Harkins<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">JFK<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">RFK<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Martin Luther King, Jr.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Johnson<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Rusk<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">McNamara<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Lodge<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bundy<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Nixon<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Kissinger<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Truman<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Acheson<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Westmoreland<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">King Sianouk<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Lon Nol<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pol Pot<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sen Morse and Sen Gruening<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Gerald Ford<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jimmy Carter<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Kingdom of Champa<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">EVENTS/PLACES/ BATTLES/OPERATIONS/PROGRAMS:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">First Indochina War<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Laos<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Cambodia<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Versailles Peace Conference<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dien Bien Phu<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Geneva Accords<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ap Bac<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Gulf of Tonkin<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">1964 US Election<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pleiku and Flaming Dart<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Rolling Thunder<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ho Chi Minh Trail<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ia Drang<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Operation Cedar Falls and Central Office of South Vietnam (COSVN)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Phoenix Program<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Khe Sanh<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tet Offensive<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Saigon<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">My Lai Massacre<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Kent State<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Agroville<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Strategic Hamlet<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Spring Offensive<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Quang tri<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">An Loc<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Paris Peace Talks<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Killing Fields<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Democratic National Convention in Chicago (1968)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">GROUPS/ORGANIZATIONS:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Vietnamese Nationalist Party (VNQDD)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Viet Minh<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Khmer Rouge<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">National Liberation Front<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pathet Lao<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Students for a Democratic Society<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Vietnam Veterans Against the War<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">TERMINOLOGY:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Foreign Assistance Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Self-immolation by Buddhist Monks<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Gulf of Tonkin Resolution<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Great Society<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">War on Poverty<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Guns & Butter<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Americanization<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Escalation<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Vietnamization<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Containment<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Domino Theory<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">War of Attrition<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Peace with Honor<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pentagon Papers<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fulbright Senate Hearings<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Moratoria<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Detente (USSR and China)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Watergate<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">War Powers Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I hope this helps! I know it's a lot but, like I said, this exam is no walk in the park. You WILL need to be familiar with each and every item listed above.<o:p></o:p></div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-60722090881118047782011-02-12T10:08:00.001-08:002011-02-12T10:10:20.822-08:00Western Europe Since 1945 DSST<div id="post_message_65409" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Took this today and got a 71 -- good enough for an A at Excelsior. Every post in this thread was helpful, but I have to especially thank Studyhard, Two Socks, Perrik, and Tvelasquez (who I think took the exact same test I did). I was worried about this test due to the lack of either a decent practice test or a specific, targeted book published more recently than 20 years ago. But in the end, I was only a deer in headlights on 2 or 3 questions.<br />
<br />
There was very little on the Cold War and not much on the history of the evolution of the European Union -- more about how it works currently. Also surprisingly little on specific people. There's DeGaulle, of course, and I think Willy Brandt, and the king of Spain. No mention of Adenauer, Monnet, Churchill, Attlee, de Gasperi, MacMillan, or any of the other scores of people I made it a point to learn about.<br />
<br />
While it's still fairly fresh in my mind, here's what I remember:<br />
<ul><li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ostpolitik</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">What kept Spain out of the mainstream of the west and how they got in.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Why DeGaulle returned to power in 1958 and how he disagreed with the USA about the USSR.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">DeGaulle's ambitions for France.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Schuman Plan</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">British, German, and Italian parliamentary systems -- how they work and how they're chosen. Be able to compare and contrast them against each other.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Understand how German federalism works (it's unique in Europe and not quite the same as the American brand, either).</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">How the French president and British prime minister are selected.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">How the British cabinet (regular and "shadow") are assembled.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">How the EU and its main bodies work (European Commission, Council of Ministers, European Parliament, Court of Justice, Europol) and where they meet.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Know a little about the European Council and the Council of Europe.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The EU's aid program -- how it works, who it helps, and what its purpose is.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">EU's Common Foreign & Security Policy</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Effects of decolonization</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Labor relations, especially in Germany</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Immigration, especially in Germany</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Power sharing arrangements implemented to ease ethnic tensions</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The most contentious aspect of EU policy</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Which EU member state's citizens object the most to EU policies and why.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">What East Germany was especially infamous for.</li>
</ul>As others have noted, there were many questions where more than one answer seems to fit at first. But if you go back and reread the question more carefully, usually one answer choice will seem to stand out more than the others. Shades of meaning are important.<br />
<br />
The main materials I used to study were:<br />
<ul><li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Europe Since 1945: A Concise History</i> by Wegs & Ladrech</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">InstantCert v2 Lite (excellent; could probably pass with IC alone)</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Wikipedia entries for United Kingdom, British Parliament, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, plus several EU topics.</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">EU Web site: <a href="http://europa.eu/abc/euslides/index_en.htm" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">EUROPA - The EU at a glance - The EU in slides</a>; <a href="http://europa.eu/abc/history/index_en.htm" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">EUROPA - The EU at a glance - The History of the European Union</a>; <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/index_en.htm" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">"Europe in 12 Lessons" and "How the EU Works"</a></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">BBC has a very helpful diagram of EU governance: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/europe/2001/inside_europe/eu_institutions/default.stm" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">BBC News | Europe | Inside Europe | EU Institutions</a></li>
<li></li>
</ul></div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-66570324634962967582011-02-12T10:07:00.000-08:002011-02-12T10:07:51.024-08:00Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present CLEP<div id="post_message_34816" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I passed this one today with a 69. I thought I was going to do much better (closer to the 77 I made in Western Civ I), but I found that the REA book I used let me down in a few areas.<br />
