CLEP Humanities w/CD-ROM (CLEP Test Preparation) [Paperback]

Patricia Van Arnum (Author), CLEP (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 21, 2005 | Series: CLEP Test Preparation

        
 REA … Real review, Real practice, Real results.
 
An easier path to a college degree – get college credits without the classes.
 
CLEP HUMANITIES – with TESTware
Includes CD with timed practice tests, instant scoring, and more.
Based on today’s official CLEP exam
 
Are you prepared to excel on the CLEP?
* Take the first practice test to discover what you know and what you should know
* Set up a flexible study schedule by following our easy timeline
* Use REA's advice to ready yourself for proper study and success
 
Study what you need to know to pass the exam
* The book's on-target subject review features coverage of all topics on the official CLEP exam, including literature, visual arts and architecture, philosophy, music, and the performing arts
* Smart and friendly lessons reinforce necessary knowledge
* Targeted drills increase comprehension and help organize study
 
Practice for real
* Create the closest experience to test-day conditions with 2 of the book’s 3 full-length practice tests on REA’s TESTware CD, featuring test-taking against the clock, instant scoring by topic, handy mark-and-return function, pause function, and more
* OR choose paper-and-pencil testing at your own pace
* Chart your progress with full and detailed explanations of all answers
* Boost your confidence with test-taking strategies and experienced advice
 
Specially Written for Solo Test Preparation!
 
REA is the acknowledged leader in CLEP preparation, with the most extensive library of CLEP titles and software available. Most titles are also offered with REA's exclusive TESTware software to make your practice more effective and more like exam day. REA's CLEP Prep guides will help you get valuable credits, save on tuition, and advance your chosen career by earning a college degree. 
 

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

EARN COLLEGE CREDIT WITH CLEP – GET THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE ON THE MARKET TODAY!

CLEP Humanities

The Most Complete CLEP Humanities Subject Review
Everything you need to know for the CLEP Humanities exam. Comprehensive review chapters completely align with all the subjects tested on the exam.

The Best CLEP Humanities Practice Exams Available
3 full-length CLEP Humanities practice tests based on official CLEP exam questions released by the College Board.

Total Explanations of Questions & Answers
Each CLEP Humanities practice test comes with detailed feedback on every question. We don’t just say which answers are right – but why the others are wrong – so you’ll be prepared for the CLEP Humanities exam.

Proven Test-Prep Methods
REA’s focused content and practical advice have helped millions succeed on their exams. With our step-by-step plan, you can score high on the CLEP Humanities exam and earn the college credit you deserve!

Get the World’s Most Advanced CLEP Software
REA’s CLEP Humanities TestWare combines a realistic test environment with the most powerful scoring analysis and diagnostic tools available. With every CLEP practice test you take, you’ll gain knowledge and confidence for the real exam. Automatic scoring and instant reports help you zero in on the topics and types of questions that give you trouble now, so you’ll succeed on the CLEP Humanities exam!

What is CLEP?
CLEP is the College Board’s credit-by-examination program for more than 30 subjects. Each exam passed earns the student between 3-12 credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. REA has the largest library of CLEP test preps that can help you earn college credit while saving you valuable time and money.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

About this book
This book provides you with complete preparation for the CLEP Humanities exam. Inside you will find a targeted review of the subject matter, as well as tips and strategies for test-taking. We also give you three practice tests, which are based on the official CLEP Humanities exam. Our 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 more completely understand the test material.
All 33 CLEP exams are computer-based. As you can see, the practice tests in our book are presented as paper-and-pencil exams. The content and format of the actual CLEP subject exam are faithfully mirrored. We detail the format and content of the CLEP Humanities exam on pages 5-6.

About the Exam
Who takes the CLEP Humanities exam and what is it used for?
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) examinations are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP 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, with more than 2,900 colleges and universities granting credit for satisfactory scores on CLEP exams.
Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, 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, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact 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 include material usually covered in an undergraduate course with a similar title. For a complete list of the subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website.
Who administers the exam?
The CLEP tests are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve 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 Humanities exam is administered each month throughout the year at more than 1,300 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. They are available at most colleges where CLEP credit is granted, or by contacting:
CLEP Services
P.O. Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 08541-6600
Phone: [phone] (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)
Fax: [phone]
Website: www.collegeboard.com/clep

Military personnel and CLEP
CLEP exams are available free-of-charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. The College Board has developed a paper-based version of 14 high volume/high pass rate CLEP tests for DANTES Test Centers. Contact the Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information. Visit the College Board website for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel.

