How to pass (and hopefully ace) your CLEP: how to take notes and memorize anything

This post is the third in the series: How to pass (and hopefully ace) your CLEP.  The first post was on selecting study resources and the second was on designing a study plan.  Other posts coming soon in this series: how to study a textbook, how to schedule a CLEP exam, and test taking tips. 

In this post I’m going to give you the best I know on note-taking and learning/memorizing concepts and terms.  Let’s start out with…

How to take notes

Question-Evidence-Conclusion note-taking

These are the notes you take when you’re reading a textbook or listening to a lecture.  They also form the foundation for the quiz-and-recall method to test yourself, laid out below.  Here’s how this works:

Write the major question you’re trying to answer.  For example, in my psychology textbook:

QUESTION: How do independent and dependent variables differ?

Next, write down the major points.  For example:

Independent variable: the variable that is purposely manipulated to see if it changes the dependent variable

Dependent variable: the result of the changes in the independent variable

CONCLUSION: In an experiment, an independent variable is a manipulated variable to determine its effect on the dependent variable.

The Feynman technique 

If you’re trying to understand something, I suggest the Feynman Technique, popularized by Scott Young.  This is supposed to help you understand any concept in 20 minutes or less.  This is really helpful for final exam prep or trying to understand something confusing.  It’s a four step process:

1. Choose your concept and write it down on the top of a sheet of paper
2. Pretend you’re teaching the concept(s) to a five-year-old
3. Whenever you get stuck, go back to your materials
4. Simplify confusing explanations and create analogies to help you understand

Here’s a quick example of how the Feynman technique could be applied to studying for CLEP Intro Psychology.

Independent and Dependent Variables

In an experiment, there are two main types of variables: independent and dependent.

An independent variable is something that you can change.

A dependent variable is the result of the independent variable.

For example, if someone was selling a product called PlantGrow that was supposed to grow your plant way faster than rain and sunlight, the amount of PlantGrow you spray on the plant would be the independent variable.  The dependent variable would be how much the plant actually ends up growing.

And that’s it!

How to learn stuff more efficiently

How should you learn concepts and terms?  This is a super important part of studying for any exam, especially for non mathish exams, like psychology, history, or biology.  There are a lot of ways to memorize and also a lot of bad ways to memorize.

Let’s start by talking about the quiz-and-recall method, laid out in Cal Newport’s book, How to Become a Straight-A Student (which I definitely recommend you check out).

Here’s Cal’s description of the quiz-and-recall method:

The most effective way to imprint a concept is to first review it and then try to explain it, unaided, in your own words.  If you can close your eyes and articulate an argument from scratch, or stare at a blank sheet of paper and reproduce a solution without a mistake, then you have fully imprinted that concept.  It’s not going anywhere.

And here’s how to apply it to a non-technical course:

To apply to quiz-and-recall method to nontechnical course material, you first need to construct a practice quiz for each chapter in your study guide.  Fortunately, the questions for these quizzes already exist, since you’ve followed to advice of…[the question/evidence/conclusion note-taking method]… Therefore, the quiz for any given chapter can simply contain all of the questions from the notes you took for that chapter…If you can answer all the questions, then you understand all the big ideas.  Once you’ve built your practice quizzes, go through them one by one…Don’t do this [answering the quiz questions]… in your head…Next, put little check marks on your quizzes next to any questions that you had trouble answering.  Glance through your study guide to remind yourself of the right answers to these questions.  Take a quick break.  Now, repeat the first step, except this time, you need to only answer the questions that you marked during your first run-through.  Put a new check mark next to the questions that you still have trouble with.

And finally, for plain old terms that aren’t as detailed, grab a flashcard deck, download Anki, or go to quizlet.com and just review, review, review.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: HOW SHOULD YOU ACTUALLY STUDY?

I’d suggest that you use the question-evidence-conclusion method as you read your textbook, use the quiz-and-recall method to test your understanding (as well as a flashcard system for terms) and get some practice and the Feynman technique to help you understand hard concepts or do some final studying on what your weak at before the exam.

Now get studying!

p.s. If you have any questions, please comment and I will answer I soon as I can (unless the question somehow is distorted into spam!).

 

How to pass (and hopefully ace) your CLEP: designing a study plan

This post is the second in the series: How to pass (and hopefully ace) your CLEP.  The first post was on selecting study resources.  Other posts coming soon in this series: how to study a textbook, memorizing, how to schedule a CLEP exam, and test taking tips. 

