PLEASE help, math clep!!!!!

[Kaz]

Hi, I'm a math major at Excelsior, almost done. I can't speak to the specifics of the CLEP or REA as all of my credits are in-class. But are you under pressure to get this test done immediately or at least very soon? I ask that because I've frequently run into things in different math classes over the years that I simply "couldn't get", but now I do and all that I did was step away from it for a while. When I came back to it I "got it", and with much less effort and worry. If you can afford to take the time, and can fill that time constructively with something else, maybe you should back off of it for a spell.

More to your specific trouble, you sound like you are a "verbal" thinker versus a "visuospatial" thinker, e.g. equations give you no trouble to the point that you are thinking about changing to the Algebra CLEP but graphing functions is a sticking point for you. If I'm right then I'd suggest you might actually have a breakthrough if you studied sets more deeply, even more deeply than is required for the College Math CLEP. I say that because I've taken upper-level math classes that go much more in depth with sets then the CLEPs do and in those classes we were taught how functions are defined in set theory. Honestly, it seems everything in maths can/are defined using "set builder notation". This might give you a chance to understand graphed functions in a verbal context, as functions defined using sets by definition don't require you to literally see them, only understand the written description. If you go that route don't go crazy with it: in an upper-level set theory textbook the building of functions is chapter one type stuff. You definitely don't want to waste time tackling too much stuff you won't have on the CLEP. Good luck!