EXCERPT
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CHAPTER 1: PASSING THE CLEP ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING LITERATURE CBT
ABOUT THIS BOOK
This book provides you with an accurate and complete representation of the CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CBT. Inside you will find a review of literature, as well as tips and strategies for test-taking. Three full-length practice tests and an optional free-response section - with another three practice tests - are provided, all based on the official CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CBT. Our practice tests contain every type of question that you can expect to encounter on the actual exam. Following each multiple-choice practice test, you will find an answer key with detailed explanations designed to help you more completely understand the test material. For the free-response practice tests, analysis is provided after each model essay to give you in-depth guidance on how to write your own essays.
ABOUT THE EXAM
Who takes the CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CBT and what is it used for?
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) examinations are usually taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP Program is designed to reward students for learning - no matter where or how that knowledge was acquired. The CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in the country.
Although most CLEP candidates are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, and international students also take the exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites, such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations. However, you must meet any specific requirements of the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.
There are two categories of CLEP examinations:
1. CLEP General Examinations, which are five separate tests that cover material usually taken as requirements during the first two years of college. CLEP General Examinations are available for English Composition (with or without essay), Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and History.
2. CLEP Subject Examinations, which include material usually covered in an undergraduate course with a similar title. The CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CBT is one of 29 subject examinations.
Who administers the exam?
The CLEP is developed by the College Board, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involves the assistance of educators throughout the country. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.
When and where is the exam given?
The CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CBT is administered each month throughout the year at more than 1,400 test centers in the U.S. and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, you should obtain a copy of the free booklets CLEP Colleges and CLEP Information for Candidates and Registration Form, which are available at most colleges where CLEP credit is granted, or by contacting the CLEP program at:
CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6601
Princeton, NJ 08541-6601
Phone: (609) 771-7865
Website: http://www.collegeboard.com
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
What do I study first?
It's best to read over the course review, along with our suggestions for test-taking, first. Then take Practice Test 1 to pinpoint your area(s) of weakness.
For details on how to utilize your study time, follow our Independent Study Schedule in the front of this book. The schedule is based on a six-week program, but can be condensed to three weeks if necessary by collapsing each two-week period into one.
In effect, this book offers a blueprint for how to put yourself in the best possible position for success on the CLEP CBT. Follow it all the way the through, and you'll be well on your way to a good score!
When should I start studying?
It is never too early to start studying for the CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CBT. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate! Last-minute cramming is not an effective way to study, since it does not allow you the time needed to learn the test material. The sooner you learn the format of the exam, the more time you will have to familiarize yourself with it.
FORMAT OF THE CLEP ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING LITERATURE CBT
The CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature is composed of 80 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes. In this book we give you 10 additional multiple-choice questions for extra practice.
The subject material on the exam is what is usually covered in a two semester college level class. Although knowledge of specific works is not required, the student is assumed to have an extensive background in the areas of prose, poetry, and drama. Those are covered in the following proportions:
35-45% Poetry
35-45% Prose (fiction and nonfiction)
15-30% Drama
The three forms of literary expression are broken down as follows:
30-45% American Literature
50-65% British Literature
5-15% Works in Translation
The above areas are further broken down into these time periods:
3-7% Classical and Pre-Renaissance
20-30% Renaissance and Seventeenth Century
35-45% Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
25-35% Twentieth Century
ABOUT OUR COURSE REVIEW
The literature review in this book is designed to further students' understanding of the test material. It is broken down into the three exam areas of prose, poetry, and drama. Along with a discussion of the literary genres, terms, and devices found on the exam, the review also provides techniques that students can use to enhance their analytical skills.
SCORING YOUR PRACTICE TESTS
How do I score my practice tests?
The CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CBT is scored on a scale of 20 to 80. To score your practice tests, count up the number of correct answers. This is your total raw score. Convert your raw score to a scaled score using the conversion table on the following page. (Note: The conversion table provides only an estimate of your scaled score. Scaled scores can and do vary over time, and in no case should a sample test be taken as a precise predictor of test performance. Nonetheless, our scoring table allows you to judge your level of performance within a reasonable scoring range.)
When will I receive my score report?
A scoring printout will be made available to you immediately after you finish. A score report for the optional free-response section (which is graded by human readers), however, will arrive about three weeks after you take the test. Your scores are reported only to you, unless you ask to have them sent elsewhere. If you want your scores reported to a college or other institution, you must ask that this be done at the time you take the CBT. Since your scores are kept on file for 20 years, you may also request transcripts from ETS at a later date.
The optional 90-minute free-response section, three samples of which you will find in the back of this book, is required by some colleges in addition to the 90-minute multiple-choice test. It is graded by the faculty of the college you designate. Check with your college for details.
STUDYING FOR THE CLEP ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING LITERATURE CBT
It is very important for you to choose the time and place for studying that works best for you. Some students may set aside a certain number of hours every morning, while others may choose to study...
