Does IC really work?

[frankiebleyes]

I love IC but don't always use it. I never use it exclusively. I'm not the smartest person on this forum but have gotten good results with the flashcards and additional study materials. Hopefully, for you it has not been forty years since you were in college and the coursework will come quicker than it has for me. Best of luck in your studies. Stick with IC, the forum and you will be glad that you did within a few months. I've gone from 5 credits to forty something in only two months using IC, the specific exam forum and advice from others regarding taking regular coursework instead of testing out.

[MISin08]

I hate to admit this, because I do use it, but I find IC's approach of giving you the topic a little chunk at a time (in its often wacky order) kind of annoying. If I started out knowing zero about a subject, I would have to read something first, anything contiguous with some context to it -- an encyclopedia article, lecture notes, a general audience book -- or I would punch a hole in my nice LCD monitor out of frustration. If I can get a textbook at the library, IC is a supplement. But this forum is worth $20/month by itself.

Phillip

[Ruddigore]

I hate to admit this, because I do use it, but I find IC's approach of giving you the topic a little chunk at a time (in its often wacky order) kind of annoying. If I started out knowing zero about a subject, I would have to read something first, anything contiguous with some context to it -- an encyclopedia article, lecture notes, a general audience book --

I agree that it can be difficult to start learning a subject using only IC. (Humanities is an exception: you just have to memorize tones of little chunks at a time anyway).

American Government went very slow until I used Standard Deviants to ground me in the subject well enough to allow me to go through IC with much greater comprehension. IC is a wonderful resource, but not perhaps the best stand-alone. I think I still could have passed American Government using only IC, but am glad I had other sources to bolster my learning. After all, learning is why we're here, right?

[brothermike]

I have used IC exclusively to pass most of the tests that I have taken.

[malcs]

It works well, but if you know nothing about a subject I agree with the above posts. Read a study guide or some other express learning contiguous document, or watch a documentary such as the Civil War series.

If you already know the general topic, and just need help with test specific questions, then IC may be good enough on its own. Tests cost good money, and the grades stay on your transcript forever. By putting in a few hours besides IC you will guarantee yourself better results.

IC and the exam specific notes are indispensible for knowing what to expect on the tests. Without them or a specific study guide you would have no idea what to study.