Credit By Exam | Distance Learning Systems (DLSI)

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.

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.

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?

Earning Credits thru Credit by Examination

It is expected that applicants will be able to learn through experience and self-study, not offer a substitute for studying. There are web-based planning assistance programs that allow learners with no program and it allows learners to generate college credit when they have obtained an excellent quantity of studying on a particular topic. On the internet credit by examination prep programs can help you with credit by examination preparation. Before reattempting an exam of the identical subject, learners should consider the purpose of the prep program to know how to best prepare for the next exam.

Pace yourself over the course of your credit by examination study; avoid cramming the evening before, appear well-rested with their appropriate course and confirm their significant details. Custom-tailor study programs understand that what you need with the sample assessments is to allow you to know that they offer a realistic look at what each evaluation is. Many learners would like to take benefits of credit by examination due to the financial benefits of this, so check with your educational consultant to see what your university views as a passing grade.

The individuals who run these programs remain up to date on credit by examinations. Use the procedure of elimination to find out solutions on all questions, all the details on study guides is found that way. Getting ready before you choose on taking a credit by examination test can help obtain useful college credits and not waste cash in the process! It really is essential to suit your needs to keep the right systematic and assessment abilities and be able to apply information of the subjects to various circumstances and problems.

Credit By Exam and Gifted Students

Educational acceleration is one of the cornerstones of exceptional gifted education methods, with more analysis supporting this involvement than any other in the literary works on gifted individuals. Research from the National Association of Gifted Children or NAGC shows that all forms of properly applied acceleration strategies for intellectually blessed and educationally skilled students result in academic benefits and positive results. These research-based best methods include grade skipping, telescopic, early entrance into pre-school or higher education, credit by exam, and acceleration in content areas through such programs as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate at the secondary school stage.

Credit by Exam is commonly practiced at the college stage. The College-Level Examination Program or CLEP gives a college student the chance to receive higher education credit for what is already known by earning qualifying ratings on any of 34 exams. Most colleges allow credit score for CLEP exams, but not all. There are 2,900 schools that allow credit for CLEP and each of them sets its own CLEP policy. Each institution decides for which exam credit is awarded, the ratings required and how much credit score will be granted.

For some gifted students, taking an occasional AP or “honors” or “gifted” class may not be enough. Credit by Exam provides a way for pre-school through fifth grade students to take a test to progress one grade stage. For junior high school and high school kids, Credit by Exam provides advanced students an opportunity to earn credit score in a course that they have not taken in school, yet know the material well enough to “test out” of the class. By doing so, the student moves to the next stage (and more challenging) course. Not all school regions provide Credit by Exam and even if they do, it usually is not commonly marketed or advertised. What does your district offer?

Dantes Exam 101

Imagine this, it’s a shiny, warm day and things are going fairly well with school! You have gained several semesters’ worth of credit through CLEP assessments, and your feel very assured with the College Board’s technique of making credit. Actually, your assurance with the several option examinations is so great that you are considering changing your middle name to CLEP. Then, instantly, you see a threatening reasoning growing above. As you view your higher education design, something grabs your eye. Among the rest, helpful CLEP examinations, you see the characters DSST. Your heart stops. “What is this?” Before you have an anxiety attack, there’s something you should know. DSST, or DANTES exams, are no cause for alert. On the opposite, they are very just like CLEP assessments, and side-effects may consist of complications, throwing up, and stomach discomfort.

In all severity, DANTES exams are very much like CLEP examinations. I like to think of the distinction between CLEP and DANTES exams as being just like the distinction between Pepsi and Coke. While the appearance is a bit different and individuals have choices between the two manufacturers, they are incredibly identical and there are few real variations between the two drinks. Like CLEP examinations, DANTES exams are timed, multiple choice examinations and credit are granted on a pass/fail basis. As with CLEP assessments, there is no penalty for incorrect answers (they only check the right answers) and DANTES exams are usually available in a computer-based format. Containing between 80-120 questions, the duration of a DANTES examination is much like CLEP as well.

When you see DANTES test looming above, do not panic! Keep in mind, overall, the experience will be just like the CLEP examining encounter, and most make it out of the testing center unscathed. If you have any concerns or worry regarding DANTES exams, be sure to discuss with your trainer. They can rest your worries and walk you through the procedure and even provide recommendations to make the procedure simpler.

Graduating Faster

Too many learners are focused on the classes they need to take. English, Psychology, Chemistry, Accounting are just some of the common subjects. It’s simple to see why. Pick up a college course book and you will see that degree programs are set out as series of classes to take. Complete them all and you graduate with the degree you desired. Yet this is actually a superficial way to look at college. As it turns out, classes are not the real foundations of degree, credits are. Take a closer look at your college’s course book. What you will see is that you actually need a certain number of credits to graduate, usually 60 for an associate degree and 120 for a bachelor degree. This is a key understanding, because once you move your focus from classes to credit, you can begin analyzing methods to buy them for less.

