Customer Reviews

The College Board CLEP Official Study Guide, 19th Edition

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This book calls its self a study guide, but it is really just a collection of pre tests. It can give you a quick and easy idea if you should put the money out to take a full test. After having tried 2 of the tests for the sections that I was thinking about taking the tests for, one made me feel like it was worth taking the test, and the other section made me feel like the money I spent on this book saved me from wasting money and time on taking the second test. As far as the Study guide part, the first 25 pages are the general guidelines for any type of test, relax, look for key words, etcetera. They then have lots of examination guides, one for each test, and an answer key. The only help they give you for each test, is to suggest that you study from a good college text, and check to see that the text covers all of the topics listed for that test. Is it worth buying? I think if you are considering taking more than one test, it is. P.S. If you're reading this, good luck on your tests.

If you plan to take CLEP tests to receive college credit for material you are already somewhat familiar with or can study on your own, this is THE book to use. With this book, I was able to earn over 54 semester credit hours in less than four months. These credits transferred directly to the college I was attending and I was able to complete my degree four semesters earlier than I would have otherwise. This book has study guides and sample tests for ALL of the CLEP tests available.

There are other CLEP review materials out there that cost more and don't cover as much ground. I tried them too and they were a waste of my time.

Bottom line: Stick with the study guide published by the people who write and grade the CLEP examinations.

This book only contains sample test questions that are not on the test. There is no actual study information. You will have to purchase other study guides to go along.

These official guides are never the best but are usually where people start on finding out about college exams. The best book I found can be downloaded off the getyourcollegedegree website and not only gives information on CLEP but also how to get almost your entire degree using exams. I have accumulated over 63 credits myself.

Go through this book, take all practice tests, and prepare to get college credit for around $20 a credit hour total cost, on any subject you get near 50% correct answers. You can get 3 to 6 accredited credits per test. I have done this. All colleges I know accept CLEP tests for credit. These credits become a part of your permanent transcript.

So, try all the tests you think remotely possible, then skip all the boring required 101 and 201-type courses so you can take welding, basket weaving-- the fun stuff. Or, of course, just take a year or so off of your college time and expenses.

On the practice tests that I did fairly well on, I went to the college library and checked out a Study Guide for the equivalent course. Psych 101 is Psych 101--it doesn't matter which study guide you use. Sign up for the test, review the study guide for a couple of weeks, and in 90 minutes on test day, you'll have 3 credits. Bam. Let's see--- 90 minutes vs. 4 1/2 months.... hmmmm....

This plan is best if you are fairly good at taking multiple choice tests and you have background knowledge you can bring to the test. I think it would be particularly good for kids just getting out of high school, although my life experience was great prep also. I had no idea I had absorbed so much business law, for instance.

Somewhere around the 50% correct mark is where you earn college credit. The way CLEP works is they test their tests on recent college graduates from around the country who have earned a degree in the particular subject. Because they aren't testing against a specific book or class, then general subject knowledge is what you need.

This is no good if you already have your AA degree, or all those basic courses, because a CLEP test is only good for lower-level credit (100 and 200 level courses.) So do it early in your college career.

The only place I found that would provide upper level credits from testing was Regents College, which is now called Excelsior, and I have no idea if they still have the same policies. Upper level credits were not from CLEPS, though, but from the GRE exams. (Up to 30 credits per exam, upper and lower level, depending on your score.) Regents also gave a grade equivalent for the CLEPs, depending on your score. Made my GPA more realistic.

Give it a shot. I recommend the first time, just take one test, and one of the easier subjects for you. You will naturally do (slightly) better on the 2nd and further tests, after experience with the first one. After the first one, though, you can take two tests in one day. I think most colleges only give them once a month or so.

I think its wrong for colleges not to tell people about this, but also, there are other sources of college information besides the college itself, and no one talks much about it. I understand colleges are afraid of losing the income that semester or two you *won't* be taking, but why no one else recommends it I have no idea. Many people stress when taking tests, and cannot imagine voluntarily taking one. Still, many people can face a test with equanimity, and for them, its a great option.

For the few bucks a previous-edition book costs, it is certainly worth a try.

dittany

This book did not live up to my expectations. I felt it contained errors. I would have been good for it to include proofs/rules/logic applied for the answers. It was a clep guide, but I could not consider it very official.

The College Board CLEP Official Study Guide, 19th Edition (Clep Official Study Guide) (Purchased on 04/07/2008)
I expected a much more comprehensive study guide. I should have bought the subject specific study guide. My fault for believing all the hype of the advertizement. I am sure I would have been much happier with the CLEP study guide for Biology as I wanted for my son.