<br />
I used REA Western Civilization II by Dr. Preston Jones. This covers about 4/5 of what you'll need. I also studied this Web site, which added a bit to what the REA book had to say: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/CLEP-Western-Civilization-CD-ROM-REA/dp/0738601330?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">WESTERN CIVILIZATION I</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0738601330" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> I. (The all caps was super annoying, though!)<br />
<br />
A few things I found worth remarking on:<br />
<br />
There was a much bigger focus on eastern Europe than I was expecting. You really need to know what was going on with Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and the Baltic States.<br />
<br />
Know about enlightened despotism -- which rulers were enlightened despots and what they all had in common<br />
<br />
Understand nationalism, nation-building, and the people and forces that influenced these trends and brought them about.<br />
<br />
Understand socialism and the milieu in which it arose. Also the different types of socialism, including social Darwinism.<br />
<br />
French Revolution & Napoleonic Europe -- various phases of the revolution and rise of Napoleon<br />
<br />
Russian Revolution -- communist Russia, what Lenin and Stalin did and how they diverged from Marx's ideals<br />
<br />
Enlightenment philosophers and scientists -- major accomplishments and schools of thought. Be able to identify quotations from philosophical writings. (You don't have to have read the works, but you will need a solid familiarity with how the writers thought.) (There were a couple of philosophers on the test that weren't covered by REA.)<br />
<br />
Industrial Revolution -- how innovations spread across Europe beginning with England and how they changed society economically and otherwise<br />
<br />
Birth of the modern German and Italian nations<br />
<br />
Both world wars -- causes, events leading up, who fought with whom, who was neutral, how WWI led to the climate that gave rise to WWII<br />
<br />
Treaties, pacts and alliances -- try to be familiar with pretty much all of them! I had at least one question about a pact I'd never heard of in any of my studies<br />
<br />
Social trends -- marriage, rates of having children, illegitimacy, etc. This wasn't covered well in the REA book!<br />
<br />
When and how suffrage was gradually extended to more and more people<br />
<br />
Romanticism -- basic tenets, how it differed from rationalism and how it influenced nationalism<br />
<br />
Absolutism, and in particular, how it worked with Louis XIV<br />
<br />
Understand what happened with England's Glorious Revolution -- especially its aftermath<br />
<br />
Know what NATO, the League of Nations, and the UN were/are, why they were started, and what really important country didn't join the League (hint, hint).<br />
<br />
Know who colonized whom and what the objectives of colonization were.<br />
<br />
Understand what mercantilism was and what it meant.<br />
<br />
Know what schools of art, music, and architecture emerged and what they were basically. This aspect of the test is much simpler than with Western Civ II, partly because so much of that culture is still with us and familiar, and partly because there are a lot less of those questions this time around.<br />
<br />
There were a few maps and photos, but they were among the easiest questions. (The maps in Western Civ I were much harder.) I was surprised how few questions there were on anything after WWII. If you run short of time, you could probably just learn the 1648-1950 period REALLY well and forget 1951-2008. Especially if you're old like me and lived through a sizeable chunk of those years! I didn't need a textbook to tell me what glasnost was, and I watched the Berlin Wall being torn down on TV.<br />
<br />
The structure of the Western Civ II test is much like Western Civ I in that you have to memorize a bunch of facts, but then rather than just regurgitating them, you have to be able to use them reason out the answers to complex questions.<br />
<br />
Whew. I hope this helps!</div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-39384227835474554222011-02-12T10:04:00.001-08:002011-02-12T10:04:29.880-08:00Ethics in America DSST<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I took the test and thought that I failed it and then got a 462. Since their scoring is based off a 200-500 system with 400 passing I must of did well. I did get the essay question on the end and did that even though I didn't need it. There were two scenarios. One was a worker 2 yrs to pension notices company covering up dumping toxic waste in river. Second was a man in accident horrible crippled/ disfigured by fire. Insurance is running out treatments too painful to take. Going to burn through savings and college funds. It asks 4 parts; first - list all the important facts in the case 2nd - list your arguments and why using supporting theories 3rd - consider the opposite and list arguments for that 4th- reconsider using alternate arguments and do you still support original theory and why?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Questions that I had no idea about where</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- the medical ethics involved with using humans - mainly represented by report of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment ( forget the name).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- Islam what is used as the deterrent and capital punishment. They had 5 pillars.... 4 (something something).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pretty much same as csaya7</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Know your rule and act utilitarianism</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-deontologist theory.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- land ethics what is the focus?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Hobbes, Kant, Hume rosseu, Epictetus, Plato Aristotle, Epicurus</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-passive and active euthanasia,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Thras. And Thuc. Might makes right.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Who wrote about the right to social protest - narrowed down to king from Birmingham and Hume(?) leviathan.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Hindu and favorable rebirth</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- book of exodus laws based on...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- question on a conselor and his "fiduciary" right to client</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- Aquinas</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">-Socrates</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- Aristotle on slavery</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I solely used the flashcards. This was tough because I had ZERO previous knowledge on the topic so literally spent 20+ hrs going through the sections. I stopped using the scenarios after the first run through to streamline. Tried the YouTube 3min philosophy but unless you knew the terms didn't help, DSST review in official study guide was worthless, test questions looked Ok.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Apply yourself and this is doable. Take your time, read everything slowly. Mark the questionable ones and come back when finished. I had 94 questions - last being essay. I took 1.5 hrs.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-84945950295392002092011-02-12T00:46:00.000-08:002011-02-12T00:46:43.632-08:00Civil War & Reconstruction DANTES<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This was my first DANTES test. I got a 73, which is an A at Excelsior! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wasn’t planning to take this exam, but after taking both US History CLEPs, I thought what I had learned for those would be helpful in continuing on to study for the Civil War exam. Also, having several ancestors involved has made this time period interesting to me. I learned a lot and studied for 4 weeks.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I used:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Civil-War/dp/1615640789?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Idiots Guide</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1615640789" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-SparkNotes-History-Notes/dp/1411404203?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">SparkNotes Civil War</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1411404203" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">SparkNotes Reconstruction – This had several topics that were not covered elsewhere.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ken Burns DVDs and website -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Civil-War-Film-Ken-Burns/dp/B000BITUE8?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Civil War . The War | PBS</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000BITUE8" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">IC – I should have spent more time on these.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">American Civil War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://home.att.net/~betsynewmark/Quizzespage.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Quizzes to Test Yourself</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- This is similar to the AP Quizzes, but there are many more questions. It will help with the basics, but is not as deep as the exam.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.classzone.com/books/ca05_recon/index.cfm" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">ClassZone - Creating America: Beginnings through Reconstruction</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/us_civil_war/civil_war_battles.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Civil War Battles Quizzes and Civil War Battles Trivia -- FunTrivia</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There are a lot of Civil War trivia pages here. This one is for battles. These are fun, but it is too easy to get off track, like what is the name of Grant’s horse? (One was named Cincinnati.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Official DSST Fact Sheet (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.getcollegecredit.com/resources.html#factsheets" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">DSST - GetCollegeCredit.com</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">) has 12 sample questions. A couple of the questions were on my exam. There were more battles on my test than what was listed on the fact sheet; they were covered as important battles in the study materials.