How to Use this Book

What do I study first?
Read over the course review and the suggestions for test-taking, take the first practice test to determine your area(s) of weakness, and then go back and focus your study on those specific problems. Studying the reviews 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 four-week program, but can be condensed to two weeks if necessary by collapsing each two-week period into one.
When should I start studying?
It is never too early to start studying for the CLEP Humanities exam, 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 and content of the CLEP
The CLEP Humanities exam tests general knowledge of literature, art, and music. The test covers all periods, from classical to contemporary and covers poetry, prose, philosophy, history of art, music, dance, and theater. The questions are drawn from the entire history of Western art and culture and are fairly evenly divided among the following periods: Classical, Medieval and Renaissance, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, nineteenth century and twentieth century. Some questions could be based on African and Asian cultures.
The exam consists of 140 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered within 90 minutes.
The approximate breakdown of topics is as follows:
50% Literature
10 % Drama
10-15% Poetry
15-20% Fiction
10% Nonfiction (including philosophy)
50% Fine Arts
20% Visual arts (painting, sculpture, etc.)
15% Music
10% Performing arts (film, dance, etc.)
5% Architecture

ABOUT OUR COURSE REVIEW
The review in this book provides you with a complete overview of literature, music, philosophy and the performing arts. It will help reinforce the facts you have already learned while better shaping your understanding of the discipline as a whole. By using the review in conjunction with the practice tests, you should be well prepared to take the CLEP Humanities examination.

Scoring your practice tests
How do I score my practice tests?
The CLEP Humanities 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?
The test administrator will print out a full Candidate Score Report for you immediately upon your completion of the exam (except for CLEP English Composition with Essay). 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 say so when you take the examination. Since your scores are kept on file for 20 years, you can also request transcripts from Educational Testing Service at a later date.
Studying for the CLEP
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 at night before going to sleep. Other students may study during the day, while waiting on a line, or even while eating lunch. Only you can determine when and where your study time will be most effective. But be consistent and use your time wisely. Work out a study routine and stick to it!
When you take the practice tests, try to make your testing conditions as much like the actual test as possible. Turn your television and radio off, and sit down at a quiet table free from distraction. Make sure to time yourself. Start off by setting a timer for the time that is allotted for each section, and be sure to reset the timer for the appropriate amount of time when you start a new section.
As you complete each practice test, score your test and thoroughly review the explanations to the questions you answered incorrectly; however, do not review too much at one time. Concentrate on one problem area at a time by reviewing the question and explanation, and by studying our review until you are confident that you completely understand the material.
Keep track of your scores and mark them on the Scoring Worksheet. By doing so, you will be able to gauge your progress and discover general weaknesses in particular sections. You should carefully study the reviews that cover your areas of difficulty, as this will build your skills in those areas.
Test-Taking tips
Although you may not be familiar with computer-based standardized tests such as the CLEP Humanities, there are many ways to acquaint yourself with this type of examination and to help alleviate your test-taking anxieties. Listed below are ways to help you become accustomed to the CLEP, some of which may be applied to other standardized tests as well.
Read all of the possible answers. Just because you think you have found the correct response, do not automatically assume that it is the best answer. Read through each choice to be sure that you are not making a mistake by jumping to conclusions.
Use the process of elimination. Go through each answer to a question and eliminate as many of the answer choices as possibl...

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Research & Education Association (December 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738601721
• ISBN-13: 978-0738601724
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Education & Reference > Education > Test Guides - College & University > CLEP

More About the Author

REA is the acknowledged leader in CLEP preparation and has the most extensive library of CLEP titles and software available. Our CLEP test preps are authored by subject experts and cover everything tested on the actual exams. REA's CLEP test preps help you earn valuable college credits, save on tuition, and advance your chosen career by earning a college degree.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice book, unreliable software, October 15, 2007

By 

Kelly Cannon Hess (Dallas, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CLEP Humanities w/CD-ROM (CLEP Test Preparation) (Paperback)

As a returning student 18 years out of the game, I wanted to get off to a big start in a subject area where I already felt pretty comfortable. I picked the CLEP Humanities because it would get me 6 hours of credit for knowledge I already possessed. After getting 61/70 correct on the College Board's "official" practice exam, I scheduled a testing date.

Then I got cold feet, decided a little preparation couldn't hurt, and ordered this book. The good reviews here were encouraging, and the "Testware" software put REA above the rest for me.

The good: The book contains concise yet comprehensive reviews of all the major subject areas covered on the test. (I thought I was pretty savvy, but I still learned a lot.) Each chapter ends with a drill on the subject matter -- including material that wasn't covered. If you learn all the material presented, you're sure to pass the test. There are three complete practice tests, all of which turned out to be much harder than the actual exam. I found the heightened difficulty level to be a plus: Better to not get too cocky and to be a little better prepared than necessary than to not be prepared enough. (If you're *that* close to the pass/fail line, maybe you need to just take the courses.)

The back of the book contains nice glossaries of (1) important literary figures by period and (2) literary terms. There's also a conventional subject index.