Quick summary:

Days 1-2: Craft an outline with the Modern States course and REA guide

Weeks 1-3: Study the textbook and Instantcert and take smart notes.  This is the time you’re really studying.

Week 4: Final exam prep.  Take practice tests and study what you’re weak at, then take the exam!

Designing a study plan

So once you’ve picked out your five sources of study materials, it’s time to make a plan.

How much time should I spend on studying for an exam?

Of course, it depends on your age and when you want your degree.  If you just turned 14 and you want your degree by the time you turn 18, you have 4 years.  If you use this degree plan, you have around 34 courses/exams to complete.  That rounds out to 8.5 a year.  So I would say to plan on spending a month on average per exam if you have 4 years.  If an exam is easy, try to spend less; hard, more.

The first two days

Go through the Modern states course, get out a notebook, and crafting a basic outline from the Modern States course.  This could definitely be done in two solid days.  You could and should buy the REA guide if they have good reviews and use that as a supplement to Modern States.  I recommend you start with this since this will give you the basics of the subject and specific CLEP prep.

The first, second, and third week

Once you finish the Modern States course, get out your textbook.  Tomorrow’s post will be on how to study a textbook efficiently.  Three weeks would give you 15 days to go through a subject.  If you need a few extra days, that’s fine.  This is the time you’ll be learning all the major concepts and terms.  The fourth post is on learning and memorizing.  I’d also recommend you match up your textbook chapter with Instantcert to get some CLEP prep.  Instantcert basically works as an interactive textbook based on fill-in-the-black flashcards, and you could technically pass your CLEP probably just using this.

The fourth week

This week is your final review week.  Take practice exams (like the REA and Peterson’s), gauge your progress, finish studying what you’re weak at, and go take the exam!

 

 

How to pass (and hopefully ace) your CLEP: Study Resources

This post is the first in the series: How to pass (and hopefully ace) your CLEP.  Other posts coming soon in this series: designing a study schedule, how to study a textbook, memorizing, how to schedule a CLEP exam, test taking tips. 

You’ve learned about how to start, you’ve picked out your exam, maybe you’ve even ordered your study materials.  Now it’s time to get into your subject of choice.

Let’s use the CLEP exam Principles of Marketing as an example, since I think can fairly say I aced it  (I got a 75 out of the 20-80 scale).

If you’re an adult learner, you might not find this post as helpful for you, since generally adult learners want to get their degree fast/cheap.  As a homeschooler, it’s more about actually learning, since it’s more likely that you’re learning these subjects at a more advanced level for the first time.

Study resources

To study for a CLEP and actually learn the material, I’d suggest you use the following:

1. A CLEP-recommended textbook.  You can find these here (click on your exam and you’ll find a list)
2. Modernstates.org, if available for your exam.  In one sentence: free video-based CLEP-prep courses from top professors.  Another VERY important sentence: if you complete the course, for a limited time, they will pay for your CLEP exam and testing fee.  
3. Instantcert for additional review and practice and especially for their specific exam feedback.
4. A CLEP-specific review guide.  An example: REA.  These are normally good, but check the Amazon review.  This is the most popular by far.  My plan is to make some of these someday based off of my study notes.  If this sounds interesting, please comment below!
5. Good practice tests, like the free Peterson’s and the REA tests that are built in free with the REA guides.

What study resources do you use to study for CLEPs?  Start the discussion and comment below!

How I’m Studying for CLEP Psychology

This is my 4th CLEP exam I’m studying for.  It’s really term heavy and a good bunch of the chapters seem like science (brain anatomy, neurons, how vision/hearing works, etc).  I find it pretty interesting but it definitely is pretty dense (compared to Marketing/Management).

MATERIALS

The World of Psychology, 7th edition

REA CLEP Intro Psychology

Modern States Free CLEP Psychology Course (how to take your exams for free!)

Instantcert

Free Peterson’s Tests

Official Study Guide

This might seem like overkill, but since this is the first time I’m learning all this stuff, it’s probably good.

HOW I’M STUDYING

I start the day of studying by watching the short Modern States videos and constructing a basic outline from the major points (I use Modern States since it’s based off of the official outline).  Then I read the textbook chapter, filling in major concepts underneath the appropriate section.  I’ll do the practice problems in the book, then the Instantcert flashcards that pertain to that day’s chapter, and finally quickly go through the REA chapter.  If I am really motivated, I’ll make flashcards for the concepts I’m struggling with, but normally after all this study, I’ve got it mostly down.

