Passed microecon but disappointed

[Mian]

Passed microeconomics CLEP with a 62. As much as I studied this subject I thought I'd do better, but it seemed like there was a lot of questions on perfect competition in the long run, which I didn't study as much as some other things. I also didn't study marginal utility and total utility enough.

I thought this test was really difficult. There were hardly any graphs given, mostly you had to read and figure out what the graph would look like then do calculations.

So many of the questions were phrased in tricky ways. I really thought I had a very good understanding of the production possibilities curve (for example) but there was one question on that that had answers none of which made any sense at all so I had to guess.

I felt it was more like an IQ test than a test on economics. It makes me doubt my abilities, maybe I'm not smart enough to work in these fields (IT, accounting)

Well, I guess it's good I passed. It was not an easy subject or exam. Oh, and for some reason the exam only had 79 questions instead of 80.

Oh, I should mention too that there were two questions on game theory. I don't remember any questions on that on the Peterson's practice tests, so if you still have this exam to do, make sure you understand the payoff matrix.

There were also a couple of questions that were word for word from the Peterson's practice tests.

[FinancialWorld]

Hey your score is great. Remember, people rarely score a perfect 80. Plus, every test is different and therefore may be heavier on one or two particular aspects of the subject. Don't sweat it, just move on and knock out more tests. Don't shoot for the highest score or you will burn yourself out. If the score does affect your GPA, then just give yourself a little extra room above the A status.

[cookderosa]

Passed microeconomics CLEP with a 62. As much as I studied this subject I thought I'd do better, but it seemed like there was a lot of questions on perfect competition in the long run, which I didn't study as much as some other things. I also didn't study marginal utility and total utility enough.

I thought this test was really difficult. There were hardly any graphs given, mostly you had to read and figure out what the graph would look like then do calculations.

So many of the questions were phrased in tricky ways. I really thought I had a very good understanding of the production possibilities curve (for example) but there was one question on that that had answers none of which made any sense at all so I had to guess.

I felt it was more like an IQ test than a test on economics. It makes me doubt my abilities, maybe I'm not smart enough to work in these fields (IT, accounting)

Well, I guess it's good I passed. It was not an easy subject or exam. Oh, and for some reason the exam only had 79 questions instead of 80.

Oh, I should mention too that there were two questions on game theory. I don't remember any questions on that on the Peterson's practice tests, so if you still have this exam to do, make sure you understand the payoff matrix.

There were also a couple of questions that were word for word from the Peterson's practice tests.

Well, you had a VERY high score on your first test, maybe to the point of feeling let down to score "only" in the 60's this time. I've never even ALMOST gotten a 70 on any CLEP. I scored mainly in the high 50's low 60's for most tests. I had a few solid scores, but you know what it says on my transcript? CR. You know what it would have said if I'd earned a perfect score? CR. The up side, however, is that you know what you'll get if you don't talk yourself out of it? A degree. Keep going.

[burbuja0512]

Don't feel bad! Sometimes CLEP/DSST can seem a little out of whack, it doesn't reflect on your ability to work in the field. It seems like there is a question pool of like I don't know... maybe 1000 questions and that sometimes the random sampling of questions you get doesn't match either what you studied or your overall knowledge of the subject. I've had this worth both in my favor and against me.

[Yenisei]

62 is a perfectly good score- it's nothing you should feel bad about in the least, especially since Microecon is far from the easiest CLEP exam (and I have a BA in Economics, so I know a thing or two about the topic). The real significance is that you earned three more credits towards your goal that you needed.

[Mian]

I'm definitely not quitting! I was just a bit disappointed and thought I'd do better. Ultimately, it won't matter for my GPA. TESC does not record a grade as far as I know.

[cookderosa]

Don't feel bad! Sometimes CLEP/DSST can seem a little out of whack, it doesn't reflect on your ability to work in the field. It seems like there is a question pool of like I don't know... maybe 1000 questions and that sometimes the random sampling of questions you get doesn't match either what you studied or your overall knowledge of the subject. I've had this worth both in my favor and against me.

That's right!! And on more than one occasion before walking in to test I've said "I hope they ask me the ones I know" :roflol: But it's true! Also, know that knowing more after a certain score doesn't have the same "high yield" as knowing the core. Simple example, if the breakdown for the exam is 10 equal sections consisting of 10% each, you can assume that at least 7-8 questions in each section will be over the 100 level information it intends to test for. The other 2 questions might be from wayyyy out of left field- random things that you'd only know if you read deeply. In other words, you get more yield knowing the core and less yield studing trivia because the odds that they'll test you on the exact random fact you learned is very small.
I'd argue that the difference between 1 point in the lower scores is several questions, while the upper scores might jump >1 simply by getting 1 random question correct.

[Maniac Craniac]

I haven't taken nor studied for the Princip of Marketing test yet, but a look through and a practice test have shown me that it is incredibly easy. It doesn't make sense to compare that to something like Microecon, which requires brain power and introduced you to new concepts.

If you get the same score for all of your CLEPS, you will pass them all and have your degree in no time. There is no shame at all in that!

When I have the time, I want to study game theory for the fun of it (there is a course available on itunesu which doesn't require the purchase of a book to follow!!!!!). It's encouraging to know that it might help me answer two questions if I end up taking the exam instead of a class hilarious

[Mian]

I'd argue that the difference between 1 point in the lower scores is several questions, while the upper scores might jump >1 simply by getting 1 random question correct.

That's one thing that's problematic about this testing system is that their scoring methods are a real mystery. I had wondered, too, if some questions were possibly weighted more heavily than others. We'll never know I guess since I doubt they're going to be making their methods known any time soon.

Well I can say that I did learn something about the subject, tedious as it was, and I have the credits done now. No more economics before bachelor degree :hurray:

[Mian]

I haven't taken nor studied for the Princip of Marketing test yet, but a look through and a practice test have shown me that it is incredibly easy.

I thought it was hard, to be honest. I was shocked that I scored 74!!

When I have the time, I want to study game theory for the fun of it (there is a course available on itunesu which doesn't require the purchase of a book to follow!!!!!). It's encouraging to know that it might help me answer two questions if I end up taking the exam instead of a class hilarious

I can't imagine a whole class on game theory, maybe there's more to it than what I learned about for this test. For this microecon CLEP you really only need to know the very basic basics of it. Something you could learn in less than an hour probably.