After running through a bunch of the CLEP Humanities questions I feel like a moron. The only section I scored over 50% was architecture and that was close. Is this indicative of first time users or should I quit now and embrace a philistine lifestyle? Okay to my real question.

What is a ballpark study time necessary for success?

I track my progress in a text file as I go along (posted below if you'd like to do something similar). For most tests I go through the study material 3 times but this one I only did twice because it's so long. On my first run through Humanities I only got 32.2% correct overall, including a whopping 7.7% in the Non-Fiction 2 subsection. I just took a LOT of notes as I did it, and then I seriously studied each section from my notebook before I went through it again. I also always take test in the CLEP Official Study Guide before I take the real one. Some of the questions on the real test will be the exact same questions. In the end I scored a 70.

Good luck!
Chris

CLEP Humanities
* Part one - Trial run & note-taking 166/515 (32.2%)
+ Literature, Drama: 8/36 (22.2%)
+ Literature, Poetry: 58/81 (71.6%)
+ Literature, Fiction: 21/63 (33.3%)
+ Literature, Non-fiction 1: 2/26 (7.7%)
+ Literature, Non-fiction 2: 13/40 (32.5%)
+ Fine Arts, Visual Arts 1: 24/73 (32.9%)
+ Fine Arts, Visual Arts 2: 10/68 (14.7%)
+ Fine Arts, Music: 13/77 (16.9%)
+ Fine Arts, Performing Arts: 8/25 (32.0%)
+ Fine Arts, Architecture: 9/26 (34.6%)

* Part two - Cram & refine 387/515 (75.1%)
+ Literature, Non-fiction 1: 18/26 (69.2%)
+ Fine Arts, Visual Arts 2: 50/68 (73.5%)
+ Literature, Drama: 27/36 (75.0%)
+ Literature, Non-fiction 2: 31/40 (77.5%)
+ Fine Arts, Visual Arts 1: 48/73 (65.8%)
+ Literature, Fiction: 49/63 (77.8%)
+ Fine Arts, Music: 64/77 (83.1%)
+ Fine Arts, Performing Arts: 21/25 (84.0%)
+ Fine Arts, Architecture: 21/26 (80.1%)
+ Literature, Poetry: cram only

* Part three - Take Collegeboard sample test 44/61 (72%)

I have much the same question. How many hours of study does it take to pass the HUM by just reviewing with the flash cards?
I've been out of school for 31 years. This is like a foreign language.

First of all, Humanities is one of the broadest subjects we offer--it's a LOT of material to study, so it's expected to take a bit longer than most other subjects.

Secondly, you're not expected to know ANY of the answers when you first start out. You're supposed to read the question, think about it, then click Next and read the answer and explanation. Each time you go through the database of questions, you'll find yourself retaining more and more information.

Just make sure you read the explanation even if you know the answer, because it may contain something critical to the actual test.

Also, as Chromo suggested, it's not a bad idea to take the Collegeboard study guide's sample test to boost your score.

Good luck!

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Steve, Webmaster

Thanks for the responses. My plan is to go through the flashcards 3-4 times.

Thanks for the response. I need to pass this within the next three weeks. I am hoping 2-3 hr of review each night will do the trick.

I’ve read several posts all saying read the description. I spend a lot of time traveling, and don’t always have access to a PC. I was wondering if they’re documents with the descriptions that I could print off.
Thanks

Here are links to the exam descriptions:

CLEP: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/...lep/exams.html
DANTES: http://www.getcollegecredit.com/materials.htm (Scroll to the bottom)
ECE: http://www.excelsior.edu You must first register and follow the links to the Publications Request Page, where each description is downloadable.

Take a look at this thread, it has free study materials that are downloadable, including CLEP and some DANTES exam descriptions.
http://www.instantcertonline.com/for...read.php4?t=48

Anar579--nice post, but if I'm not mistaken, she's referring to the question explanations, and if there's any way to print out our questions.

The answer is--we do not provide an easy to print or download the materials, mainly due to piracy concerns. If you're willing to go through the hassle of printing one question at a time for personal use, then you can do that. Or, you may want to study alternate study sources (such as what anar579) pointed to, while on the road, and use InstantCert when you have internet access.

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Steve, Webmaster

Oops! That's what you get when you don't read between the lines!

Another suggestion then... I have a hard time studying off the screen, so I copy and paste the questions and answers onto a Word document and print so I can mark and highlight and not kill my myopic eyes with the computer monitor. It's not for everyone, because it's time consuming to copy each one at a time; it takes an initial investment.