Category: Credit By Exam

College Composition CLEP

The College Composition CLEP examination analyzes ability as a writer trained in most first-year college composition programs. Hopefully this is restorative work for your student; motivate him to make his ability as a writer before he goes into college. Learners who successfully pass this examination will earn 6 college credits and save themselves 16 weeks of class time. But be sure to always check your individual college’s CLEP policy for variations in the number of credits granted and their CLEP course equivalency graph.

The College Composition CLEP examination contains 50 multiple-choice questions (50 minutes) and two timed essays (70 minutes). The first essay is based on the student’s own experience, studying or findings. The second article, according to the College Board, will require applicants to make a position by building an argument in which they synthesize information from two offered resources, which they must report. The Official CLEP Study Guide is a helpful source, offering sample articles and reviewing recommendations. Preparing for this examination will also help students get ready for other future articles such as those for consistent examinations (ACT/SAT), grants, and college entrance essays. It’s a win-win strategy to education, making the most use of his time.

In writing an essay, do not just avoid generalizations but make your composing more illustrative. “I stepped up to the counter and requested to talk with a manager.” Change it to: “I swaggered up to the counter and asked to talk with a manager.” Two terms modified, but the image colored is entirely different. “After including the substance to the little package, vapor started to come out the top.” It can be enhanced to: “After pouring sulfuric acid into the beaker, vapor started billowing out the top.” This one provides more detail, uses less terms and makes a vivid image. Use Adjectives and Adverbs occasionally.  “I was incredibly exhausted and my feet were very painful after finishing the complicated exercise.” How about: “I completed the 10-mile run exhausted and with cramped feet.” Use better nouns and verbs, not just toss in more adverbs and adjectives.

Earning a Degree thru Credit by Exam

When Erick Dillard made the decision to get his online bachelors degree from Excelsior College back in 2002, he was working and raising two children. He didn’t have the luxury of going to school full-time, and he wanted to get his degree on his schedule. The 48-year-old Army veteran made the decision to test out of some of his online course specifications. By the time he completed it, he would save lots of money and obtained credit for 15 courses in his strategic communications degree, all without getting the formal classes. “I would come home and study all night and all evening,” says Dillard, who sometimes completed two courses a month through credit by exam.

Earning a degree doesn’t always have to be a huge time or investment decision. Progressively, older students like Dillard are speeding up their education and cutting expenses by using programs that award credit for past learning, says Pam Tate, chief executive and CEO of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. Earning credit by exam can be a great choice for adults who have already learned the course material through previous jobs or military experience, experts say. And it can be a particularly eye-catching choice for online students, who enjoy versatility and who are acquainted to a regimented, self-guided approach to learning.

“It’s popular” among online students, says Bill Stewart, associate vice chairman for Institutional Advancement at Excelsior College, which allows students to test out of class. “And some individuals use them to a significant degree and some individuals use them to complete holes in their specifications to meet their degree.” The idea of examining out of school courses is not a new idea. The College Level Examination Program, applied through the College Board, started giving students the choice to get credit for a range of programs in the late Sixties. When students take one of the 33 CLEP assessments, such as chemistry or American literary works, they are first provided a list of information they should understand before the evaluation. It’s up to the student to track down research materials and prepare for the analyze, which expenses about $80 plus a examining fee.

“We are realizing that some of the biggest on the internet colleges, like Thomas Edison State College, have a very strong cohort of exam-takers,” says Suzanne McGurk, senior assessment administrator at the College Board. “I think that really resonates with online students who are used to doing things at their own speed.”

Taking the CLEP Exam

Should my kid use the CLEP assessments to get credit for college courses? This question resonates with many families looking to reduce the price of college. The CLEP program has increased in popularity over the last few years. Be home more, reduce costs and get college credit. Sounds like a win-win situation, but consider all the facts before moving head first into this new effort.

The College-Level Examination Program ® or CLEP is a program that allows learners of any age the chance to gain college credit through a series of examinations in undergrad higher teaching programs. Like AP programs, there are several advantages to doing well on CLEP assessments. The CLEP program is not necessarily used as replacement for college. Many learners take these assessments to prepare and improve their college experience.