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Review materials from US History CLEPs:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">REA has excellent coverage of material in about 30 pages.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Barrons EZ 101</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Historyteacher.net – AP Quizzes are good for this but there is no coverage of the battles.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.learner.org/resources/series123.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Resource: A Biography of America</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">videos</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I wish I had spent more time looking for some practice exams at textbook websites.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This exam was not as fact based as I hoped. It helped me to learn the dates so that I had a better idea of the order of events and how they related to each other, but knowing dates was not on my test. I also thought I might need to know the number of casualties and troops at each battle, but that wasn’t on the test either. It just had the total numbers for the whole war.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I did need to know the second level of generals that made a difference in the battles, not just the main generals. I had trouble with a couple of questions about describing the general’s attitudes/actions.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Be sure to understand the politics leading to the war, during the war, and during Reconstruction. The Reconstruction SparkNotes was very good, but I still didn’t have enough depth on the consequences of the different reconstruction plans. (What I knew did not match the answers.) Maybe Wikipedia has more.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
<br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-3555451386038733692011-02-11T10:27:00.000-08:002011-02-12T10:27:34.883-08:00World Population ECE<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Passed this one with an A. Overall, I think this is a very doable exam with adequate prep. I didn't prep as much as I should have, so the test seemed more difficult than I had anticipated. I was pressed for time, so I opted to purchase the set of practice exams and use them as my primary study tool. They are as good as gold, and I passed thanks to them, with a little help from IC and the feedback here. I studied for two days; I went through the first and second sections of IC once, then took the practice exams with the following scores: 51 & 71 out of 100. Reviewing the practice exams were the most helpful because the explanations of the multiple-choice options are very detailed. Also, many of the same questions showed up on the actual exam, although they were worded differently.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Going into this exam, I was not sure how gauge the grading criteria. The ECE technical sheet states that the cut score is 81, which was hard for me to comprehend in comparison with CLEP and DSST. Others in this thread have mentioned that it is a good idea to identify which sections (either through the IC flashcards or practice exams) need more study. If I had a better knowledge of case studies, migration & urbanization, and mortality, I would have felt more comfortable. Overall, I probably averaged close to 80%, which would mean roughly 104/130 questions, although 10 of those were unscored pretest questions.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A few questions I remember:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What was responsible for famine in China? (Great Leap Forward)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What is a population's footprint/ecoprint? (deforested areas)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Which natural resources are responsible for regulating the carbon and hydrologic cycles? (forests)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Which statistic can be calculated by the census alone (crude birth rate- all other choices require vital stats)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Original goal of the census in the U. S.? (congressional reapportion)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What is the distribution pattern of migrants in the U. S.? (rural areas, urban areas, follow resident patterns, or evenly distributed)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">What is the internal migratory pattern within the U. S.? (West & Midwest, Northeast & Midwest, South & West)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Why is 104-110 an acceptable estimated range for sex ratios?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Who is considered an asylee?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Good luck!</span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-19064842372025193892011-02-11T00:46:00.001-08:002011-02-11T00:46:46.384-08:0060+ Credits in 60 Days: Chemistry CLEP<a href="http://test-out-info.blogspot.com/2011/01/chemistry-clep.html?spref=bl">60+ Credits in 60 Days: Chemistry CLEP</a>: "I had only a few minutes of Chemistry in high school, so I started studying with no prior experience, but I did know that I was interested i..."60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-35597320141327242872011-02-11T00:46:00.000-08:002011-02-11T00:46:24.364-08:0060+ Credits in 60 Days: Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP<a href="http://test-out-info.blogspot.com/2011/01/analyzing-interpreting-literature-clep.html?spref=bl">60+ Credits in 60 Days: Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP</a>: "I relied heavily on my experience with taking many reading comprehension tests and reading literature in English class during my public scho..."60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-5495997206353601912011-02-11T00:44:00.000-08:002011-02-11T00:44:59.682-08:00American Government CLEP<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">This was my fourth exam. I passed with a score of 72. I studied for 4 weeks. I have earned 12 credits in just over 4 months with CLEP/DANTES exams!<br />
<br />
I wasn’t planning to take this exam, but after taking both US History CLEPs, I thought what I had learned for those would be helpful in continuing on to study for the Civil War exam and this exam. It did make studying much easier, but it really only helped on a few actual questions.<br />
<br />
Thank you all for recommending excellent study materials. I used:<br />
<br />
CliffsQuickReview book<br />
(New) REA study guide with 2 practice tests<br />
<a href="https://www.instantcertonline.com/zorderform.php4?discount=63245">InstantCert</a> – I liked it for this test for review and because it had different words and meanings than other resources. The other study guides help me put things into context better.<br />
Friend’s notes from high school class<br />
Read the Constitution (see link below)<br />
<br />
Reviewed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/AP-United-States-History-REA/dp/0738602183?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">REA</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0738602183" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> for US History I which has excellent coverage of Articles of Confederation and Constitution in about 15 pages.<br />
Peterson’s practice exams – I actually took these this time and didn’t just read through them. I thought they were helpful.<br />
I also had the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/CLEP-Official-Study-Guide-2011/dp/0874479010?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Official CLEP Guide</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0874479010" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> to make sure I was learning the correct material.<br />
<br />
I liked all of these websites, but I didn’t get to spend much time at them:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.senate.gov/civics/constitution_item/constitution.htm" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">U.S. Senate: Reference Home > Constitution of the United States</a> – with explanation<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.quia.com/jg/350955.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Quia - 27 Amendments</a> – games<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/wtp5e/" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">We the People | 5th Edition</a> - lots of quizzes<br />
<br />
<a href="http://library.thinkquest.org/11572/cc/index.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Court Cases Menu</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thecapitol.net/glossary/index.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">TheCapitol.Net > Glossary of Congressional and Legislative Terms</a><br />
<br />
I was well prepared and didn’t find the questions to be tricky. I didn’t even have very many that I had to narrow down to 2 possibilities and then guess, but I did have a couple that I had no idea what the answer was. I took 7 practice tests and some of the questions were actually on the exam. I felt really good about this exam all the way through. I think it is harder to get a higher score with fewer questions (100 vs. 120 on US History). This exam was much closer to the fact-based exam I had been hoping for with all of the previous history exams which weren’t. Knowing definitions was very helpful. It is intro level and a broad test that is not too deep.</span></b></span></span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-28640388499018821492011-02-09T00:40:00.000-08:002011-02-09T00:40:12.726-08:00US History I: Early Colonizations to 1877 CLEP<div class="MsoNormal">My version of the exam did not have any real questions from early explorers. Most of InstantCert is not in the exam. The Petersons exam was harder than the real thing, but some questions were similar. I think studying the answers from Petersons would be beneficial. The exam wasn’t too difficult, but I felt like InstantCert covered too much information that I didn’t need. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After taking the exam I went through and circled my notes from InstantCert that were applicable. Looks like 'Sectional Tensions and the Civil War (1850-1877)', and 'Philosophy and Politics of the Time Period' were very applicable. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I only had 4 questions on material from 1490's-1650s. Several on events, Acts, and Laws of 1763.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Suggested Study material:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">InstantCert<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">SparkNotes 101 book – reading the Essays at the end of each chapter gives you a perspective<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Biography of America videos #1-6 at Resource: A Biography of America – not too many details, but it’s a nice overview and their only 25 minutes each<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Petersons Practice exam – I only got 43 out of 120 right, but using it as a study guide would help<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">CLEP Official study guide looks harder than real test, but some questions are similar or reference same topics, could be helpful as study guide<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">*Note I did not really study the CLEP Official Study Guide or Peterson Practice Exam answers/explanations so you should score higher if you do. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">NOTHING on Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Townshend, Tea Act, almost nothing on main historical names like John Adams, Abigail Adams, George Washington, Spanish explorers, Sir Walter Raleigh, John Rolfe, Cornwallis, or Declaration of Independence – my version anyway – they seemed to like slavery, women’s suffrage, Indians, and “side” famous people.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I would concentrate on Jefferson, Hamilton, Ben Franklin, and Andrew Jackson<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As a co-worker said this seems more like a 'footnotes' exam. I really doubt a lot of what's on this exam is covered in a normal college history class. There's a lot of questions on obscure facts that you would only know if you read books on the specific material. I scored in the high 50s. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I studied from Barron's EZ-101 Study Key American History to 1877. Here are some topics from my study notes. Of course, it is not exhaustive.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">U.S. History I<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Spanish Explorers (Balboa, de Soto, De Leon, Cortez, Coronado)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">French Explorers<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">English Explorers<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sir Walter Raleigh<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">John Rolfe and Tobbaco<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jamestown Settlement<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Massachusetts Bay Colony<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Pennsylvania<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Rhode Island<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">New York, New Amsterdam<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">James, Duke of York<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Carolinas<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">King Charles<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bacon's Rebellion<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">King George's War, 1739<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">French and Indian War<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Treaty of Paris<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">King Phillip's War<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Navigation Acts<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Colonies with NO Established church (DE,PA, NJ, RI)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Proclaimation of 1763<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sugar Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Stamp Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Declaratory Acts<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Townshend Acts<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tea Act (gave East India Co. monopoly)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Currency Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Boston Tea Party<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Coersive (Intolerable) Acts<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Samuel Adams<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sons of Liberty<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Great Awakening<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Christian Faith of founding fathers<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Declaration of Independence<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Articles of Confederation<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">U.S. Constitution<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Shay's Rebellion<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Whiskey Rebellion<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Battle of Saratoga<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jay Treaty<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sedition Acts<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Enlightenment<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Trancendentalists<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thoreau<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Emerson<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Erie Canal (Hudson River to Lake Erie, 1st U.S. Canal)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Rush-Bagot Treaty<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Embargo of 1807<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Non Intercourse Acts<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Macon Bill 2<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">XYZ Affair<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Monroe Doctrine<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jeffersonians v. Hamiltonians<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Democratic Republicans v. Federalists<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Texas Independence<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mexican Cession<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">War of 1812<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Treaty of Ghent (Ended War of 1812)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">U.S. Treasury (Martin Van Buren hand-picked successor to Jackson who dissolved Federal Bank)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Second Great Awakening<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Henry Clay's The American System (Protective tariff, Internal impvmts, bank)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Missouri Compromise<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Missouri and Maine<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Election of 1800<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Election of 1840<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Compromise of 1850<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Kansas-Nebraska Bill<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">National Road of 1818<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Auburn System<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Gadsden Purchase<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Wilmot Proviso<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Personal Liberty laws<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fugitive Slave Law of 1850<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Suffolk Resolves<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Cotton Gin<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">King Cotton<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">John C. Calhoun<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Nullification Crisis<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Samuel Slater<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Indian Removal, 1830, Andrew Jackson<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">5 Nations Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(5 MOOCS Nations is how I remembered them. Had a question asking to list the 5 Nations, Recalled "MOOCS")<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">-Treaty of Dancing Rabbitt Creek, Choctaws of Mississippi<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Treaty of New Echota, Cherokee Trail of Tears<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Adam-Onis Treaty (Spanish Florida)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Nat Turner's Rebellion<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">John Brown and Killings<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Harper's Ferry Raid<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Robert E. Lee<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Secession<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dred Scott Case<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Black Codes<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dorthea Dix<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Susan B. Anthony<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Women's Sufferage<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Seneca Falls Convention<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Secret Six<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">William Lloyd Garrison (moral suasion, The Liberator)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Freedman's Bureau<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Lincoln's 10% Plan<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Johnson's Reconstruction<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Radical (Rabid) Republicans<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Jeffersonian Republicans v. Lincolnian Republicans<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Court Cases to Note:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Marbury v. Madison<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">McCulloch v. Maryland<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Gibbons v. Ogden<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dred Scott v. Sanford<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Worchester v. Georgia (Cherokee rights)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fletcher v. Peck<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dartmouth College v. Woodward<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Prigg v. Pennsylvania<o:p></o:p></div>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-57666549572394800782011-02-09T00:34:00.000-08:002011-02-09T00:34:46.381-08:00Introductory Business Law CLEP<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-size: 13px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Here are some specific details about the version of the exam I took.