Customer Reviews

CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature with CD-ROM (REA): The Best Test Prep for the CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature Exam with REA's TESTware (Test Preps)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I used this resource, studied for about a week and easily passed the test with a 66. I have heard of others who did not use any resources and scored in the 70's. The score seems to depend on the tester's experience in reading and appreciating literature of various forms: poetry, essay, theater, etc. This resource contains some helpful terminology (much of it, however, did not appear on the test). Also, the practice tests were helpful, if not overly difficult approximations of the actual CLEP. I had already taken several CLEPs, so I was familiar with the format, type of questions, etc. The practice tests would be especially helpful for those who are less experienced with CLEPs.

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I will reinforce that the terminology is not very important for the test. Know simple, basic definitions and uses, such as simile, alliteration, imagery, etc.

Overall, I recommend the resource mostly for the practice tests and detailed explanations of answers. However, realize that the practice tests may be more difficult than the actual CLEP. Do not be discouraged if you do somewhat poorly on a practice test -- as long as you are able to pass with the scale provided in the book, you should do fine on the test.

I bought this book 1 week before my exam. I am from a science background... I'm a very slow reader, and have not read all that much other than the force-fed stuff in high school...

I reviewed the terminology in the book (i.e., allusion, simile, etc.) and took both of the practice exams on the CD (and passed both on the first try)... thus, I felt prepared enough for this exam...

HOWEVER, it seems that the College Board may have made this test more difficult (than the other reviewers make it seem)... The passages on my exam were a bit longer in general, and as I said, I'm a slow reader, so that was a bit of a biatch... Also, at the actual testing center, the font on the screen was WAY TOO BIG, and several times, a question referred to a word on line x when the word was really on line y...yes, another biatch.

I found the actual exam a slight bit more challenging than the practice exams in the book and on the CD, and I ran out of time, started guessing at the end, and didn't even get to the last few questions...

But SOMEHOW, I got a scaled score of 61 out of 80 on the exam (you need a 50 or better to pass)...

My thinking is that the College Board has in fact made the exam more difficult, but at the same time allows a more generous scaling of the score. When I finished, I expected to receive a barely-passing score at best...

Anywho, if you're going to take this exam, DEFINITELY BUY THIS BOOK, REVIEW ALL OF THE BOLDFACE TERMS A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND TAKE THE PRACTICE EXAMS ON THE CD. If you consider yourself at least moderately intelligent, this should get you by...

GOOD LUCK!!

I used REA's Best Test Preparation for the CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature as my only study guide for the A & I Lit CLEP. The text itself outlines what to expect on the actual test, offers reviews on the literature one can expect to encounter on the CLEP, and has 3 practice tests with detailed explanations of the answers. This was helpful by itself, but the true value of the book came in the CD-ROM with the two timed practice tests you can take in the form of the actual CLEP. I read through the book once but used the CD-ROM almost exclusively. Getting used to the vocabulary and answering in a one-question-a-minute format helped me pass with a score of 68,(50 is passing). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs an extra 6 college credits.

Ok, I took this CLEP test today. I used this book and read the material then took the first of the three practice tests. I then went through the answers to the 1st practice test and followed it up by taking the practice test in the CLEP official study guide 17th edition. I spent 3 to 4 hours in the material total and scored a 68. The practice test from this book was harder then the real test, however I was down to 1 minute and 30 seconds left for test time, so watch your clock on the real test. This test can be accomplished, I believe, with just this book. To speed up your study time, skim the reading in this book for just the bold faced terms and then spend your time in the practice tests and be sure to review your answers. This book will not give you the question or the answers to the real test, but you'll know what to expect and if you have good test taking skills you should do well. Good luck.

took this test today after using only this book as prep - got a perfect score of 80 - so i guess it's pretty good.

the practice tests in the book are weird though - as recently as yesterday i got a mediocre passing grade on the final practice test in the book. while i was pretty sure i'd pass, i wasn't expecting a great score because of my performance on these practice tests.

bottom line: the real test, while being similar in structure and difficulty to these mockups, was of much higher quality and more thoroughly prepared. therefore, i encountered much less ambiguity/subjectivity in selecting the right answers - on the practice tests, i'd often get a question "wrong", and after reading their answer/explanation, i'd still disagree, feeling strongly that i was right. one question in particular blatantly showed the editors' shakiness regarding poetic meter. no such problems with the real test.

so, while i can't say i enjoyed using this book, i guess i recommend it; but if it seems weird and dampens your confidence, take heart because the real test, while challenging, is much clearer. good luck.

The book is way harder than the actual test. After reading reviews from other amazon people about the test i got lazy and didnt read the clep guide past the 2nd chapter. the only studying i did was 5 questions on practice test 1 and looking up what alliteration and onomotopeia meant.

the test takes long cause youre reading a bunch of stuff. the passages are a paragraph or two with a 2 or 3 being longer.

if you have ever taken freshman high school english (the highest I have taken) you'll be fine. i got a 65 or something around there.

This book is a great prep for the clep. The reading material in the book isn't critical except for the 3 pages terms you need to memorize. AGREED the practice tests in this book are more difficult than the actual clep so if you can pass the practice tests you're pretty much guaranteed to pass the clep. My scores: PT1:49, PT2:53, PT3:52, CLEP Test:64

I studied for about a week and a half with little prior literature knowledge. Book helped most by telling you what terms to know and by explaining answers to practice test questions.

CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature with CD-ROM was an excellent introduction to the test. It was very helpful in explaining the subjects likely to be covered, giving sample questions, explaining the grading protocols, giving tips for maximizing your score, etc. My only real complaint is that the CD software, while helpful for becoming familiar with actual computer-based questions, got several sets of my answers mixed up! When I answered a question about, say, iambic pentameter, I KNOW I got it right. However, when reviewing my results, the wrong answer showed up. That was annoying.

From now on, I will continue to use REA's test prep books, but I will NOT bother to pay extra for the copies with CD-ROMs included. Although, in all fairness, if you are not familiar with computer-based testing, the CD-ROM provides vastly reassuring practice.

I just read this book for 2 days and took the exam..which turned out to be quite easy as compared to the practise exams on this book. I got 55-58 in the practise tests while i scored 66 today in exam.The book especially the practise exams help one to get in the mood of reading literature. As for the terms they could be found anywhere online also.And there is no need to get much into meter and rhyme, (That is if you are willing to loose 1 question).
Thus according to me its the easiest clep to get 6 credits. The only thing is to manage time wisely and you should do fine.
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This was the only book I used to pass this CLEP exam. My book with the CD arrived this Monday and I took the test yesterday (Thursday) and scored a 62. I only needed a 50 to pass. The CD is what is invaluable. Just do the simulated practice tests over and over and review the explinations and you should be fine. I brushed up on the poetry section from the book (the only time I really used it) because that was an area I needed to work on. Excellent book. Only one you will need.