Studying for Your CLEP Exams
Preparing for a CLEP test isn’t like preparing for a normal high school test or a general standardized test like the ACT test. In some ways, it’s a combination of both, but CLEP courses or tests differ from both of these in significant ways. A good CLEP study plan includes study methods similar to those used by both ACT prep and general test prep methods.
First, depending on the subject you want to test out of, you’ll want to get a number of different study books for the subject. Your high school text book may be useful if you still have it. If not, see if your former teacher will loan you a text book or check out a text book or study guide from your local library. Of course, you can also purchase books from bookstores, but generally, what you find at the library is just as helpful and much less expensive.
If you do plan to purchase your own CLEP guide, be sure to check through it to really see how helpful it is. Some study guides are better written than others, while others will better suit your individual learning style. While a bad CLEP preparation book may still have some helpful things to say, it won’t be as useful as a really good study book.
Flashcards are another useful CLEP test study tool. Some professional study guides include flashcards as part of their package, but if you can’t find flashcards for the subject you need, you can easily make your own. Some subjects are better suited to working with flash cards – English vocabulary, for example, can easily be transformed into flash cards, while complex mathematical equations won't translate as well.
Once you have your CLEP study tools together, it’s time to create a study schedule. Cramming for a CLEP test doesn’t really work since CLEP tests tend to cover a very wide range of information on each specific subject. You’ll need to do a little studying every day over several weeks or months to really cover everything you need. Set aside an hour or so each day for CLEP preparation and start a good three or four weeks before you’re due to take the CLEP test. Don’t let yourself skip a session or two – even if there's something really good on TV. Do your best to stick to your schedule.
Studies have shown that people retain information if they study the same information a few times in short bursts instead of studying for hours at once. Make several different CLEP study “packets” to work through and rotate through them. If you simply read through a book, you may have forgotten things you studied first by the time you go to take your CLEP test. Rotating what you study will help keep it all fresh in your mind for exam day.
CLEP tests are a great way to save money at college, but they'll only save you money if you take them seriously and study accordingly. By following these basic steps, you’ll find that you’ll retain more information for your CLEP test and earn a better score as a result.
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