CLEP Calculus

[Instantaneous]

Hi all!

Yes, this forum is A-mazing! Thank you for all who have posted here because it was all very, very helpful. Seeing that it is becoming some sort of new fad, I myself just passed the CLEP Calculus as well! About one week ago!

Score: 60
Time spent studying: Less than 2 months.

Resources used:
1. Calculus for Dummies
2. REA's Best Test Preparation for the CLEP Calculus
3. CollegeBoard's Official CLEP Calculus Study Guide.

First off, I just want to say: folks, if I can pass this thing, anyone can. I really mean that. Less than two months ago, I was literally at square one. I didn't even know what a limit or a derivative was. This test is not as hard as its reputation has made it seem (as long as you study, study, study).

So here's my story:
In the first month and a half I studied for a few hours or less a day. For the last week or so, I studied for 6-8 hours a day.

Phase I: Calculus for Dummies
I went to the nearest public library and checked out "Calculus for Dummies" by Mark Ryan. For a few weeks, I just read through this book like it was no one's business. I highlighted and wrote things down I thought were important. This book was important for me because it helped me to understand the concepts behind Calculus. The big ideas behind limits, derivatives, and integrals as well as how they are all connected together. (One problem with this book is that you need to skip around because not all of the material in the book is on the CLEP Calculus. For example, integration by parts, infinite series, volumes of weird solids, etc.) However, the "cheat sheet" on the inside cover of this book was extremely helpful. I used this "cheat sheet" to make flashcards of all the derivative and integral rules.

Phase II: REA's Best Test Preparation for the CLEP Calculus
In my personal opinion, this was by far the BEST and most valuable book when it comes to the CLEP Calculus. I honestly think that if you were to study this book alone then you could pass the CLEP Calculus. So it is safe to say that if you know this book inside and out, you will pass.
Note: If it is not in this REA book, it won't be on the test.
For this book, I recommend buying it because you want to have it everywhere you go so that if you have a moment of free time then you can study. I read through this book and highlighted all the concepts and facts I felt were the "big ideas" and "small details.' I did the exercises over and over again. You must read the explanations for the answers to the questions/exercises. [/B] This is probably the most important thing to do. You need to know all the details as to why the answer is what it is. I promise. The most wonderful thing about the REA CLEP Calculus is its practice tests. My advice is to buy the book that includes the CD's. Keep in mind, even though the book itself tells you otherwise, I am telling you that you should read through the entire book and do all the exercises multiple times before you even look at the practice tests. Don't use your notes when you do the practice tests. Take them as if they are real, timed and everything. Remember, after you finish each of them, look at the explanations to the answers!!! From what I can remember, the REA practice tests are [I]EXTREMELY similar to the real CLEP Calculus test. On the first REA practice test I took, I got a 60. On the second REA practice test I took, I got a 58. On the actual CLEP Calculus I got a 60. How crazy is that?

Phase III: CollegeBoard's Official CLEP Calculus Study Guide
The 50 sample questions on this thing is very helpful. But don't waste your $10 bucks. Go to your nearest Borders or Barnes and Noble and just use their copy of the CollegeBoard's huge book for CLEP preparation. And my advice here is to answer the 50 sample questions as if they were a test. Time yourself 90 minutes and answer all 50 sample questions (or as many as you can). Don't use your notes.

Phase IV: The actual CLEP Calculus Test
My biggest problem on the actual test was probably time. On the overall test, I probably guessed on about 10 out of the 45 questions. But on the 35 that I actually answered, I made sure that I had the right answer. So you pretty much have to make a choice: Do you want to race through the test trying to answer all of them right and risk making dumb mistakes? Or do you want to take your time on certain ones that you know that you can do but then run out of time? I obviously chose the second option. I wanted to make sure that I was going to pass. So on the questions I was confident in, I took my time to make sure that I didn't make any mistakes.

The actually content of the test is a bit blurry to me now. I remember there were only about 2-4 optimization/related rates problems on the whole test (both sections). I didn't even try and answer a single one. Those problems take me the longest so I just guessed on them and moved on to easier questions. The test was big on trigonometry so know all your identities. All the questions on the actual test were very, very, very similar to the REA Practice Tests and CollegeBoard's Official Guide sample questions. Almost identical, seriously! Make sure to download the free trial version of the ETS online graphing calculator from the Collegeboard website and get familiar with it. Again, the overall test was not rocket science; that is for dang sure.

Here are some other resources that might help you:
Khan Academy
Calculus-Help.com: Survive calculus class! - Tutorials for the Calculus Phobe (Limits through Differentiation)
HippoCampus Calculus - AP Calculus AB I - Homework Help
CLEP Calculus Tests
http://www.xtremepapers.me/CLEP/CLEP%20C...0Guide.pdf

If you are even thinking about taking the CLEP Calculus, I say Do it. You have nothing to lose because I really believe you can pass it. Email me if you have any other questions or if I can help you in any other way: Rollerhcky4life@hotmail.com

You guys are all rock-stars. Don't ever give up on your dreams. :imwithstupid: