CLEP® Analyzing & Interpreting Literature Book + Online (CLEP Test Preparation)

I purchased 5 REA CLEP books:  CLEP Introduction to Educational Psychology (CLEP Test Preparation)   CLEP Introductory Sociology w/CD (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the CLEP Exam (Test Preps)   CLEP Biology w/ CD-ROM (CLEP Test Preparation)   CLEP College Mathematics w/CD-ROM (CLEP Test Preparation)   CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature w/ Online Practice Exams (CLEP Test Preparation) I also purchased the  CLEP Official Study Guide 2012 . This was only worthwhile because I was taking so many tests. It only contains a sample test for each CLEP - and there are no detailed answers. I will say I think it was helpful but I also do not believe it made a real difference in terms of pass / fail on the tests.For the first three listed, it was enough to read the books a couple of times and then take the tests. Some of the material wasn't on the CLEP and there was material on the CLEP that was not in the book. That is to be expected given the broad topics covered. There is enough material in each of these three books to pass the CLEP they cover. I crammed a full semester of these classes into two weeks of study.**NOTE** The sample tests are an important part of the learning process. There is information in the tests and detailed answers that is not covered elsewhere in the text. Do not underestimate the need to review the sample tests. They also give you good practice on timing. I considered this important for the Math and Literature tests. I was worried about spending too much time on each question for these last two. This is why I was disappointed with the lack of computer based testing with the Literature book.The other two CLEP books require specific reviews.College Mathematics: This was the toughest of the five for me personally. I do not feel the book covered the material in enough depth to prepare you for the test. It assumed you knew an awful lot that I did not know. There are drill questions at the end of each section. It would have been more helpful if they included detailed answers. There were a couple that I never did figure out. I do not consider myself math challenged but I also admit that I am not a math major. I spent a lot of time on-line utilizing other resources. My thanks to: [...] [...]Analyzing and Interpreting Literature: I'm not sure this book really added value for me. The tests were helpful in getting me familiar with the format of the test (the printed version was all I had to work with - see above). However, there isn't much within the text that actually helped me prepare. In all fairness, I am an avid reader (not poetry!!) and could have simply taken this test at any time. If you are not much of a reader this book might be a good guide on what to read. It does not contain a list of what to read but if you read the material it uses as examples, it may help. Reading this book alone will NOT prepare you for this test.

If nothing else, this book helps keep you on track with your studying. I am usually a slow test taker, so the timed tests online really helped me gauge how I would do on the test. The passages in the book are very confusing. You will not pass alone by using this material. Find other resources. YouTube viedoes, study flashcards on quizlet, and whatever else you need to succeed.Most importantly, I read a lot of reviews on this website and others which made me feel overly confident before taking this exam. I'm a college student, preparing for one of the top programs in the nation. I feel comfortable balancing my study efforts and allowed myself a week and a half to prepare for this exam. I've never taken a CLEP test before. I don't have any experience in this particular subject. I scored a 47% on the diagnostic test, 43% on test 1, and 47% on test 2. I thought the actual exam was going to be a cake walk, seeing as I only needed a 53% to pass and most of the reviews said you would score much higher on the actual exam than the REA practice tests. I took my test yesterday, and let me tell you, I was freaking out the further into the exam I got with each question that passed. I had no idea whether I passed or failed until I hit the submit button. I scored a 54% on the exam... I succeeded but didn't do nearly as well as I thought I would have.Also, as far as the essay goes, my school apparently doesn't require you to write one concluding your exam. I called my school's testing center and multiple advisors. No one had any idea whether the essay would be required or not.

I'm not one to tell someone to take a test cold, but I read the first chapter that gives any "relevant" study information. This test just isn't something that you can blindly study for, but rather something that you should practice for.This test is something that you either know or you don't. If you aren't savvy at reading and comprehension (especially for various styles of works from various time periods) then you are going to have a hard time. I got a 59 on the test (50 required to pass) with minimal effort or study for it, but thats just because I have an average reading comprehension as opposed to those out there who get 60s and 70s on this thing. If you get this book, then your best bet is going to be heading strait to the practice tests and looking through the book for definitions of literary terms that you aren't familiar with or haven't seen in a while.I can't give this product 5 stars just due to the fact that there are other, free resources out there which potentially hold more benefit than this particular book. Find practice tests and read read read. Thats the best way to prepare yourself for this test. By all means, if you need some extra practice tests on hand, this book is great. Don't bother with reading through the chapters though, its a waste of time.

Our son has successfully completed fourteen CLEP examinations for a total of 48 transferrable college credits. He has used the REA books in almost all cases supplemented by the DIVE curriculum for the advanced math and Biology tests. In all cases, he has found these resources to reasonably represent the information needed to successfully pass the CLEP exams, although additional study guides, and videos should be used whenever possible to ensure test success.CLEP ExamCollege AlgebraCollege PrecalculusCollege BiologyCollege CalculusIntroductory PsychologyIntroductory SociologyPrinciples of MacroeconomicsPrinciples of MicroeconomicsInfo Sys & Computer ScienceHuman Growth & DevelopmentCollege CompositionPrinciples of ManagementPrinciples of MarketingAnalyze & Interpreting Literature