ive been studying for 2 weeks here on instantcert. i can do all of the modules and get a really good grade on them(like less then 10 wrong). Yesterday i did the clep sample test for it, and i got less than half right. So why do i get so many wrong on a practice test yet do so well here on instantcert.

1> Make sure you are studying the explanations and the questions--a lot of times they're more important than what goes in the blank.
2> You need to find the approach that works for you. That may mean supplementing our materials with Petersons or other study. Doing the collegeboard sample test is good because usually that'll raise your actual test score by at least a couple of points.

I would recommend doing a search on the forum and reading other people's feedback on the exam. You may find some useful information on what topics to focus on and how to pass...

Good luck!

__________________
--
Steve, Webmaster

I ended up getting a wonderful Western Civ. textbook that covered Western Civ. I & II. It was an easy read and I did quite well on both of them. Feel free to look at the Study Guides section of the forum and you'll see my listing. If you end up feeling like you may need something like that, let me know. Sparknotes is a great tool as well.

__________________
Matymus Prime
Lincoln, NE
Excelsior College
B.S. General Business


~105 Credits down - 15 to go~

__________________
Brian R. Fey Sr.
M.S. - Psychology
B.S. - Criminal Justice
A.S. - Administrative Management

Shoto-Advice:
"EC"
"CCU"
"Prayer"
"A Pass is a Pass"
"Slow and Steady - Wins the Race"
“Sometimes The Easy Way Is Not Always The Best Way”
"Passing a Petersons = Conquering a CLEP -or- Defeating a DSST"
"The 5 R's of Study: Repetition - Re-Enforces - Recognition - Recall - Retention"

"Always be Ready to Release Your Mind & Incorporate the Advice of Others into Your Plans."

"Studying is much like Boiling Water, if it is not Heated Constantly it will Once Again Become Cold Water."

Other Sources of CLEP & DSST Study Material

REA Books, Comex Books, Pass Your Class Guides, Standard Deviants DVD's, Petersons Practice Exams, Dummies Books, Idiot's Guides .

My guess is because you either aren't reading enough of the explanations OR you need to do some background reading. I found the background reading extremely helpful on this test, to kind of put all the pieces together. IC was a great resource but I needed some sort of framework to put all the IC facts into.

If you have time to order the REA guide to Western Civ. I, do. The practice tests in it are very helpful and have detailed answers.

Also, try this SparkNotes link: History Study Guides - SparkNotes Click on any one of these topics and it'll give you overviews and explanations and also a review test.

I have already done everything you guys said. I read all of the explanations, Ive used petersons, and many other books, why is everything so different? I guess i just dont get why i can pass the tests on here with flying colors, and then when i take the CLEP practice test i get so many wrong.

Well, frankly, this was the hardest exam I've taken yet because there is SO much info. So don't feel bad that you're having trouble. I found that this one just took a lot of repeated study from a lot of sources.

Something else you could try......for whatever questions you get wrong on the CLEP practice test, look up that topic on wikipedia or some other place and brush up on everything you missed.

Have you looked at the Spark Notes stuff yet?

RELAX and take a deep breath!! "Slow and Steady - Wins the Race!!"

__________________
Brian R. Fey Sr.
M.S. - Psychology
B.S. - Criminal Justice
A.S. - Administrative Management

Shoto-Advice:
"EC"
"CCU"
"Prayer"
"A Pass is a Pass"
"Slow and Steady - Wins the Race"
“Sometimes The Easy Way Is Not Always The Best Way”
"Passing a Petersons = Conquering a CLEP -or- Defeating a DSST"
"The 5 R's of Study: Repetition - Re-Enforces - Recognition - Recall - Retention"

"Always be Ready to Release Your Mind & Incorporate the Advice of Others into Your Plans."

"Studying is much like Boiling Water, if it is not Heated Constantly it will Once Again Become Cold Water."

Other Sources of CLEP & DSST Study Material

REA Books, Comex Books, Pass Your Class Guides, Standard Deviants DVD's, Petersons Practice Exams, Dummies Books, Idiot's Guides .

I don't take practice tests personally. Because when I do bad on them it discourages me, making me feel as if I am not even close to being prepared to take an exam. Most of the time the practice test is alot harder than the real thing. But I do use them as study guides. I take each question of a practice test, fill out the correct answers and use them as study material. Along with IC and whatever else I am using to prepare. For me a practice exam is nothing more than extra study material.

Clep practice tests as well as Petersons all come with the correct answers to the questions. So if you have the questions and answers you have study material. If you happen to have a similar question with like information on the real exam you will know the answer because you studied the Q and A's of the practice test. This method has served me well with rote memorization type exams but exams with critical thinking will require a deeper understanding.

Good luck and keep studying don't let study material discourage you.

Don G.

__________________
Don G. -Atlanta, GA
A.S. Liberal Arts , Excelsior College,3/2007
B.S. Liberal Studies, Excelsior College,"On the Way"

"Forget about all the reasons why something may not work. You only need to find one good reason why it will"
--Dr. Robert Anthony

Ok thanks guys. i resceduled for this wensday so it gave me 4 more days to study.