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If you can go down the following list and check off that you have covered each item, you will not fail this exam:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">LAW VIEWS:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(not very much on the exam)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Analytical View<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Command View<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Critical View<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Historical View<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Law & Economics View<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Legal Realism<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Natural Law View<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sociological View<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Traditional View<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">ETHICS:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(not very much on the exam)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Utilitarianism (Bentham/Mill)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Kantian Ethics (Duty)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ethical Fundamentalism<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Ethical Relativism<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Maximising Profits Theory<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Corporate Citizenship Theory<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Moral Minimum Theory<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Social Justice Theory (Rawl)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Stakeholder Interest Theory<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">CONTRACT LAW:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Elements of a Contract: Consideration, Capacity, Agreement, Legality<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Types of Contract: Implied-in-fact, Implied-in-law (quasi), Express<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Unilateral vs. Bilateral<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Executory Contract vs. Executed Contract<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Liquidated Damages<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Forbearance<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Novation<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Rescission<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Assigned Rights vs. Delegated Duties<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Creditor Beneficiaries vs. Donee Beneficiaries<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Exceptions to Consideration: Moral Obligation, Duty, Past Consideration, Illusory Promise<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Mutual Mistake vs. Unilateral Mistake (definition and consequences)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Statute of Frauds (what it is and what it covers).<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Discharge of a Contract: Void, Voidable, Unenforceable<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">CONSTITUTIONAL LAW & THE U.S. COURT SYSTEM:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(not very much on the exam)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Commerce Clause<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bill of Rights (I had a question on the 1st and 2nd Amendments specifically)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Civil vs. Criminal (procedures/crimes/court system)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">ANTITRUST LAW:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(not very much on the exam)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Sherman Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Clayton Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Patman-Robinson Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Federal Trade Commission<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Restraint on Trade<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Line Injuries<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">TORT LAW:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Intentional Tort vs. Negligent Tort<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Slander vs. Libel<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Assault versus Battery<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Proximate Cause vs. Cause in Fact<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Negligence Per Se<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Res Ipsa Loquitur<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Tort<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Strict Liability<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Warranty of Title<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Copyright vs. trademark<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">EMPLOYMENT LAW:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(not very much on the exam)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fiduciary relationships<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Agency<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Fair Labor Standards Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Bakke v University of California<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">FMLA<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">EEOC<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Civil Rights Act - Title VII (What is covered and what isn't)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Disparate Treatment<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Disparate Impact<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">ENVIRONMENTAL LAW:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(not very much on the exam)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act (CERCLA/Superfund)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Clean Air Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Clean Water Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">EPA<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Endangered Species Act<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">MISCELLANEOUS:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">(passing familiarity will suffice for everything not listed above)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">- Study all of Instantcert<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Read chapters 1-24 of this site (only one page per chapter):<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lecture Notes — Ch. 1<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There is no need to stress out over this exam. Familiarize yourself with the various terms mentioned above and then go and pass it.<o:p></o:p></div></span></span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-51846234288019325182011-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:002011-02-09T00:01:24.843-08:00Chemistry CLEP<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">I had only a few minutes of Chemistry in high school, so I started studying with no prior experience, but I did know that I was interested in the subject.<br />
<br />
I studied for this exam for 3 months. I think if I had started with the right materials, I could have studied for only 2 months. I earned an astonishingly high score of 67, which I think means that I got as much as 80% of the questions correct.<br />
<br />
My impression after studying and taking the practice tests is that this is a very learnable topic as long as you have the right study materials.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-College-Chemistry-Rosenberg/dp/0070537097/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243094394&sr=8-2" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-College-Chemistry-Outlines/dp/0071635300?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Amazon.com: Schaum's Outline of College Chemistry: Jerome L Rosenberg, Lawrence Epstein: Books</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0071635300" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - I decided to use the 8th ed instead of the 9th because it received a good review from a CLEP tester and said it was for independent study. I was hoping it would be the only book I would need for this exam. I found out, though, that the Schaum's book is not all-inclusive. There are a lot of basic foundational concepts, like how the periodic table is set up, that need to be found elsewhere. I ended up learning a lot of the material backwards. I spent a lot more time lost and frustrated than I would have liked while trying to solve problems. As I took practice tests at the end of my studies, I was getting the impression that the actual test would not be as problem-oriented as I expected. This means I probably wasted a lot of time trying to do the deeper problems and could have just read the book to learn more about some of the concepts, after getting the foundational information in the other sources. That being said, I still could have used more practice solving basic Chemistry problems (not nearly the depth of Schaum’s, which is a good resource for problem-based courses).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsReviewTopic/Chemistry.topicArticleId-21729.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Chemistry - CliffsNotes</a> - These are excellent. Learn every word. They really did a good job of simplifying and making understandable some complicated topics. The only thing I did not like was that the sample problems to work through on my own did not have any answers given. (I suspect there is a book version of this, which probably does have answers.) I also used their glossary and “cheat sheet”.<br />
<br />
online videos - <a href="http://www.learner.org/resources/series61.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Resource: The World of Chemistry</a> - I took some notes on videos #3-24 out of 26 total. I liked being able to see chemistry experiments and other examples were helpful. There is also a lot that is just a general overview of the topic. As an alternative, I’d recommend finding a website that shows an overview of lab equipment and what each item is used for. I’d also look for some basic chemistry experiments to watch.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.learner.org/interactives/periodic/index.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Interactives . The Periodic Table . Intro</a> - I really enjoyed using this excellent website on the Periodic Table. I spent an hour reading the whole site. Be sure to keep the information about characteristics of the different periodic groups to memorize.<br />
<br />