The not so good: Testware is a good idea executed badly. I used it to take the first practice test and it scored me with 55 correct answers out of 140. This was a little discouraging, as I thought I'd done better. As I reviewed the correct answers and explanations, I soon found 2 questions I was sure I had given the correct answers to that Testware said I answered incorrectly. Then I *knew* there was a glitch when a question I had answered incorrectly was scored as correct.

This was all within the first 27 questions, so I stopped right there and re-did the first test, duplicating my answers from before. This time, I created an Excel spreadsheet, entering first my answers and then the correct answers from the key. My actual number of correct answers on test 1 was 78, not 55 -- more in line with how I felt I had done. I didn't use Testware to take the second practice test, but stuck to my spreadsheet method for it and test 3 (which is only offered in the book, anyway).

I was disappointed that the book didn't have much in the way of timelines, and much key information was "buried" in the text such that I felt the continuous urge to highlight in the book, which I didn't want to do because I intended to sell it when I was finished. Glossaries on artists, artistic movements, musical terms, and architects would have been nice but were absent.

Bottom line: REA's CLEP Humanities book makes an excellent component to your test preparation. The software might be helpful in acclimating yourself to computerized testing if, like me, you've never done it before. Just don't rely on the software to score you correctly. For added security, I recommend using a second preparatory book. Toward the end of my studying, I picked up a 2005 copy of Kaplan's CLEP general exam book, which filled in some gaps for me. It also contains practice tests, and, unlike REA's book, also includes book recommendations for independent study. (But it's not as thorough for review purposes.)

I just took the test today. I scored 78/80. I would likely have passed without studying at all, but it was worth the extra time and money to go in feeling uber-prepared, and to earn a score that will translate to a grade of A.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Advanced CLEP test, be careful without background knowledge, May 1, 2006

By 

Eric Boucher "Young Epic" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: CLEP Humanities w/CD-ROM (CLEP Test Preparation) (Paperback)

This review volume was quite useful. I looked at everything Amazon was offering (from the collections with about 50 pgs. specific to the CLEP to full Humanities volumes like this), the reviews LAPL had in circulation, and some used book stores' offerings. I settled on this book and another called Mastering the CLEP (both written recently and I assumed would give me the most update scenarios for questions and review examinations).

Overall, I was impressed with REA's volume. However, a word of caution. The Humanities test is CHALLENGING. REA's book can seem like a maze of unfamiliar, and highly detailed, or even irrelevant ideas, people, places, dates, and movements if you are not well versed TO BEGIN WITH in the Humanities. The review book itself was simply a sweeping overview of the major sections of the possible test questions: Literature, Music, Art, Philosophy & Anthropology type subjects. It covered things in more broad catagories (Enlightenment, Industrial Revolutionary thought), but also was extrememly specific with the people and places which were relevant to the test.

Ultimately, I could not have passed the test without THIS review book, if that tells you anything. I needed a 50 for credit and received a 63, much due to the helpful review specifics I found in here. I read the entire book in a single day, reviewed the notes I took the morning of, went over the timeline of people and things in the index and took the test. This is NOT normal however. I studied Milton, Shakespeare, Philosophy, and music in undergraduate. My professors were excellent and personal and I read incessantly. It is hard on purpose (you are receving a semester of credit for taking a 140 question test...)

I would highly recommend the REA review book. It was at times too detailed (music section, ballet entries [ie. names of the position of the feet], etc.), but even though that slowed the reading down, it helped jog the memory and stimulate thinking for the test day questions.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELSIOR STUDENTS YOU CAN DO THIS!, June 19, 2006

By 

Pete Hardison (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: CLEP Humanities w/CD-ROM (CLEP Test Preparation) (Paperback)

REA has done again on December 21, 2005 when they came out with this stand alone CLEP Humanties study guide! Unlike most reviewers I have taken this CLEP test several times. But don't be scared off by this fact-when I first took the CLEP Humanities test it was for a law school and at the time there was no computer or REA study guide at the time and I did awful-I got a 380 which at the time was really bad. Of course back then the non-CBT test went a lot slower and you had a quarter point subtracted from your final score for every wrong answer so you spent a lot more of your test time agonizing as there was no possible reward for guessing with out at least looking the question over thourougly. To pass the Humanities CLEP test you will need to take the sample test every day for at least a month until you have memorized the material but in order to push yourself over the top you will at the very least need to purchase College Boards official study guide for the CLEP exams and with pencil and paper test yourself with the 50 or so questions in the humanities sample exam until you have memorized the material in that book as well. You will need both books to pass this CLEP exam-that is unless of course you have a magnificent knowledge of humanities from previous college coursework. If you have never taken a CLEP test before I strongly recommend that you take a much easier CLEP test first such as Principles of Marketing.