Benefits:

  • Take fewer classes in college. You can get college credit for information you already know. If you have already studied a particular subject, you can route that information into college time and get credit for your secondary school information. CLEP-ing out of starter classes can also help you jump into the more advanced and interesting programs college has to offer.
  • Spend less cash on education and studying. CLEP examinations coast approximately $65, which is cheaper when compared to the price of college credit hour. CLEP examinations are also free to those who are serving in the army.
  • Finish your Degree. If you lack certain programs to be eligible for graduating, CLEP examinations can be great way to help you get those last few college hours.

Disadvantages:

  • Reliability of your degree. Many families have decided to have their kid do all their college work through some form of “distance learning” program. Although correspondence programs have grown in approval, many companies and institutions of higher learning are hesitant to accept these degrees as genuine.
  • Longer than you think. Some programs claim that a four year degree can be obtained in six months through accelerated studying and then CLEP-ing out of normal college classes. Don’t just take the word of someone who has written a book; do more research to find out if this is actually possible.

Taking the Dantes Exam

Dante’s, CLEP and Excelsior examinations are Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). Funded for active duty, National Guard members, and Reserves which means they are basically 100 % free. The DANTES exam is a nationally-recognized credit-by-examination program that most institutions accept for credit towards a degree plan. One tremendous benefit is to military personnel who may be separated from military bases such as interviewers who can still take these examinations for free at private testing facilities. Any military college student with an accepted degree plan should be able to use these examinations towards their degree plan supposing the topic suits into their accepted degree plan. There are 38 Dantes examinations and these can be taken at a base education center or at an approved off base computer examining center.

There are five steps to taking and passing a Dantes Exam:

  • Step 1. Find and Schedule – Once a testing center is determined, confirm examining techniques and scheduling for military learners. Dantes examinations are developed to test proficiency in various college-level course materials.
  • Step 2. Obtain Factsheet – There a few strategies to successfully pass a Dante’s that utilize the actual test development to ensure a passing grade. The examinations are developed on an outline from topic experts and the questions are reviewed for stability centered on a subject’s information of that particular topic.
  • Step 3. Get Books – The next phase in using the simple reality piece is to study the area known as Sources for Study Content because these are the guides used to design the test questions. Generally, an evaluation details several guides for an exam, however there is usually a seminal written text.
  • Step 4. Make Flashcards – Purchase a set of note cards. Using the evaluation Fact Sheet, each term detailed on the fact sheet piece outline should be made into a flashcard. Using the evaluation Concepts of Counseling as an example, this would lead to at the least, 34 flashcards. The next phase is to put the sample questions from the fact sheet on the flashcards and this would be additional 10 questions for a total of 45 flashcards.
  • Step 5. Use Your Resources – Some examinations are normally easier than others because learners have current information of the test subject information. A good example would be the Army MOS 31B or military police.

Passing the College Level Examination Program

As the economy tightens up everyone’s straps, it becomes more important for you to find a way to get noticed, head and shoulders, above your competitors in the job market. For some individuals, this means putting on a snappy outfit, practicing their smile and handshake, or writing the perfect resume. You know that when it comes to getting the job you really want, it’s about the quality you bring to the company as an employee and an individual. Education is the best, most comprehensive direction to developing the skills for which companies are searching. Getting ready for your academic and working future begins as early as high school, with AP or advanced placement tests offered by schools for college credit.

 

High School Students can take AP exams to speed up their graduation from high school. The trouble is, they are difficult. What is the solution to this problem? Research and take AP practice tests! There are a lot of sources where you can take AP practice tests for free. If you plan to get a passing grade on your AP test, you absolutely have to take AP practice tests to find where your strong and weak points are, and know what to review.