After studying all of this, I added 2 more books - Chemistry Concepts and Problems and REA CLEP.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Concepts-Problems-Self-Teaching-Guides/dp/0471121207?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Amazon.com: Chemistry: Concepts and Problems: A Self-Teaching Guide (Wiley Self-Teaching Guides): Clifford C. Houk, Richard Post: Books </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0471121207" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />- This is great! I would recommend starting with this book; it starts with the very basic information and builds from there. Next read the periodic table website. Then work through CliffNotes; then add REA. After that, look at the Official Study Guide and see what topics have not been covered yet, and find some resources for those.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/CLEP-Chemistry-Best-Test-Preps/dp/0738603023/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_2" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CLEP-Chemistry-Best-Test-Preps/dp/0738603023?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Amazon.com: CLEP Chemistry (REA) The Best Test Prep for (REA Test Preps): Kevin R. Reel: Books</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0738603023" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (+ download of Errata mentioned in customer feedback at Amazon) This book is a concise list of notes on the topics that need to be studied for the exam. I needed to learn the material through other sources and then use this as a refresher. It is nice to have the guidance of what areas are most important to understand. It also has 2 practice tests.<br />
<br />
Practice test #1 - 45 Correct out of 75 questions, 60%, 56 scaled score<br />
<br />
Practice test #2 - 50 Correct out of 75 questions, 66%, 60 scaled score<br />
<br />
I think Peterson’s online has CLEP and AP practice exams for this. I only used the CLEP exams.<br />
<br />
Practice test #1 - 66 Correct out of 80 questions, 82%<br />
<br />
Practice test #2 - 61 Correct out of 80 questions, 76%<br />
<br />
Practice test #3 - 66 Correct out of 80 questions, 82%<br />
<br />
CLEP Official Study Guide - Practice test - 42 out of 60 questions, 70% (with 10 minutes of extra time)<br />
<br />
I also had a friend’s notes, quizzes, and textbook for General College Chemistry I and II and high school chemistry. Mostly I read through some of the notes and all of the quizzes and looked a few things up in the textbook.<br />
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Plus, this list of online resources (all looked good, but I did not get to use them):<br />
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<a href="http://www.sparknotes.com/chemistry/" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Chemistry Study Guides - SparkNotes</a> (I noticed they give answers to the practice questions.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/sat2/chemistry/" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">SparkNotes: SAT Chemistry</a><br />
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A fellow studier also recommended <a href="http://www.aleks.com/" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">ALEKS -- Assessment and Learning, K-12, Higher Education, Automated Tutor, Math</a> to me. I believe they offer a free trial.<br />
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I did not get a chance to look at anything that said AP. I did find a CliffNotes AP practice test, which I did not get to try, at this link:<br />
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<a href="http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsTitle/5-Chemistry-Practice-Exams.productCd-0471770264.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">5 Chemistry Practice Exams:Title Information - CliffsNotes</a> (click PDF on the left)<br />
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<a href="http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/CliffsTitle/Chemistry-4th-Edition.productCd-047040034X.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Chemistry, 4th Edition :Title Information - CliffsNotes</a> (chapter with sample questions – click PDF on left) (I noticed this has a good explanation of quantum numbers.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.free-clep-prep.com/Chemistry-CLEP.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Chemistry CLEP Free Study Guide!</a> - Just before I was finished studying, I was told about this website. It would have been a good starting point for me, when I needed to look a few topics up on the web for clarification.<br />
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<a href="http://www.khanacademy.org/" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Khan Academy</a> may be another possibility for the basics, but I did not know about these videos at the time I was studying.</span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-size: 13px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Memorize – It’s never too early to start memorizing the important material. Here is a list of some of the information that I memorized and the best source I found for them:<br />
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scientists (REA), nomenclature and ions (Concepts), organic functional groups (Schaum’s**), hybridization (REA), solubility (REA), definitions (Cliffs glossary is a good start, but find another one, too)<br />
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bonds, radioactivity, formulas, periodic properties (a mix of all sources)<br />
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Look for patterns to make memorizing easier, such as positive enthalpy is endothermic as is breaking bonds which is going from solid to liquid to gas.<br />
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I couldn’t learn enough about acids/bases and oxidation/reduction. I used a textbook to memorize the list of acids/bases and oxidizing/reducing agents.<br />
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I tried to learn/memorize as many of the “simple” things as I could and accrue points that way. Things like quantum numbers (REA, Cliffs AP), bond order (Schaum’s**), and orders of reactions (REA, practice tests) were still confusing but I seemed to know enough about them with these resources.<br />
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Strategy – Since it is hard to finish the test on time, I had seen tips to go through and answer easy questions quickly and then start over and work on more difficult parts. When I tried this on practice tests, it left me feeling very unsettled and uncommitted to answering anything on the practice test. For the real test, I ended up answering each question as it came and making sure I stayed on time (25 questions by 30 minutes, half of 75 questions by 45 minutes, 50 questions by 60 minutes, and all 75 questions by 90 minutes). I gave my best answer and marked a lot, but I don’t know why I marked any since I knew I wasn’t going to have the time to look at them again. I didn’t have much time to really think through problems or chemical reactions, so it would help to be as familiar with those as possible.<br />
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Periodic Table – I had read a tip that they don’t always give the full periodic table during the test, but during the pre-test, they show one that you can sketch out on scratch paper. Another idea was to note an early question that does show the whole table. I used both ideas. It is possible, though, that I needed neither because when I checked their table on about 5 questions during the test, it was always complete with atomic symbol, number, and weight for each element. They often give molar mass in the problem, but did not give any formulas.<br />
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Calculator – I had read that I wasn’t allowed to bring my own, but I had some trouble understanding the CLEP calculator on the test computer. Make sure it is in degrees (deg) not radians (rad). Then try floating decimal (flo) and scientific notation (sci) during the pre-test. I used both during the test. I just found the EE button (power of 10 - Schaum’s**) on my calculator – I love it. I wasn’t able to figure out how to use EE with square or square root on their calculator. I also needed to double-check all of my calculations. I am going to need some extra practice before I take a math exam.<br />
Update: The CLEP Sampler can be downloaded from the official CLEP website. This has the calculator that will be available during the exam. You can use this to practice at home before the exam and get familiar with the features on the calculator.<br />
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Schaum’s** - use the Amazon link and scroll down to “Search inside this book”<br />
organic functional groups – search IUPAC, choose p. 229<br />
bond order – search antibonding, choose p. 130, 144, and 145<br />
EE – search EE4, choose p. 370<br />
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Note: Before you go to all of the work of studying for and taking this exam, be sure that your college will accept it for the credit that you need for your major and make sure that any lab requirements can be earned separately.<br />
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This may seem like an overwhelming amount of material to learn, but it is really not that bad, considering it represents a full year of college chemistry classes. With great resources and giving myself enough time to learn, I was able to pass this exam having started with no prior knowledge. I know that others can do this, too!</span></b></span></span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-28568475862324350102011-02-08T02:41:00.000-08:002011-02-08T02:41:44.218-08:00Natural Sciences CLEP<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-size: 13px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This was my last test this year! I have earned 33 credits through taking 8 exams in 4 months. I am going to take a break over the holidays and start studying again in January.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I studied for this exam for 4 weeks, but technically I had already been studying for this exam for 5 months, since my last 3 exams were Astronomy, Chemistry, and Biology. Having such a good foundation helped make studying and the test a lot easier; my score was a 73! I still needed to learn about physics, geology, and meteorology for this test, which was still a lot of new material.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As I was studying, I was wondering how you would start this from scratch. It seemed difficult because of having multiple subjects. I think it would be a lot easier to start by studying just one subject – Biology, pass that CLEP, and then add some knowledge and take this CLEP.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I found that many of the questions were straight-forward and fact-based. Also, many were not covered in my study materials, so life-experience and gathering personal knowledge helped or I just made good and bad guesses.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I forgot to look at a periodic table the day of the exam. That would have helped to refresh my memory.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Materials I used:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">REA General Review book (with review/teaching material for each subject plus drills)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">and SEPARATE REA Preparation book (with 3 practice tests) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Peterson's CLEP Success free ebook has review/teaching material for each subject and multiple practice tests.