I made some of my notes really fancy and turned them into a free PDF here.

Finally, more recently, I’ve started to turn my notes into really basic, simple English since I heard that teaching gives a 90% retention rate.

Hopefully this overview was interesting and I’ll definitely report back when I take (and hopefully pass) the exam!

 

Modern States: Study for and Take Your CLEP Exams for Free

81 credits are now available to you for exactly $0.

Modern States is a project started by Steve Klinsky and David Vise.  The website contains a library of 19 courses (all free) taught by top professors and geared specifically at the CLEP exam you plan to take.

Once you finish the course, which consists of short videos, textbook readings from OpenStax, and practice problems, Modern States currently offers to pay for your CLEP exam and testing fee!

If the CLEP you want to take is in their library, check their course out!

This is a super useful resource for anyone wanting to take CLEP exams, whether you use it as a supplement or as your main course.  I’ve really enjoyed taking their courses and overall would give it an A+!

Check it out!

P.S. Nice thing to know…CLEP recommends Modern States as a study resource here.

 

How to Start

In this post I’ll try to give you a quick intro to this world and some things you can do to get started.

EXAMS/COURSES

CLEP

Of all the things you’ll be learning, this is probably what you’ll spend the most time on.  CLEP allows you to study on your own and take any of their 33 exams to collect anywhere from 3 to 12 credits for a single 90ish-minute exam.  CLEP is owned by College Board, the same people who created the SAT and AP exams.  It’s way cheaper then any college course ever, too.  A CLEP exam is $80.  Add on the sitting fee and your textbooks, the most you’ll probably spend is around $140.  If you’re trying to be cheap and you don’t really care about studying a textbook, you could do it for $110.

DSST

DSST was created by the US Department of Defense and used a lot in the military.  Today, anyone can take on of the 36 DSSTs.  9 DSST exams are upper-level, so you could use those for the final two years of college.  I’ve never taken a DSST, but I think I will sometime later this year.

UEXCEL

These exams were created by Excelsior College, which we’ll talk about down in the colleges section.  There are 55 in total.  I think they each cost $375.

TECEP

These are created by Thomas Edison State University.  There are 40 exams and cost $156 each.

STRAIGHTERLINE/SAYLOR/STUDY.COM/SHMOOP/SOPHIA

These all offer online courses for credit.  Normally they are more expensive then taking an exam.  One super cheap source of credit is Saylor.  The 31 courses are free and the proctoring fee is $25.  That is $8 a credit and they can be transferred to any of the Big 3.  Your safest bet as a student my age (14 in a month) is probably CLEP, since those are well-known and established.  But once you get closer to enrolling and they still are approved, you should definitely take advantage of them.  But then again, maybe you should take them now.  You can learn the material, pay $25, most likely get the credits, and if somehow those don’t count when you enroll, you will have learned the subjects and worst case, you can take the equivalent CLEP exam.

COLLEGES

THOMAS EDISON STATE UNIVERSITY

One of the “Big 3” colleges that are good for CLEP/distance learning etc.  Obviously, this is not a fact, but to me Thomas Edison State University sounds the fanciest. They have a lot of degree programs compared to the other 2 (29), mostly in business, tech, engineering and liberal arts.  They are known to not have very great customer service, but it is a popular choice.  FOR STUDENTS UNDER 18: they technically have a 21+ policy, but lots of homeschooled students apply and if they can show they can do college-level work (like send 90 credits over!!), they are supposed to be really easy.

CHARTER OAK STATE COLLEGE

A lot of homeschooled students go here.  It seems really friendly to lots of credit sources and even has a giant list of all the possible exams you could use to test out of their requirements.  Their normal majors are business, cyber security, health care administration, health information management, and psychology, but they have a bunch of majors that would go something like this: Bachelors in General Studies with a concentration in X.  They are known to have really good customer service and are a pretty affordable option.  FOR STUDENTS UNDER 18: This is really easy.  As long as you’re 16, you can join.

EXCELSIOR COLLEGE

This is probably the most famous of the Big 3.  It’s the only private school of the 3 and a lot of people complain about it’s name.  It’s also probably the most expensive of the 3 and has good customer service.  They have a ton of majors.  FOR STUDENTS UNDER 18:  If you have a high school diploma, you can enroll.

DEGREE PLAN

GENERAL EDUCATION

The first 60 credits.  You probably can get all of this with CLEP exams and maybe a few DSSTs.

