Have you taken a CLEP or DANTES to test out of a college course?

Question

I am a Human Resources Management major at Capella University. I am considering taking a few test to gain credit for come courses. Are these tests very complicated. How much in advance should I study for them and is it possible to pass on the first try?

Answer 1

CLEP tests are a great way to earn college credit.  Some tests are difficult and some are not so bad.  The two easiest I've taken so far were the Analyzing & Interpreting Literature & Sociology CLEPs.  The science, math & history ones tend to be much more difficult.  They are not designed to be easy tests.  You must demonstrate that you know the basic material that you would learn in a college-level class in that subject.  How long you need to spend studying will depend on your knowledge & familiarity of the subject matter for the test you're planning to take.  For exam descriptions, check out the College Board website at:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/test...  

It's definitely possible to pass on the first try, and in fact, that's preferable.  Don't take the test until you are thoroughly prepared.  If you take the test and fail, you will lose your money and you will not be able to retest for that subject for 6 months.  Study the material and don't schedule the test until you're relatively certain that you'll be able to pass.  

If you're looking for study materials, I highly recommend the REA books and InstantCert. These are the two resources I've used most, and I've been very happy with my test results. You can find the REA books on Amazon or at most large bookstores. They cost around $25 and come with a CD of practice tests. Make sure to read the reviews for the specific test you're taking, as some of the REA books are better than others.

InstantCert is an online study resource. They charge a $20 a month fee, but you have access the study questions for many different subjects. They also have an excellent forum where people give feedback and advice on specific CLEP tests. If you're interested in checking it out, you can get $5 off your first month's fee with coupon code "36438".

http://www.instantcert.com/landing.html

Good luck!