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Peterson’s practice tests – The printable test is different than the online tests, so there are a total of 4 tests available. The printable test was similar to the REA tests and the online tests were much harder; however, the material covered was useful for the real exam. I would recommend working through the CLEP Success materials first. That should help with these more difficult practice tests.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">CLEP Official Study Guide - Practice test</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I struggled with some of the physics and geology questions; I am not sure what resource would have helped. If I had had more time, I would have done more at the</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.physics4kids.com/" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Rader's PHYSICS 4 KIDS.COM</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">and related websites.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If this is your first and only science exam, I would recommend some of the resources I used for the previous exams and I don’t know how long it will take to study for this. Biology – REA Biology and Biology Smart, Chemistry – Concepts and Problems and/or CliffNotes, Astronomy – Pass DSST Astronomy, IC, and Sparknotes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Also, be sure to find a very good vocabulary list for each of the subjects.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My best wishes to all taking this exam! It was a great opportunity to add 6 credits to my previous 15 science credits!</span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-44442118465706956082011-02-07T05:26:00.000-08:002011-02-07T05:26:30.429-08:00US History II CLEP<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This was my second CLEP test. I learned a lot and studied for 4 weeks. I thought this test was harder than US History I. It took me longer to get through it and I didn’t have time to check for mistakes, so I was surprised to get a 78!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I used:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Peterson’s practice exams – I just read through them to get an overview of the material covered.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CLEP-History-United-States-REA/dp/0878912738?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">REA</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0878912738" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> study guide seemed too easy for this test, but was a good starting point.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Barrons EZ 101 was great for extra topics and details.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.learner.org/resources/series123.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Resource: A Biography of America</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">videos</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://www.instantcertonline.com/zorderform.php4?discount=63245">InstantCert</a> provided info on more topics.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://historyteacher.net/" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Historyteacher.net</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">– I really liked the AP Quizzes. I wish I had used them for US History I.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I also had the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/CLEP-Official-Study-Guide-2011/dp/0874479010?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Official CLEP Guide</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0874479010" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> to make sure I was learning the correct material.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Even with all of this, I felt like my studying was lacking some depth on certain topics while I was taking the test. It seems that I had learned enough to make lots of educated guesses. Looking more things up on Wikipedia might have helped, too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I was surprised to see that Reconstruction is covered on this test also.</span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-77477061408956155072011-02-05T04:35:00.000-08:002011-02-22T04:25:04.324-08:00Microeconomics CLEP<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I took the CLEP Principles of Microeconomics exam today and received a score of 67. InstantCert was my primary study tool. Once I felt that I knew that material pretty well, I tried the CLEP practice test and scored a 73. I added some of that material to my study notes and then took two Petersons exams—studying a little more in between the first and second. I got 22/80 incorrect on the first exam and 23/80 incorrect on the second. Somewhat noteworthy—on the second exam I only got five of the first 40 incorrect. It went downhill from there.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I also used the Cliff’s Quick Review Economics book a little (very little) and solidified the comparative advantage computations with Wikipedia—although I ultimately did not need that for the exam. I also used the on-line Spark Notes a little (very little).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The only previous knowledge I had of Microeconomics was the overlap with Macroeconomics—which I did not understand well. I studied for about three weeks—some days for a couple of hours, some days not at all, and some days I just did a run-through of the IC cards to keep the material fresh in my mind.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">While taking the test I kept a tally as follows:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Questions for which I was (reasonably) certain of the answer: 47</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Questions for which I (generally) was able to narrow it down to one of two answers: 25</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Questions for which I guessed: 8</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As you can see, there were 80 questions on the exam.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I’ve used the Specific Exam Section to prepare for most of my exams but not so much for this one. I used IC as my primary guide and just tried to solidify my knowledge in the areas introduced there and in the CLEP and Peterson’s practice exams. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The practice tests are good guides and you’ll see a few VERY similar questions with VERY similar illustrations. The Peterson test #2 goes very deeply into monopolistic competition towards the middle of the test—and I did NOT need to know that much for the actual CLEP (good thing ‘cause I didn’t study that much!). Also, I found the Petersons comparative advantage computation questions a little confusing and my CLEP test did not require anything that intensive. Still, you really DO need to understand the concepts of monopolistic competition and comparative and absolute advantage.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Many questions include possible answers that intermingle the concepts of comparative advantage, elasticity and curve shifting/movement along a curve. You should know that you’ll be answering more situational questions—as opposed to direct.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I felt there was a heavy concentration on straight supply and demand. That was good. The Peterson tests will give you the impression that the more intensive perfect competition/monopolistic competition/profit-seeking, etc. type questions actually go deeper than they do on the exam. You do have to read curves—but if you’ve studied IC and the CLEP sample pretty well and you come to a few problems in the Petersons exams that just seem TOO involved—that’s because they are. There were maybe TWO questions at the most that seemed to delve that deep.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hot Tip: One thing I learned from the Petersons exams that was very valuable and helpful was: if you are looking at an incomprehensible diagram—read the question carefully. If you can distinguish between perfect and monopolistic competition—chances are you’ll be closer to the answer than you think, or, at the very least, you’ll be able to eliminate 2-3 of the choices!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Computations were very light. If you understand GENERALLY how to compute elasticity you’ll be fine. Know what an elasticity score of “1” signifies. There were a few questions with regard to the social costs of externalities. There were only a few “gimmies” and most of the questions require some thought, but not many were exceedingly difficult. Tricky, maybe, but since we can’t see the results I can’t tell you if I got tricked!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">There was a production possibilities curve question and a very general anti-trust question, as well an Adam Smith question. You should understand all the basics very well—MR, MC, AVC, AC (not much on AFC) and how they all interact based on the types of business (monopolistic, monopoly, etc.) and how decisions will be made based on market behaviors and various circumstances. Again, use IC and the CLEP practice tests as evidence of how deep you’ll get—and if you find Petersons going a lot deeper—you probably won’t get there on the exam.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Other topics of note:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Short Run/Long Run – several questions required you to understand the behaviors of each</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Substitute/Complement</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Utility</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Price Ceilings</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Public Goods</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Return to Scale (one of the very few things I did not know ANYTHING about)</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Positive and Negative Externalities</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Laws – Diminishing Returns, Supply, Demand</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Normal and Inferior Goods</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Capital</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Barriers</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Items that were NOT on my test:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Per se</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rule of Reason</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Herfindahl</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Gini ratio</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Nash</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lorenz</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Normative</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kinked curves</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Game theory</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Zero sum</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Please note that the description above was for MY test only. I’m quite certain there are other varieties.