PRACTICE EXAMS

             Test preparation is one of the most important parts of taking any exam — may it be CLEP, AP or DSST. If you want to pass an exam, aside from maximizing your available study resources, you will also need to take your Practice Exams.

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             A Practice Exam is a great way to review the types of questions you'll see on the actual exam. If you're planning on taking the test, whether it is CLEP, AP or DSST, you'll want to be prepared for the types of questions you'll see and how you should approach them.

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             For example, if you're planning on taking the Math Subject Test, then you should probably focus on the math concepts that are tested on the exam category (e.g., CLEP—Algebra, AP—Calculus AB). You should also make sure that your knowledge of these topics is up-to-date; if possible, take practice tests so that you can make sure that your study strategy is working as planned.

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             Another important thing to remember when reviewing Practice Exam questions is that they are not scored based on difficulty level; instead, they're scored based on whether or not they've been scored correctly by the computer program and the scoring panel. So don't worry about whether a question is easy or hard; instead, focus on whether or not it's correct! If a question isn't correct (and therefore doesn't count toward your score), then it doesn't matter how difficult it may seem at first glance; just remember: accuracy matters more than speed!
 

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Why do I need to take practice exam?
 

             Practice exams are a great tool to use in preparing for your future test. The benefits of practicing with practice exams include:

 

You can see what type of questions you need to answer on the test.

             You'll be able to get a realistic idea of what the test will be like. They'll allow you to see what types of questions (questions that are similar to those on the actual test) will be asked and how long it will take you to complete each section. This will allow you to get used to writing out answers quickly without having to think too hard about what words might mean or where they should go within sentences (which takes time away from actually answering questions).

 

You can see how long it will take you to complete each section, which will allow you to plan out your time wisely.

             Taking Practice Exam can help you prepare for the actual exam in terms of content and format. This will allow you to feel more confident about taking the actual exam when it comes around. It will also give you an idea of what materials are on the test and how much time they should take up during each section of the exam (which can help with pacing).

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You'll be able to identify areas where there might be gaps in knowledge.

             You'll be able to see how well you do on each section and know which ones are your strengths and weaknesses. It can also help broaden your knowledge base by teaching you about certain topics that may be covered on future tests (for example, AP—Biology), which can allow graduates with little knowledge in these areas to pass their exams, so you can be better prepared when it comes time to take the actual exam!

 

It can help you decide whether or not to take the actual exam.

             If you decide not to take the test, then you won't have wasted any time or money on something that you don't need, and you will be able to focus on other aspects of your education.

 

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How do I use practice exams?

            Your knowledge of the subject matter will be the foundation of your success, but practice with actual test questions will increase your speed, confidence, and accuracy.

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             The first thing you need to do is find where can you take a Practice Exams. They can be found at www.collegeboard.com/ or other online resources. You can have them free or paid — totally your choice, but we highly suggest you to try the free resources first.

 

             Listed below are the instructions on how can you maximize using the Practice Exams to help you prepare for the actual exam.

1. Review the exam description.

             Read the exam description carefully to understand what topics will be covered on it as well as how much time is allotted for the test as a whole and for each subsection. This will help you know what to expect when you’re taking the test.

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2. Become familiar with the sample questions.

             You can find these questions in the free sample questions from the College Board. This is a fairly limited selection of questions and it doesn't explain the correct answers. For more practice, you can purchase the Official Study Guide, a guide to the exam you’re taking, or a study app each of which contains many practice questions or you can have it from other online resources.

 

3. Review test-taking tips.

             Read general advices and test-taking tips on multiple choice and essay questions for your specific exam category to help you in your actual exam day.
 

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When should I take practice exams?
 

             Regardless of which option you choose, a little strategy would be better. You can take as many practice exams as you want prior to your actual exam day in order for you to feel confident or you can try using these strategies.

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1. Study with all your resources first, then take your fist practice exam. This way, you will be able to know your knowledge level and you can determine your areas for improvement.

2. After taking your first practice exam, write down what you missed on the practice test, then get back to your books and study resources again, study more and work on your weak areas.

3. Take your second test, this time, after you studied and worked on your areas for improvement. Repeat what you did after taking your first practice test.

4. By the third time you will take your practice test, you will surely nail getting more correct answers.

5. You can either repeat the process as much as you want, or you can stop after the third test and work harder on studying using your existing resources or other resources that you might find relevant and related to the practice test.

 

 

What are some good resources for practicing?

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CLEP Practice Exam

• College Board’s Study Resources

• College Board’s Practice Questions and Study Guides

• CLEP Practice Test — Study.com

• CLEP Test Prep — Mometrix

• Free CLEP Practice Tests — Varsity Tutors

• Free Practice Clep Tests! — FreeClepPrep.com

• Free, Practice CLEP — 4Tests.com
• Free CLEP Practice Tests — Test Guide

• CLEP Practice Test Questions — Testprepreview
 

AP Practice Exam
• College Board Resources

• Take a AP Practice Test & AP Test Prep — Study.com

• AP Practice Exams — Appracticeexams
• Free AP Subjects Practice Tests — Varsity Tutors

• AP Exam Prep: Free AP practice tests and real AP tests  — Crackap
• AP Practice Tests — High School Test Prep

• Free AP ® Exam Practice — Kaplan Test Prep

DSST Practice Exam
• Take a DSST Practice Test & DSST Test Prep - Study.com

• DSST Practice Exam — Getcollegecredit
• DSST Exam Prep | DSST Practice Tests Online & Study Guides — Petersons

• DSST Practice Exams — Homeschooling for College Credit

• Free DSST Practice Tests and Study Guides | Powerhouse Prep
• Free Practice DSST Test — FreeClepPrep
 

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Conclusion

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             Once you've taken some time preparing for your actual exam — maximized all available study resources, feel free to take an actual exam! Make sure that you have enough time before your scheduled test date so that you won't have any problems with getting there on time or finding parking space close by where needed (especially if driving) or preparing your testing environment (for remote testing).
 

             We know that studying is hard and you want to get the most out of your exams and finally get that college credit that you’ve been aiming. If there's anything more important than getting into college or getting into a good school, then it's knowing how well prepared you are before taking an actual test! Good luck!