Because so many of us are currently working on this course inorder to fulfill our upper level requirements, I will let you know what I thought , when I get back home.

Good Luck! I am planning to take this exam in a few weeks. Let us know what happens and good luck!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Okay, where do I start. first 85% of the test centers on 1890 and up to Yeltsin. Of that 85 %.... 75% centers on 1914 to 1995. Interesting and tricky phrasing of the question, so therefore read through the question twice to make sure you really know what is being asked. There were 96 questions on this test. 47 to 50 questions covered by instantcert: ikept track just for my own knowledge. I used instantcert as 97% of my study reference. Ialso kept track of definite or at least fairly definite answers that I felt good about. I had 47 of those and that leaves me with 49 questions left to pickup my other 2 needed points. Alot of Stalin questions....in fact the majority on Lenin and Stalin. A number of questions on the breakup of the USSR and who left first and who never joined the independent state coalition after the breakup.
There were plenty of questions that grouped two or three proposed answers together and you had to select the correct grouping in response to the question. Questions on dissidents, writers, architects and such. Questions on who was apart of what coalition . Very little on 1890 and before..in fact i can't really remember seeing any!!!! LOts of timetable elements to the questions such as : Was Stalin still in control when the following two or more events took place and you have to pick the the correct grouping of answers. When did Chechoslovakia leave the USSR'S stronghold and who was in office then? I feel good on one hand about the test and on the other frustrated at guessing a good deal of the time. I'd say that you can pass this test using only instantcert , but that the best thing to do is supplement, as Steve always points out, the instantcert materials with another resource or two I studied for this test for two weeks and really got the instantcert flashcards done to almost perfection, but that still put me at risk on at least 30 to 45 questions. So, get some other supplemental study materials in addition to instantcert and use instantcert as your base, but be smart and add to it so you don't get surprised by unexpected questions.Good luck and I hope that helps!!

Thanks for the insights, I will be sure to put them to good use. How long did you study for?

APPROXIMATELY 40 HRS. OF ACTUAL STUDY TIME.

Thanks for the information! I plan to take this exam in two weeks. Does anyone have any experience with the Rudman books for Dantes?

Yes, I used the Rudman "Red Cover" book for the Civil War exam and have one for the Soviet Union exam. I found the questions in the book a good look into the way DANTES questions are posed which is to say "contemplative" as they are written, well - oddly compared with CLEP questions. I haven't received my results yet, so I cannot say for certain if they led me to success except to say that I believe they were a help to me.

ShotoJuku,

I am taking the civil war exam tomorrow. Any pointers? I will probably try the red books for the Soviet Union and Money and Banking. Thanks.

Know your battles and generals well - GOOD LUCK!!!