FOCUS

The next 30ish.  This is what your major is in.  You can probably cover a good amount with exams, but you’ll probably need to take a few courses from your college to finish off.

ELECTIVES

The rest of your credits.  You can pretty much put anything you want here.

FINALLY, HOW TO START

1. Do you know anything at or close to a college-level?  If you’ve taken high school Biology, you could probably with some study pass CLEP Biology and get 6 credits.
2. If you don’t have a strong high-school/college-level knowledge of something, start with an easy CLEP.  That’s what I did.  I’d strongly recommend checking out this CLEP difficulty list and just picking something in Level 1 or 2.
3. Don’t worry too much about your degree or college in the beginning.  What really matters is learning and passing exams.
4. A note about CLEP scoring: CLEPs are reported as Pass/Fail, so your CLEP score won’t affect your GPA.  A 50 is a pass and equals a C.  20 is the lowest possible score, and 80 is the highest.
5. Study resources.  Go to clep.collegeboard.org and check out the recommend textbooks for your exam.  Buy a used one off of Amazon and make a bunch of flashcards off of the main terms.  I don’t love these, but REA CLEP books are pretty good.  They’re $20, they have a super-condensed subject review and 2 practice tests.  I find Instantcert really valuable.  They have flashcards they made from studying all the College Board textbooks and a bunch of specific feedback from real test takers.  More about that here.  Also check out freeclepprep.com for free study guides to supplement your learning.  ALSO check out ModernStates.org to see if they have CLEP-specific videos, all of which are free.

Hopefully this helps!  This post was pretty long, but I hope it helps somebody to get started with getting a degree by 18.

Zach

CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature

EXAM: CLEP ANALYZING AND INTERPRETING LITERATURE

CREDITS: 3 (USED TO BE 6!!!)

DIFFICULTY: Personally, a low 3/5

COST: $165  (Instantcert $15, REA $20, Peterson’s $20, Exam $80, Testing Fee $30)

Genre

(35%-45%) Poetry

(35%-45%) Prose

(15%-30%) Drama

Period

(3%-7%) Classical and pre-Renainssance

(20%-30%) Renainssance and 17th Century

(35%-45%) 18th and 19th Centuries

(25%-35%) 20th and 21st Centuries

National Tradition

(50%-65%) British Literature

(30%-45%) American Literature

(25%-35%) Works in Translation

INTRO

I took this exam on April Fools.  That scared me a little…what if the administrator pranks me and gives me a failing score…or what if they give me an insanely hard exam or they…

I got a 59/20-80 scale.  That’s the lowest B.

WHAT I USED

I used the REA book, Instantcert, the REA tests, the Peterson’s tests, a bit of a poetry anthology and a few online resources to compile over 100 vocab words.  I read a lot.  I read a lot of old books, too.  But I didn’t have any experience reading REALLY old poetry and drama.

WHAT I MISSED
I studied the vocab too much.  I could tell you what a juxtaposition was, how catharsis was used, and what in the world dactylic hexameter is…  At least on my test, and according to a lot of other test-takers, there were not many vocab words.  If you read, you probably know enough words.  The main words on my test were personification, allegory, simile and metaphor.

HOW I STUDIED

I started by reading the REA book and taking notes.  I collected all the words in the REA glossary, plus this and this to make this giant study set.  I felt super comfortable with vocab on the exam.  Then I got my Instantcert bar up to 100%.  I wrote about Instantcert here.  After that I began taking tests.  I took the first and second REA test, getting 89% and 85%.  I got 80%-90% on the three Peterson’s tests, which we paid $20 for.  On the Official CLEP Study Guide, I got a 95%.  Normally that guide is really accurate.  Maybe I got a hard test?

PRACTICE TESTS VS TEST

I found the Peterson’s to be easier than the exam and the REA Tests pretty spot on.

THE TEST

My exam had 78 questions to be answered in 98 minutes.  There were around two super old passages, four 18th, 19th century passages, maybe four 20th century passages.  The time went by pretty fast.  I paced myself by going spending an hour on the exam and 30 minutes of review.

Don’t speed-read.  Read at a comfortable pace.  The test is mostly interpretation, very few questions on literary terms…humph, I wasted a lot of time there!

I think if I were older and better at reading old poets, I would have gotten a much higher score, but at least I’ve got 3 more credits!

Hopefully this was interesting and useful!

If you have any thoughts, please comment below: