Spanish - REA, Peterson's, CLEP

[Drummerboy]

Hello all,

I had a question about the Spanish CLEP. How does the listening portion compare to the REA practice tests?

On the Peterson's practice test, I missed only one question on the listening part. But on the REA test I just took, I struggled to get 26/48! I found the REA listening section to use many words I was unfamiliar with and to talk faster than Peterson's. I've heard that the real CLEP is more like Peterson's, but are there any more ideas. The REA test is making me nervous.

Thanks!

[rmroberts]

I hate to tell you, but rea is easier than the real thing. I made a 77 on Peterson's, 67 on REA, and 49 on real thing. Those are scaled scores not percent.

[Maniac Craniac]

Peterson's is tremendously easier than the real thing, whereas REA is harder. If you can do well on the REA exams, you will do great on the real thing.

Tip: the REA book is a mess. REALLY! Don't just check the letter of your answer, but check each explanation to make sure that the BOOK is correct. In my version, on the third test, there are about 30 questions whose answers are given in the wrong place. Confusing? For example, (these are just hypothetical) in exam number 3, the answers to questions 15-25 might be given in the place of answers 18-28, 29-31 might be in the place for 15-17 and the answers for question 50-55 might be for questions from exam number 1. Don't trust your score until you check everything to make sure your answers really were right or wrong.

The other part I hate about the REA book is that sometimes IMPORTANT concepts are not brought out in the appropriate chapter, rather as footnotes in a completely unrelated chapter. The most glaring example I can think of is the one footnote that actually takes up 3/4 of the page and definitely didn't belong where it was placed.

The audio section on Peterson's is incredibly easy. For the real CLEP, I found it to be closer to REA's, although REA's sound quality isn't perfect and the accents can be muddled at times.

Stick with REA and you will do fine. The only reason I didn't end up with a perfect 80 on the Spanish CLEP is because I didn't know you could take notes during the listening part banghead

[Drummerboy]

I got 95/130 correct on the REA test which scales to a 78. Honestly, I don't know how I did this good as it seemed like I was struggling. Thanks for all your helpful tips. I'm going to set up the test today, and keep studying. I need a 58 for 9 credits. The big bummer with my college is that they used to grant 12 credits until this year. They say they don't offer the fourth class anymore.