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Don’t be afraid of this one. If you could handle Macro you definitely should be able to handle Micro.</span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-61363310928394815442011-02-04T10:32:00.001-08:002011-02-04T10:32:17.491-08:0015 Credits in 3 Hours!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I had planned to take History of the Vietnam War and Rise and fall of the Soviet Union this morning. I finished them up pretty quick and there were no appointments after mine so I asked if I could take another test? They said yes so I tried Ethics in America and got a 433 cold! Since I had just taked the computing Clep I figure why not knock out the DSST? Passed that with a 443. With the Soviet Union test I figured there must be some overlap... I figure why not go for Western Europe Since 1945? Got a just pass of 46 and decided to call it quits. Even with the computing basicly being a duplicate of the Clep it's like a semester in a day!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-72157467577978539872011-02-04T09:15:00.000-08:002011-02-04T09:15:33.002-08:00College Math CLEP<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I studied for 3 weeks. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do well. I got a 76, which may mean that only 4 out of 60 answers were wrong. I am excited to earn 6 college credits for the math I learned in high school!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The exam was much more tiring than I expected and I had to try hard to stay on time. I only had enough time to get all of the questions answered; I did not have time to go back and check the ones I marked or check the others for mistakes.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Materials I used:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Basic-Math-Refresher-REA-Reference/dp/0738600520?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">REA General Review book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0738600520" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (with review/teaching material for each subject plus drills) and SEPARATE REA Preparation book (with 3 practice tests) -</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">They were good, but the Trigonometry section was way too deep and the CLEP Success ebook did not even have a trigonometry section.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">(REA has a book for just the College Math test available now.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Peterson's CLEP Success free ebook has review/teaching material for each subject and multiple practice tests.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I read the College Math section of this book and did the review questions. These were good, too. The pre- and post-tests were very difficult like the Peterson’s practice exams.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Peterson’s practice tests – I would recommend working through the CLEP Success materials first. That should help with these more difficult practice tests. To avoid confusion, I also worked through these practice exams one question at a time – do problem, look at answer and explanation, figure it out, and do the next problem. This requires going through the exam quickly and answering all “D” and then going back through the “review section” untimed to do the problems for real.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/CLEP-Official-Study-Guide-2011/dp/0874479010?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">CLEP Official Study Guide</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0874479010" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> - Practice test</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I did very well on this. The other sources had prepared me well, even though Peterson’s can be discouraging because of the high level of difficulty.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The CLEP Sampler can be downloaded from the official CLEP website. This has the calculator that will be available on the test computer during the exam. You can use this to practice at home before the exam and get familiar with the features on the calculator.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If you already have a strong math background, this is a great opportunity to pick up 6 credits in math.</span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2095529615017465796.post-66888500840006384272011-02-01T00:49:00.000-08:002011-02-14T00:50:16.000-08:00GRE Literature in English Study Guide<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The test date for the Literature in English GRE is rolling around much too quickly. This past week I signed up for the test, so there's no backing out now. I thought it would be advantageous for those of us taking it to compare practice test scores and share study materials. Can't hurt!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><img alt="" border="0" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.degreeforum.net/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" title="Big Grin" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I just took my first practice test – well, it was just the 150-question sample section in the 1990 ETS book, but I'm pretty pumped about it...because somehow I scored alright. I got a 71%. Provided I score similarly on the actual exam, and leave about a third of the questions I don't know blank, I'll score above the 81%tile, which is enough to get the full 30 credits.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I still have over a month to study, so there's hope that I can get a grip on everything left for me to do. The sample questions were organized by topic, very helpful for figuring out my study priorities.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My Strengths: American Literature before 1900, Classical Literature, English Literature after 1660.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My Weaknesses: Identification, Factual Information, Literary Criticism (no surprise here).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The identification and factual information sections concentrate on being able to recognize a passage based on an author's style or being able to simply look at a passage and say “That's from The Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne.” Neither are very difficult...you just have to know the author whose style you're supposed to recognize, or be able to pick out something about the passage that makes it seem to be a particular answer choice.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My plan is to look up every passage on the sample questions that I don't recognize, regardless of whether the materials had wanted me to recognize it. Who knows what I'll have to identify on the real thing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Here's what I've been able to scrape up for practice tests:</span><br />
<ul style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Official ETS test available on their website</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Old 31-question sample booklet put out by ETS - <a href="http://www.degreeforum.net/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washjeff.edu%2Fusers%2Fltroost%2Flit%2520in%2520english.pdf" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">http://www.washjeff.edu/users/ltroos...%20english.pdf</a></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">150-question sample test & official test from 1989 - ETS's 1990 edition of Practicing for the GRE Literature in English</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The Princeton Review practice test</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">An old edition of the infamous REA book, which I found on Half.com for $4 and is in transit</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The CLEP Official tests for American and British Literature</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A Peterson's test for American Literature - <a href="http://www.degreeforum.net/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.petersons.com%2Fpdf%2Fclep_americanlit_q_print.pdf" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">http://www.petersons.com/pdf/clep_am...it_q_print.pdf</a> - <a href="http://www.degreeforum.net/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.petersons.com%2Fpdf%2Fclep_americanlit_a_print.pdf" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">http://www.petersons.com/pdf/clep_am...it_a_print.pdf</a></li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">An English Literature Quiz in a Pass Your Class guide that I happen to have</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple old copies of the ETS book are on their way through interlibrary loan, and I have a lead on the 1996 version through a friend's college library</li>
<li style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Isn't that enough?</li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In theory, this alone should give me enough practice for the test, but I'm also supplementing it with readings from the Norton Anthologies of American Lit and British Lit.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">A thousand thanks to alissaroot for posting all the resources she found for the GRE Literature in English. I took the materials from one of her links –</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.degreeforum.net/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Flasr.cs.ucla.edu%2Falison%2Fhapaxlegomena%2Findex.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">GRE in Literature Test Preparation</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">– and turned it into a 32 page PDF, which refuses to be uploaded to IC. PM me if you'd like a copy.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I plan on using the Vade Mecum, which I have set as my homepage, in my boundless free time.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.degreeforum.net/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.duke.edu%2F%7Etmw15%2Findex.html" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">Vade Mecum: Home</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This Wikipedia page appears to be of great use for anyone wanting a quick overview of poetic history:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.degreeforum.net/redirect-to/?redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FList_of_years_in_poetry" style="color: #22229c;" target="_blank">List of years in poetry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</a></span>60+ Credits in 60 Dayshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09303154862711603227noreply@blogger.com5