Speaking of getting college credit quick and simple, there is a little known benefit you can get in college that will save your funds and accelerate your graduation: CLEP exams. Known as the College Level Examination Program, CLEP exams are for particular credits at colleges and universities. By taking specific CLEP exams, you are offered credits to the programs those exams cover. Basically, you are revealing, “I know all these things already. I do not need to take the course, and here is the evidence. Just give me the course credits so I can proceed!”. Unfortunately, CLEPs are quite hard. After all, each one includes an entire term of excessive college-level study. That’s why, as with AP assessments; you should take College Level Examination Program practice exams before you ever take an actual CLEP. Practice test options are offered on the Internet as well as at review facilities, and at local book stores. It’s simple to research for a CLEP examination if you simply keep an eye out.

Students in the Military and Credit by Exam

The recent Federal Fund Sequester has resulted in price range deductions across many government-run programs. And for a while, it was threatening college tuition assistance for active military members and veterans. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Early in April, both the Army and Marine Corps revoked their Tuition Assistance (TA) programs, preventing active-duty military employees from submitting new requests for assistance. The Air Force then followed suit, suspending their own assistance. The Navy considered the revocation, but has not as of yet acted.

2. Only two weeks later, Congress elected to require military branches to provide college tuition assistance to all active-duty employees, thus preserving the system for those serving in the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marine Corps. The restoration of Tuition Assistance for active-duty members is a sign of the military’s commitment to education and improving minds among their ranks.

3. While both houses of Congress decided to reinstate Tuition Assistance across the board, no funds have been set aside to back up the move, so the three military branches that initially revoked assistance will have to figure out ways to implement sequestration price range deductions without touching Tuition Assistance.

The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), an organization dedicated to supporting military and veteran education, never stopped funding DSST examinations as an alternative to generate college credit. Their program remained a choice for soldiers looking for education cost assistance and quickly receive a degree.

Students in the military, as well as their partners, have the choice to generate credits up to 38 subjects through the DSST credit by exam program. And because this college credit opportunity is conveniently located at more than 500 military installations across the nation, thousands of military employees have already experienced the power of DSST tests. Over 1,900 higher-education institutions grant higher education credit to those who take and pass their credit by exam programs, helping to drive those who fight for our nation toward their degree, learning and career goals.

What You Can Save From CLEP Exams

College Level Examination Program, or CLEP exams, are academic exams developed by the College Board, creators of the SAT. Generally, CLEP exams are 90 minutes long and include multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, apart from the English Composition with Essay examination. The current fee for a CLEP examination is $65, which is a small price to pay considering the cost of college tuition these days. If you take two science programs, you can save roughly $1,200 in college tuition costs and about $150 in books! Basically, CLEP exams generally adhere to the content provided in entry-level college classes. A CLEP examination may be based on a single term course, a two-semester course, or even a two-year course (foreign ‘languages’, etc.). Based on your college (or upcoming college), you may be provided three, six, or even 12 hours of credit for each CLEP examination.

Nearly 3,000 organizations agree to CLEP exams for school credit. Although the American Council on Education suggests lowest ratings for giving credit, it is the organizations themselves that eventually figure out the lowest ranking for credit to be provided, as well as the amount of credit ranking provided for each CLEP examination.

CLEP Examinations are currently available for the following subjects:

  • Business
  • Foreign Languages
  • Composition
  • Literature
  • History
  • Social Sciences
  • Science
  • Math

Schools, colleges and universities differ in their treatment of CLEP examinations. Review your college’s CLEP policies to find out what examinations you may take, the ratings you must get and any appropriate deadlines/requirements. Remember that some institutions offer substitute credit for life experience without taking a CLEP examination. For example, if you are an entrepreneur, you may be able to get management and accounting credit, depending on your business. If you are a recruiting manager, you might be able to get substitute portfolio credit as well. It will differ by business. Sometimes, you may just be granted optional credit for substitute learning, but either way, you are not wasting time and money!

Taking Advantage of Dantes Exam

Does it seem like you have a lot of classes remaining to take? One way to reduce your load to your degree is to take a CLEP or a DANTES exam. You test for a class and get credit for that class. For example, if you need a social science elective or a history class, by taking the CLEP Social Science/History examination, you will get optional credit for HIST and SOCI, as long as you successfully pass the exam. Some people are confused at having to take 2 history classes, so they take a CLEP examination and test out of one of the history needed classes.

