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About Research & Education Association
Research & Education Association (REA) is an organization of educators, scientists, and engineers specializing in various academic fields. Founded in 1959 with the purpose of disseminating the most recently developed scientific information to groups in industry, government, high schools, and universities, REA has since become a successful and highly respected publisher of study aids, test preps, handbooks, and reference works.
REA's Test Preparation series includes study guides for all academic levels in almost all disciplines. Research & Education Association publishes test preps for students who have not yet completed high school, as well as high school students preparing to enter college. Students from countries around the world seeking to attend college in the United States will find the assistance they need in REA's publications. For college students seeking advanced degrees, REA publishes test preps for many major graduate school admission examinations in a wide variety of disciplines, including engineering, law, and medicine. Students at every level, in every field, with every ambition can find what they are looking for among REA's publications.
While most test preparation books present practice tests that bear little resemblance to the actual exams, REA's series presents tests that accurately depict the official exams in both degree of difficulty and types of questions. REA's practice tests are always based upon the most recently administered exams, and include every type of question that can be expected on the actual exams.
REA's publications and educational materials are highly regarded and continually receive an unprecedented amount of praise from professionals, instructors, librarians, parents, and students. Our authors are as diverse as the fields represented in the books we publish. They are well-known in their respective disciplines and serve on the faculties of prestigious high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and Canada.
Chapter 1 - PASSING THE CLEP FRESHMAN COLLEGE COMPOSITION CBT
About this Book
This book provides you with an accurate and complete representation of the CLEP Freshman College Composition Computer-Based Test, or CBT. Inside you will find a complete review of college composition, as well as tips and strategies for test-taking. We also provide three full-length practice tests, all based on the official CLEP Freshman College Composition CBT. REA's practice tests contain every type of question that you can expect to encounter on the actual exam. Following each practice test you will find an answer key with detailed explanations designed to help you master the CLEP CBT.
About the Exam
Who takes the CLEP Freshman College Composition 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 United States.
Although most CLEP examinees 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 34 CLEP examinations. Of these, five-English Composition (with or without essay), Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and History-cover material usually taken as requirements during the first two years of college.
Who administers the exam?
The CLEP is developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involves the assistance of educators throughout the United States. 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 Freshman College Composition CBT is administered throughout the year at more than 1,400 test centers in the United States 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:
CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6601
Princeton, NJ 08541-6601
Phone: 1-800-257-9558
Website: http://www.collegeboard.com
How to Use this Book
What do I study first?
Read over the course review and the suggestions for test-taking. Then take the first practice test to determine your area(s) of weakness. Those areas should constitute the focus of your study efforts. Studying our topical survey thoroughly will reinforce the basic skills you will need to do well on the exam. Make sure to take the practice tests to become familiar with the format and procedures involved with taking the actual exam.
To best utilize your study time, follow our Independent Study Schedule, which you'll find in the front of this book. The schedule is based on a six-week program but can be condensed to a three-week plan if necessary by making a single week's study unit out of every two weeks' coverage.
When should I start studying?
It is never too early to start studying for the CLEP Freshman College Composition CBT. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate! 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 Freshman college composition CBT
The CLEP Freshman College Composition CBT covers the material one would find in most first-year English courses. It measures a candidate's understanding of both mechanics and style, with questions concerning the structure of sentences, the logical development of essays, and the ability to recognize rhetorical purpose and strategies in prose and poetry. Candidates must also demonstrate familiarity with research papers and reference skills.
There are 90 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes.
Coverage is apportioned approximately as follows:
65% Recognizing logical development in student drafts as well as published prose
20% Recognizing and using standard written English
15% Demonstrating the ability to use resource materials
There is also an optional free-response section to the CLEP Freshman College Composition that you will take only if your college requires it. If you sit for this section, you will need to respond to two essay questions, with a combined time limit of 95 minutes. Candidates must respond to the first essay topic, while the second essay may choose to write on one of two topics. The College Board advises candidates to spend between 35 and 40 minutes on the first essay and between 50 and 55 minutes on the second.
We have not included sample essay questions within our practice tests. Since the scoring is left to the college that requests this portion of the exam, it is impossible to determine what a satisfactory answer would be in every case. Below, however, are three topics similar to the ones you can expect to find on the exam.
Sample Topic A Our use of language differs depending on the manner or conditions in which it is used. Our language may differ in use of syntax, inflection, vocabulary, and pronunciation, dependent on circumstances.
Write an essay describing the differences in the language you would use in two different circumstances-a conversation with a friend and a job interview, for instance. Your essay should indicate what purposes the differences in your use of language serve.
Sample Topic B Polls of American youth suggest that they want high-paying jobs, not necessarily satisfying careers. This reflects the current cultural value implied in the popular media that money is the key which opens the golden door to satisfaction, unlike the traditional value of work for its own reward.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your opinion with specific examples from history, current events, literature, or personal experience.
Sample Topic C Because of increased crime involving teenagers at area malls and other places of recreational activity, local city councils and many concerned citizens have recently proposed curfews, hoping to stem the tide of teen crime.
Write an essay, to be read by the city council and concerned citizens, approving or disapproving of the proposed curfews for teenagers.
About Our Course Review
REA's review for the CLEP Freshman College Composition CBT is divided into two areas. The first is an introduction that covers all the major styles of college writing, the tools used by effective writers, and useful techniques for handling a college research paper. This portion of the review will prove to be effective in scoring well on the second half of the exam and will serve as a good preparation tool for college-level work in general.
The skills review in this book provides a comprehensive study of the mechanics of writing, including diction, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. The drills in this section will sharpen your knowledge of all aspects of grammar, thus putting you in a strong position to score well on the first half of the exam.
Scoring Your Practi...
