Cracking the CLEP, 4th Edition (College Test Preparation) [Paperback]

Tom Meltzer (Author), Paul Foglino (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0375761519 | ISBN-13: 978-0375761515 | Publication Date: May 9, 2000 | Edition: 4

The Princeton Review knows that acing the CLEP is very different from getting straight A's in school. The Princeton Review doesn't try to teach you everything there is to know about every subject -- only the techniques that you need to score higher on the CLEP. There's a big difference. In Cracking the CLEP, The Princeton Review will teach you how to think like the test makers.

This is accomplished by teaching you how to:
Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool you
Avoid the tricky Restructuring Sentences and Analyzing Writing questions on the English exam
Tackle he Humanities exam by using clues in the questions
Crack the algebra problems by "plugging in" numbers in place of letters
Ace thew Social and Natural Science exams by tailoring your review to the tests

*This book includes five full-length diagnostic exams that will predict your score on the CLEP. The questions in these tests are exactly like the ones you'll find on the real CLEP, and every solution is fully explained.

Contents include:

I Orientation
What is the CLEP?
Basic Test-Taking Techniques
II How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in English Comp
Overview of the English Comp Exam
Grammar Review
Question Types
The Essay Question
TPR Review Sample English Comp Exam
Answers and Explanations to the English Comp Exam
III How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in College Math
Overview of the College Math Exam
Math Review
TPR Sample College Math Exam
Answers and Explanations to the College Math Exam
IV How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in Humanities
Overview of the Humanities Exam
TPR Sample Humanities Exam
Answers and Explanations to the Humanities Exam
V How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in Social Sciences
Overview of the Social Sciences Exam
TPR Sample Social Sciences Exam
Answers and Explanations to the Social Sciences Exam
VI How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in Natural Sciences
Overview of the Natural Sciences Exam
TPR Sample Natural Sciences Exam
Answers and Explanations of the Natural Sciences Exam
VII CLEP Subject Exams
Overview of the CLEP Subject Exams

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The Princeton Review knows that acing the CLEP is very different from getting straight A's in school. The Princeton Review doesn't try to teach you everything there is to know about every subject -- only the techniques that you need to score higher on the CLEP. There's a big difference. In Cracking the CLEP, The Princeton Review will teach you how to think like the test makers.

This is accomplished by teaching you how to:
Eliminate answer choices that look right but are planted to fool you
Avoid the tricky Restructuring Sentences and Analyzing Writing questions on the English exam
Tackle he Humanities exam by using clues in the questions
Crack the algebra problems by "plugging in" numbers in place of letters
Ace thew Social and Natural Science exams by tailoring your review to the tests

*This book includes five full-length diagnostic exams that will predict your score on the CLEP. The questions in these tests are exactly like the ones you'll find on the real CLEP, and every solution is fully explained.

Contents include:

I Orientation
What is the CLEP?
Basic Test-Taking Techniques
II How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in English Comp
Overview of the English Comp Exam
Grammar Review
Question Types
The Essay Question
TPR Review Sample English Comp Exam
Answers and Explanations to the English Comp Exam
III How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in College Math
Overview of the College Math Exam
Math Review
TPR Sample College Math Exam
Answers and Explanations to the College Math Exam
IV How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in Humanities
Overview of the Humanities Exam
TPR Sample Humanities Exam
Answers and Explanations to the Humanities Exam
V How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in Social Sciences
Overview of the Social Sciences Exam
TPR Sample Social Sciences Exam
Answers and Explanations to the Social Sciences Exam
VI How to Crack the CLEP General Exam in Natural Sciences
Overview of the Natural Sciences Exam
TPR Sample Natural Sciences Exam
Answers and Explanations of the Natural Sciences Exam
VII CLEP Subject Exams
Overview of the CLEP Subject Exams

About the Author

Tom Meltzer has taught for The Princeton Review for over 11 years. He is one of several authors of The Best 331 Colleges and has written numerous tests, manuals and other materials for Princeton Review courses.

Paul Foglino has also taught for The Princeton Review for more than a decade and has authored tests and materials for many of its courses, most recently for the MCAT.

Paul and Tom are also musicians; they perform together in a band called Five Chinese Brothers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Review; 4 edition (May 9, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375761519
• ISBN-13: 978-0375761515
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #543,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Education & Reference > Education > Test Guides - College & University > CLEP

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good Start, July 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Cracking the CLEP, 4th Edition (College Test Preparation) (Paperback)

I took the English Exams with Comp;Natural Sciences;and
Social Sciences and History. (June-July 2002)I scored in the 90's percentile on all. Cracking the Clep was a great start.

However, if like me, you do not already have background knowledge of your subjects, it may not be enough. This book has questions thatare:
1) Easier than questions on the Natural History test
2) On par with questions on the English Test
3) On Par with questions on the Social Science/History Test.

If you have a good background in your suject area, this book is a great review. It's questions are similar in fashion to the computerized test questions. However, none of the books I used to study had any questions that were actually on any of the tests that I took.

If you have no background at all on your subject, this book is an excellent start. However you need to use the COMEX books and
the R.E.A. books (Best Review for Clep/Best Examas Prep) as well. Among all four books, you will have enough background necessary to pass the tests, even if you do not study any other material nor have any previous knowledge of the subjects.

This book is the best start you an get.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful!, October 23, 2001

By 

A. Wirtanen (Cape Cod, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cracking the CLEP, 4th Edition (College Test Preparation) (Paperback)

I used this book to study for the English Composition CLEP test, and the test was exactly how the book said it would be! This book reviews basic grammar and the types of questions that are going to be asked. It is very down-to-earth, and yes, even quite humorous.

I also passed the Freshman College Composition CLEP test with a 60, and I barely looked over this book before taking it! If you take the English Comp test and do well on it, then take the Freshman College Composition!

Now I just need to find more CLEP study guides to pass particular subject exams...

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Test taking tips alone are worth the price!, February 15, 2002

By 

"carmel_mike" (Carmel, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracking the CLEP, 4th Edition (College Test Preparation) (Paperback)

I used this book as my only review for the College Math CLEP exam. While I am confident I could have passed the exam without the book, this book served as an excellent refresher for math concepts I havent used in over 10 years.

You will be tempted to just dive right into the "meat" of this book, but as the author advises DONT DO IT. Yes, you should actually read the first two chapters that focus on test taking techniques and tips. I consider myself a vetran test taker, having past numerous technical certification tests in the past. However, it had never occured to me to use some of the simple techniques they offer to keep myself from making stupid mistakes. I estimate that by using their techniques, I "saved" myself from missing at least 4 of the 60 questions on the exam. The same tips also helped me to avoid having to do the "real" algebra to arrive at the right answer; probably saving me 10 minutes or more of time during the exam.

Summary: Using this book and the recommended techniques in the book, I passed the College Math CLEP with a 77 out of 80. Had I not used this book, I believe I would have scored somewhere around 68-70.