CLEP examinations are taken on the computer. The test time is 90 minutes. The cost is $65 for the test and there is an administration fee of $25. You may schedule a CLEP test two days before your preferred test time period. All you need to do is to call into the workplace and set the time and date. CLEP examinations are given Thursday thru Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. These time frames leave an estimated 2 hours to get you finalized in and authorized on the computer and then you have the 90 minutes for the exam. When the exam is finished, you will get a duplicate of your score; so you know if you have passed before you leave.

DANTES is a little different. A Dantes exam must be requested at least 2 weeks before your preferred test time period. The administration fee is due at the time you pay for your exam. That fee is $25. When your exam is already available, they will contact you to let you know it is ready and schedule enough the time and date you wish to take the examination. Dantes is an untimed exam, but most learners complete it within 90 moments. The day of your Dantes exam, you will pay $70.00 to Dantes by means of cashier’s check, credit card or money order. Dantes does not agree to private examinations. Again, you get credit for the class you successfully pass in the examination. It could take up to four weeks to get the results, so plan accordingly.

Passing the CLEP Exams

The interactive methods of learning make classes that learners typically take as degree pre-requisites in the first two years of college is much more effective. Many learners use the CLEP exams as a way to skip through hours of tedious lessons. Not all educational institutions accept AP as a replacement college classes, understand basic facts and concepts, show expertise about research procedures and ideas, and apply a wide range of concepts and ideas to certain situations. Compared to conventional methods of preparing that are mostly lackluster and awkward, web based courses are more beneficial because it is automated and helps you gain valuable college credit.

When you take CLEP exams, everything relies on how well you know the topic. In some cases, using a mixture of study formats is very insightful. In addition to understanding concepts, topics and language associated with the 13 subjects, the examinee must have comprehension, awkward because it is only the tip of the iceberg. The main group that benefits most on CLEP exams is the adults continuing their education.

Once the college student completes the CLEP exams preparation and gets a passing rate, they can take CLEP examinations without the use of tedious books or expensive tutors! Speed yourself over the course of your CLEP study; prevent cramming the night before, show up well-rested and be prepared to reap the reward of 12 college credits that can be used for your degree program. Some test prep programs makes you prepared in the quickest time possible. The very objective of a CLEP test prep is for you to review topics which may be all you need in order to get prepared. Practice your test taking abilities. Get to bed early the night before the exam. CLEP practice assessments are recommended as in comparison to CLEP research books because they are much more effective.

Advanced Credit by Exam

For learners who are studying individually, credit-by-exam programs like CLEP and DSST are popular ways to obtain college credit for their study. As they are provided in a wide range of topics, it’s possible to get the whole primary program of a bachelor’s degree done through these examinations, or to generate an associate’s degree this way. These examinations can save countless numbers in educational costs. However, one drawback to the CLEP examinations is that they are only provided for lower-degree college programs, as are most of the DSST examinations, although 11 of the DSSTs are for upper-degree credit. Anybody who wants to test entirely out of a bachelor’s degree is not out of luck. There are a variety of other options for getting upper-degree college credit by exam.

There are several Excelsior College Exams (ECEs) through which you can generate credit for upper-degree programs. At $240 for a 3-credit examination, they are more expensive than the CLEPs. However, they are provided in a variety of specific topics. Excelsior’s website details examinations which range from Anatomy and Physiology to World Conflicts Since 1900. A variety of medical examinations are provided.

Another choice for getting upper-degree credit-by-exam is the GRE tests. The General Test is mainly for business learners and the wide range of topic assessments contains Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology and Computer Science. A variety of institutions offer undergraduate credit for these examinations, such as Excelsior, which provides 30 undergrad credits if you pass in the Eightieth percentile and Charter Oak State College, which provides 24 credits if you pass in the Fortieth percentile. The examinations are provided in Oct, Nov, and Apr. If you live outside of the US, they seem to be provided at a broader wide range of places than the CLEPs. This choice is also cost-effective at $140 in the US and $160 in other nations. How much money in college tuition would 30 credits cost at a brick-and-mortar university?