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How to customize your CLEP* study plan
Probably the most underrated benefit of being an InstantCert member is access to the Specific Exam Feedback section of the discussion forum at DegreeForum.net. Nowhere else on the Internet can you find a constantly updated, carefully curated wealth of information about the CLEP* and DSST exams posted by actual test-takers. In this article, we will discuss how this resource can be used to custom-tailor a study plan for your specific situation and exam.
Step 1: Log into the discussion forum
Go to the Discussion Forum and log in. Once you log in, you should be able to go into the section of the forum titled, "Specific Exam Feedback - InstantCert Subscribers ONLY" located near the bottom of the list.
TIP: If you successfully log into the forum but get an error message when you try to access the Specific Exam Feedback section, then your forum account needs to be linked to your subscription. To do that, log in at InstantCert.com and click the Discussion link at the top. If you have trouble, use the Support page to send us an email.
Step 2: Find the right thread for your exam
Once you are in the Specific Exam Feedback section, click the "Thread / Author" link. It is near the top of the page, right above the list of discussion threads. Clicking the "Thread" link will put the threads in alphabetical order, making it easy to find the thread dedicated to the exam you are studying for. Once you find the thread, click to go to the last page of the thread, where the most recent posts are.
Step 3: Review the most recent posts
Some threads have dozens of pages. I would recommend starting on the last page and working backwards through member posts. You usually do not need to look at more than the last two to three pages before you start seeing a clear consensus of what works for that particular exam.
Often, members will list specific topics that were covered on the exam. Spending a couple of hours using Google or Wikipedia to look up those topics and read about them can make a big difference in your score. If you are lucky, for some subjects, members have even posted a document with their own study notes which can make your job a lot easier.
TIP: Some members choose to do a lot more studying than was probably necessary, citing half a dozen or more different resources and video series they studied before taking the test. If you are an overachiever with time to spare, there is nothing wrong with overstudying, but keep in mind that for CLEP* and DSST exams, the only thing that shows up on your school transcript is a PASS or a FAIL. There is no benefit to scoring a 72 instead of the minimum passing score, other than bragging rights.
Step 4: Pay it forward!
Once you have taken the exam, contribute to Specific Exam Feedback thread with your experiences. If you are in a hurry, just leave a quick post stating your score and what resources you used. If you contribute even one little tip, it can mean the difference between passing and failing for countless students who come after you!
Steven Gloer
InstantCert Co-Founder
Steven is one of the co-founders of InstantCert and is constantly looking for new ways to leverage technology to make learning more efficient and productive. Reach out to him with your ideas, stories, and questions by sending an email to webmaster@instantcert.com.
* CLEP is a registered trademark of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.
