CLEP Humanities: Failed

Casey1300 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 04:20 PM

First, I wouldn't call it a failure since I learned something from it. So its a temporary setback. I will take it again in 6 months and it won't hurt my timeframe for my bachelors degree completion.

I got a 43 and I needed a 50 to pass. So many names! It's my fault for not studying enough. You need to know a bunch of names and who they were, what they were famous for. I have no background in plays, music, etc. so this was all new to me. You had to know if a person was known for short essays, poetry, etc. I am not stupid as this was the first exam that I have failed so far. So if you are to take this exam, I recommend you go through instacert and write everything down, study for a while, and then go through instacert again and don't sit the test until you have everything down pat.

Also, on the plays and literature, you have to read them and not just know who wrote them. You have to know which passage came out of what play and the meanings behind them and also know the main characters, whether it was a comedy, romance, etc. Also you have to decipher what the poet meant by some words. I think its kind of dumb to try to interpret what the poet was trying to convey in a writing such as old english, but you have to try and give it a logical guess. There were a lot of names I just didn't know! I had to guess on too many questions.

Of course, I know NONE of these people outside of researching, since most of them were 18th century and beyond. I knew mozart, bach, shakespeare, but wasn't familiar with the intricities of their work. Not one was even alive when I was born in 81'. So you only know them by studying them. I looked a bunch of people up on wilkapedia to see their picture and study some of there works. It helps rather than just looking at a name on a piece of paper. 6 Credits has aluded me, but hopefully I can retake in 6 months and get that 50 I hope to get.

Matymus · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey1300

First, I wouldn't call it a failure since I learned something from it. So its a temporary setback.

Sorry to hear you didn't pass. I like your attitude, though. It's only a temporary setback. Take a break from it...move on to a different exam and then come back to it after a bit to add to the foundation that you've learned. I'm sure next time you'll do great!

dina · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 04:55 PM

Thank you so much for sharing this infor. with us. I had no idea any names of plays too, so I think I'll opt for another exam, humanities is not madatory

Alina · #4 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 05:37 PM

[quote=Casey1300]

Also, on the plays and literature, you have to read them and not just know who wrote them. You have to know which passage came out of what play and the meanings behind them and also know the main characters, whether it was a comedy, romance, etc. [quote]

I would recommend watching many of the Shakespeare plays. You can borrow them from the library. These came in very handy because they helped me connect the plays to the characters and plot lines. I didn't really watch the plays in their entirety, but I had them on while I was cleaning, cooking dinner, and folding laundry. The quotes that you mentioned were in my exam too. They were all Shakespeare and most of them stood out like a sore thumb (like the one from MacBeth where his wife asks demons to come and unsex her. What ever that means??) I think that I had about 10 questions of this type. Ones that I confidently feel I got correct because I watched/listened to the videos I got from the library.

P.S. Some of them are really long (*cough-boring) but since they helped me pass, my time was well spent.

Good luck on your next time around!

Kiwi Lover · #5 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 06:46 PM

Hi Casey,

I am SO sorry to hear about your 'temporary setback' with the Humanities exam...I can just imagine how bummed you were when you saw your score. But I admire your positive attitude and outlook, and if it's any consolation, the feedback you provided will really help other IC members (I will copy & paste it into the specific feedback section).

We will look forward to hearing about your pass six months from now!

JoAnne

mapalo · #6 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 07:09 PM

Hi Casey,
Sorry to hear, that, Your attitude is great, thanks for the Feedback

Basket Weaver · #7 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 07:57 PM

Thanks for the honest feedback and great attitude, I'm sure others will learn from this. Have you considered taking Analyzing and Interpreting Literature instead? You will qualify for the same 6 credits with little to no study. That's what I did as I had zero interest in learning about artists, plays and sculptures. There is a large amount of feedback available in the "Exam Feedback" section on this forum. Sorry to hear about the fail but we're sure you'll rebound! Lee

peachygirl · #8 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 09:34 PM

Hang in there Casey! I have no doubt that you will nail it next time. Thanks for taking the time to tell everyone about your experiences.

Carol

AGS · #9 (**permalink**) 06-04-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey1300

First, I wouldn't call it a failure since I learned something from it. So its a temporary setback. I will take it again in 6 months and it won't hurt my timeframe for my bachelors degree completion.

I got a 43 and I needed a 50 to pass. So many names! It's my fault for not studying enough. You need to know a bunch of names and who they were, what they were famous for. I have no background in plays, music, etc. so this was all new to me. You had to know if a person was known for short essays, poetry, etc. I am not stupid as this was the first exam that I have failed so far. So if you are to take this exam, I recommend you go through instacert and write everything down, study for a while, and then go through instacert again and don't sit the test until you have everything down pat.

Also, on the plays and literature, you have to read them and not just know who wrote them. You have to know which passage came out of what play and the meanings behind them and also know the main characters, whether it was a comedy, romance, etc. Also you have to decipher what the poet meant by some words. I think its kind of dumb to try to interpret what the poet was trying to convey in a writing such as old english, but you have to try and give it a logical guess. There were a lot of names I just didn't know! I had to guess on too many questions.

Of course, I know NONE of these people outside of researching, since most of them were 18th century and beyond. I knew mozart, bach, shakespeare, but wasn't familiar with the intricities of their work. Not one was even alive when I was born in 81'. So you only know them by studying them. I looked a bunch of people up on wilkapedia to see their picture and study some of there works. It helps rather than just looking at a name on a piece of paper. 6 Credits has aluded me, but hopefully I can retake in 6 months and get that 50 I hope to get.

Dont get discouraged getting a 43 ...We all had been there ........

humanities is my favorite subjects...

best tip i can give.....

copy the study outline from instacert or the clep website that bases itself from the exam.......

underneath all the subject headings....list all the things you know and another piece of paper ...list the things you dont have a clue....

go visit a musuem ..check out some videos at the public library ...

check out annenberg website ...they have an excellent website on the humanities...

wannabeit · #10 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 11:31 AM

Great attitude! I've been there. All you have to do now is concentrate on the other subjects. Hell 6 months is not that long. Good luck!

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