Research & Education Association (REA) is an organization of educators, scientists, and engineers specializing in various academic fields. Founded in 1959 with the purpose of disseminating the most recently developed scientific information to groups in industry, government, high schools, and universities, REA has since become a successful and highly respected publisher of study aids, test preps, handbooks, and reference works.
REA's Test Preparation series includes study guides for all academic levels in almost all disciplines. Research & Education Association publishes test preps for students who have not yet completed high school, as well as high school students preparing to enter college. Students from countries around the world seeking to attend college in the United States will find the assistance they need in REA's publications. For college students seeking advanced degrees, REA publishes test preps for many major graduate school admission examinations in a wide variety of disciplines, including engineering, law, and medicine. Students at every level, in every field, with every ambition can find what they are looking for among REA's publications.
While most test preparation books present practice tests that bear little resemblance to the actual exams, REA's series presents tests that accurately depict the official exams in both degree of difficulty and types of questions. REA's practice tests are always based upon the most recently administered exams, and include every type of question that can be expected on the actual exams.
REA's publications and educational materials are highly regarded and continually receive an unprecedented amount of praise from professionals, instructors, librarians, parents, and students. Our authors are as diverse as the fields represented in the books we publish. They are well-known in their respective disciplines and serve on the faculties of prestigious high schools, colleges, and universities throughout the United States and Canada.
Chapter 1 - PASSING THE CLEP FRESHMAN COLLEGE COMPOSITION CBT
About this Book
This book provides you with an accurate and complete representation of the CLEP Freshman College Composition Computer-Based Test, or CBT. Inside you will find a complete review of college composition, as well as tips and strategies for test-taking. We also provide three full-length practice tests, all based on the official CLEP Freshman College Composition CBT. REA's practice tests contain every type of question that you can expect to encounter on the actual exam. Following each practice test you will find an answer key with detailed explanations designed to help you master the CLEP CBT.
About the Exam
Who takes the CLEP Freshman College Composition 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 United States.
Although most CLEP examinees 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 34 CLEP examinations. Of these, five-English Composition (with or without essay), Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and History-cover material usually taken as requirements during the first two years of college.
Who administers the exam?
The CLEP is developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involves the assistance of educators throughout the United States. 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 Freshman College Composition CBT is administered throughout the year at more than 1,400 test centers in the United States 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:
CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6601
Princeton, NJ 08541-6601
Phone: 1-800-257-9558
Website: http://www.collegeboard.com
How to Use this Book
What do I study first?
Read over the course review and the suggestions for test-taking. Then take the first practice test to determine your area(s) of weakness. Those areas should constitute the focus of your study efforts. Studying our topical survey thoroughly will reinforce the basic skills you will need to do well on the exam. Make sure to take the practice tests to become familiar with the format and procedures involved with taking the actual exam.
To best utilize your study time, follow our Independent Study Schedule, which you'll find in the front of this book. The schedule is based on a six-week program but can be condensed to a three-week plan if necessary by making a single week's study unit out of every two weeks' coverage.
When should I start studying?
It is never too early to start studying for the CLEP Freshman College Composition CBT. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate! 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 Freshman college composition CBT
The CLEP Freshman College Composition CBT covers the material one would find in most first-year English courses. It measures a candidate's understanding of both mechanics and style, with questions concerning the structure of sentences, the logical development of essays, and the ability to recognize rhetorical purpose and strategies in prose and poetry. Candidates must also demonstrate familiarity with research papers and reference skills.
There are 90 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes.
Coverage is apportioned approximately as follows:
65% Recognizing logical development in student drafts as well as published prose
20% Recognizing and using standard written English
15% Demonstrating the ability to use resource materials
There is also an optional free-response section to the CLEP Freshman College Composition that you will take only if your college requires it. If you sit for this section, you will need to respond to two essay questions, with a combined time limit of 95 minutes. Candidates must respond to the first essay topic, while the second essay may choose to write on one of two topics. The College Board advises candidates to spend between 35 and 40 minutes on the first essay and between 50 and 55 minutes on the second.
We have not included sample essay questions within our practice tests. Since the scoring is left to the college that requests this portion of the exam, it is impossible to determine what a satisfactory answer would be in every case. Below, however, are three topics similar to the ones you can expect to find on the exam.
Sample Topic A Our use of language differs depending on the manner or conditions in which it is used. Our language may differ in use of syntax, inflection, vocabulary, and pronunciation, dependent on circumstances.
Write an essay describing the differences in the language you would use in two different circumstances-a conversation with a friend and a job interview, for instance. Your essay should indicate what purposes the differences in your use of language serve.
Sample Topic B Polls of American youth suggest that they want high-paying jobs, not necessarily satisfying careers. This reflects the current cultural value implied in the popular media that money is the key which opens the golden door to satisfaction, unlike the traditional value of work for its own reward.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your opinion with specific examples from history, current events, literature, or personal experience.
Sample Topic C Because of increased crime involving teenagers at area malls and other places of recreational activity, local city councils and many concerned citizens have recently proposed curfews, hoping to stem the tide of teen crime.
Write an essay, to be read by the city council and concerned citizens, approving or disapproving of the proposed curfews for teenagers.
About Our Course Review
REA's review for the CLEP Freshman College Composition CBT is divided into two areas. The first is an introduction that covers all the major styles of college writing, the tools used by effective writers, and useful techniques for handling a college research paper. This portion of the review will prove to be effective in scoring well on the second half of the exam and will serve as a good preparation tool for college-level work in general.
The skills review in this book provides a comprehensive study of the mechanics of writing, including diction, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure. The drills in this section will sharpen your knowledge of all aspects of grammar, thus putting you in a strong position to score well on the first half of the exam.
Scoring Your Practi...