The costly classes your university provides are just one way of getting those credits, even though most learners thoughtlessly believe it’s the only way. Actually, there are three methods to generate college credit: classes at four year community colleges/private universities, classes at local colleges and credit by exam. Most learners are acquainted with the first two choices. But hardly anyone knows about credit by exam and even less understand its complete potential.

Credit by exam represents college-level topic assessments like CLEP and DSST. With this strategy, you take a large test covering a whole topic (say, English) rather than a semester-long course. Complete the examination, and you get credit just as if you had taken the class. What this means is that you can possibly cut lots of money off the cost of graduating by replacing as many of these examinations for classes as your college will allow. Unfortunately, many institutions have tight “residency requirements” restricting how many credit score you can get this way. Yet, I’ve found a few institutions that have no residence specifications.

Credit by Examination in College

I just cannot explain how thrilled I am about credit by examination. These applications are the only reason that I and many others are college graduates. Do not think for a moment that you will not learn something in the process of getting these examinations. And especially, do not be amazed at how much you already know as you study for them. The key to remember when planning for an examination is that the common system of 70% = pass is no longer is applicable. These assessments are designed to evaluate your knowledge of a topic as opposed to normal college student taking the class. Well, guess what? Average is a big range. Most of these examinations only require you to get about half the solutions right to earn credit. That is why I and so many other applicants find we did much better than we thought after getting our score.

Most schools take credit by examination. Some schools design their own examining programs, but the majority gives credit based on the American Council on Education (ACE) credit recommendation. Each evaluation is given a suggested amount of credit by ACE. Most schools will prize the suggested credit, however they are not required to. So, please check with the college of your choice to validate their credit by examination policy, such as the most of credit they will take by testing.

Each evaluation suppliers have their own style and framework. It is important to understand each company’s guidelines and specifications. Most of the examinations are not that challenging. I never studied for more than three times for a three credit by examination and not more than seven times for a six credit by examination. You will need to take a number of each to get your speed, but once the momentum is going, do not quit. The best measure that I used was to take as many practice assessments that I might find on the topic. Once I reached the 80-90% level, I was prepared. Once you get going, you find it simple to take two or more examinations in one day.

Exploring Credit By Exam

Enrolling in college is now a standard. In the past, you were blessed to be present in a university. Today, however, most kids are required to at least study at community college. Even adults are feeling the stress to get a college degree. Unfortunately, conventional college is not an option for everyone. High college tuition, work plans, and family lifestyle often make it hard to begin or continue college. Fortunately, there are alternatives! Credit by exam is one alternative that many teenagers and adults are starting to take seriously. Credit by exam means that you can get credit for some of the things you already know. Adult scholars, especially, have obtained knowledge outside of the educational setting from the office and life experience. For example, if you demonstrate that you already understand college mathematics, you can test out of that class and get three credits.

This method of making college credit has been around for the last three decades and is becoming more extensive. Although credit by exam assessments like College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests were initially designed toward army employees, both are now open to citizens. Nearly 3,000 schools take credit gained from the assessments, but not all schools do. To be prepared, check your college’s policy to make sure credit will be accepted.

Not putting things off is perhaps the biggest benefit of credit by exam. Instead of going through a term on US History, you can avoid taking the class completely by taking the CLEP test on US History. With enough time you preserve, you can spend it attending the innovative programs that you are really after. If you make use of the examinations, you can save months, if not years of educational costs and time. While all of your colleagues are still in college spending cash for an expensive conventional knowledge, you will have a degree and be out in the labor force generating revenue.

Combining Homeschool and Credit By Exam

Through a process of trial, error and sharing, many homeschooling families have the approach to combining secondary school education and planning for university-level examinations down to a science. There are two basic approaches to earning higher education credit while simultaneously completing secondary school.

1. If a college student has acquired knowledge that aligns to a credit by exam check, they would get a research guide and take a practice exam to see if they know enough to complete the check. If they feel confident, they would take the credit by exam check and if they complete it, they have gained higher education credits according to the DSST, CLEP, or AP programs. The parent will also award the college student high school credit on the home school transcript.

2. When a homeschooler is ready for high school work, sometimes as early as junior high school age, the parent and kid will choose his or her course of study. To gain higher education and secondary university credit simultaneously, they will match-up what they want to study with a credit by exam check. The home school student might decide to research US History 1 for 9th grade and after learning the information from a textbook and spending a few weeks reviewing CLEP planning materials, he or she will take the CLEP evaluation. If the kid passes the test, they will have gained both secondary school and higher education credit from studying the same material. If the kid does not pass the test, he or she will have still gained secondary school credit from doing the work. The kid can then earn even more higher education credits by following the US History 1 CLEP with the Civil War and Reconstruction DSST evaluation, as the examinations have overlapping information.

The most apparent benefit to making college credits in secondary school is to speed up the degree process. This can be a considerable benefit from a tuition viewpoint, as well as placing you on a fast-track to profession income.