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Hello All, I am taking my Spanish CLEP at the end of this month. I just have a question about how to deal with questions that I don't know the answer to. Should I leave them blank or just take my best guess? Also, if I notice I'm beginning to run out of time, should I just try to mark a random answer on the questions I have remaining? If wrong answers will count against me, I'll just leave 'em blank, but if they don't count against me, it seems like it might help to even mark randomly when you don't know the answers.
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Wrong answers do not count against you so make sure to guess since it could mean you pass (or score at the higher level for 12 credits on this test).
My completed "non-traditional" credits include 27 credits from CLEP, 30 credits from DSST, 6 credits from ALEKS, 19 credits from FEMA courses including PDS, 3 credits from NFA courses, 10 credits from ACE Workplace Training, 3 credits from a TESC TECEP exam, and 3 credits from a TESC PLA course.
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You will have 60 minutes to cover the reading section and I have yet to see any candidate scramble with their time. The two listening sections cannot be sped up, but many candidates shave off time in that last section.
I almost always tell candidates that it is better to guess than to leave a question unanswered. CLEP and DSST are not set up like the SAT exam which does ding you a fraction for a wrong answer vs. no reduction for a blank answer.
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Thank you all very much for the replies. So one more question, are the listening and reading parts timed separately? Also, if they are timed separately, are the two listening parts timed together or are each of the two listening parts also separate? I'm only wondering so I know if I start needing to mark answers on either section if I start running out of time. Thanks again! This forum has been a big help!
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Let me see if I can answer your questions...
Are the listening and reading parts timed separately? Yes, just as the CLEP exam description says, you will have a total of 30 minutes for the two listening sections, and then 60 minutes for the reading section. If I understand correctly, you will not see a timer running (counting down) during the listening section. It is delivered in a strict amount of time for the recorded voice to read the listening prompts and then 10 seconds to answer; you cannot speed it up. Once you enter the reading section, you should see the timer now counting down from 60 minutes.
I had a candidate once tell me that they had left some answers blank in the listening section, intending to come back to them if they had time at the end. But they were not able to go back to the listening section once they were in the reading section. I have not had anyone else ever mention this, but I would strongly encourage you to read the instruction screens carefully. It is possible this is covered in the untimed tutorial before you start the exam. Pay attention!
Hopefully someone who has taken the test can comment on whether you can review between sections. Good luck!
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