Ok....so I was scheduled to take the US History 1 test tomorrow , but due to not being ready, I will be postponing it for a week...any suggestions on what to do to up my scores? I am doing CollegePlus! as some of you may be doing as well, and I have found that it's a mite difficult to remember stuff that I hadn't reviewed in over 2 years in less than a week and a half...any suggestions?

My coach had said to find some good books to read on US Hsitory, but as to that, I am at a bit of a loss.

I'm using the Instacert (naturally) , the REA book, and I'm reading the Patriot's guide to the United States (very long and dry book imho). Anything else you would suggest?

Thanks in advance!

__________________
Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I'll be there to find you

I took this test and passed it just with IC. Knowing the cards pretty well will assure you a pass. Concentrate in the Civil War years. Good luck!

here's the write-up I did on the test right after I took it.

The primary resource I used in studying was InstantCert flashcards. I was using this test to see how well the IC flashcards worked, because it was the first time I'd ever used them. Before taking the test I worked through each section of IC cards until I was consistently getting 100% correct. First I learned the cards in order. This helped me to learn the events in the order they happened. However, after the first or second time through I was starting to memorize the order of answers rather than the order of events. So, as soon as I started getting them all correct I randomized the order to be sure I was learning the facts, not just the order of answers. I would count a section as "learned" once I was consistently getting 100% of the randomized cards. After learning a section I would review it at least once daily to keep it fresh.

The second resource was REA's US History book. I actually started with this, because I hadn't heard of IC yet. I started working through the book making my own 3 by 5 flashcards. Though this forced close attention to details, it was a slow, cumbersome and ineffective way to study (not to mention frustrating!). On top of that, I wasn't sure what to focus on so I was pretty much trying to memorize the entire book. I did this for two of the seven chapters. Once I started with the IC flashcards I just read through the book once to help get the progression of events in my head, and fill in any extra details. I also took two of the three practice exams.

The final resource was a little book put out by Berean Bible Institute, God in American History. This book was not designed for CLEP and would be unsuitable for a primary study tool. Its main value was as a second viewpoint. I had already been through most of the flashcards, so when I read it I was familiar with most of the names. It helped provide background for people that I wouldn't have had otherwise, and that helped on the test with eliminating some answers.


Results

I passed with a 68. The test itself seemed surprisingly easy in comparison to the IC flashcards. Perhaps that is because I usually went through 355 questions, and the test itself is only 120. I probably could have passed using IC alone, however the extra information I had from reading through the REA book helped quite a bit. The practice tests helped as well, because there is extra information for any wrong answer. All told, this was a really good test to start with. Very much a confidence booster--and I'm officially in love with IC flashcards!!!

How much time should I spend learning the explanation for US History I? IC says to know it but what do you think?

Thanks...this should all help. I took the practice test again today (from teh official CLEP book) and got 63% right...or 36 out of 57 right. So, hopefully, I cna pass this all right. I just have a lot of trouble remembering stuff. Oh, and I have been memorizing the amendments, and have them down, so that hsould help as well.

__________________
Don't give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you
I...I will break it for you

Don't give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you
I...I will shine to guide you

Don't give up
It's just the hurt that you hide
When you're lost inside
I...I'll be there to find you