Is your high schooler following a dual-credit path and earning college credits while still in high school? If your answer is yes, Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP Exam will most probably be one of the earlier exams, they will take.
When my son first started taking CLEP exams, he opted for History of the United States to start with. At the age of 14, it seemed to be the easiest subject for him to prepare for. It was also the safest exam for him to gain confidence and experience with college exams.
After he finished both US History I and II CLEPs as well as American Government, Analyzing & Interpreting Literature seemed to be the next step. I read various articles of 13-year-olds breezing through this exam and figured out that, because we had always read much in our home, it should be no problem. But that was not the case. For some reason, he struggled with, what seemed to him, a personal interpretation of somebody else’s work. He would tell me, “Mom, I don’t believe this answer is correct. I don’t think this is what the author meant when he wrote the piece.” Well, it is hard to argue when the author is no longer among the living and we can’t ask them.
Is Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP Exam Hard?
Based on my son’s preparation experience, it was hard. Based on his final results, it was not. I believe he achieved his success because we prayed a lot. We also significantly extended his study time and purchased additional preparation programs. I will share more about these programs later and leave their links below. But first, let us look at the overview of this CLEP.
What Does This CLEP Exam Include?
Following are a few particulars:
- This exam covers passages primarily taken from English and American literature. However, it does not require the knowledge of any particular work.
- It includes prose (fiction and non-fiction), poetry, and drama.
- In addition to learning the basic terminology, the students are required to read the literary excerpts with understanding, interpret metaphors, understand the authors’ attitudes, etc.
How Long Does Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP Exam Take?
There are two versions of this CLEP and the one you choose will determine the length of your exam:
- The first option includes 80 multiple-choice questions which have to be answered within 98 minutes. You will receive 3 college credits for this exam.
- The second option includes, in addition to the test in option 1, writing two essays in additional 90 minutes. This option will grant you 6 credits in most of the colleges, even though some colleges opt to award only 3 credits.
What Is a Passing Score for This CLEP Exam?
The exam answers are transferred to a scaled score; in order to pass the exam, the score of 50 must be achieved. (The maximum score is 80.) This is an equivalent of receiving C in a similar college course.
In 2017 (the latest possible statistics available at the time of writing this article) the passing rate of this particular CLEP was 75%, which ranks it among the top ten easiest exams.
How to Prepare for Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP Exam?
There are many ways to study for this exam and the best option for you personally will depend on both your learning style and your budget. However, let me share with you how my son studied for this CLEP at the age of 15. Following are the steps he took:
- He took Fundamentals of Literature by BJU Press in 9th This curriculum introduces students to literary criticism and encourages them to read and analyze literature in light of a Christian worldview. In addition to the literature selections, rich illustrations, and author biographies, the application questions promote the child’s critical thinking skills. This gave him a sufficient understanding of terminology and foundation for his CLEP studies.
- We purchased REA’s official CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature study book. It is easily available online for as little as $4. We found it to be invaluable for the following reasons:
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- It includes a straightforward study of the literary terminology and samples of how to dissect the text.
- It includes 3 full-length practice exams accompanied by detailed explanation of why the particular answer is correct while the other ones are not.
- The practice exams give the student an excellent pre-official test experience of how it “feels” to take the actual test. They also provide specific information about the areas the student still needs to focus on.
- He took an online course at Modern States and received the following:
- FREE video and text preparation.
- FREE online test questions similar to those in the actual test but different from the REA’s study book.
- FREE CLEP exam voucher.
- REIMBURSEMENT for the college test center fee.
Please note that Modern States have very specific conditions under which you can receive their FREE voucher:
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- You must watch their training videos and read their study materials.
- You must pass all their practice tests.
- We purchased one month of InstantCert membership in order to get more practice, which proved to be invaluable.
If it seems to you like a lot of material to cover, you are correct. Even one or two of the options above should be sufficient for the test preparation. However, when having your high schooler take CLEP exams (as opposed to a college student), you always have to ask yourself a few questions:
- What is my primary goal with regards to this exam?
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- Is my goal to ensure that my student achieves as many college credits as possible during their high school years in order to give them a head start in the work force?
- Is my goal to ensure that my student has a solid foundation of the subject for life?
Please note that both of these options are very viable. We are learning that not all subjects are a must for life but certainly helpful when added to the number of college credits.
- How much practice does my child need for this particular exam?
- Will I pay for the exam myself or will I opt for free Modern States voucher?
After considering your goals, you will be able to determine which study materials to use in preparation for Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP exam.
How Much Does It Cost to Take This CLEP Exam?
Depending on how you decide to sign up for the exam, your expenses may look similar to the following two scenarios:
Option 1: You choose to pay for the exam yourself:
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- CLEP exam registration fee: $89
- College testing center fee: $25 to $40 (Depending on which college you choose to take the exam at.)
Option 2: You choose to enroll in Modern States: $0 (Modern States reimburses you even for the testing center fee.)
I trust the information in this article has helped you to make your own decisions concerning Analyzing & Interpreting Literature CLEP exam. Whatever means of study you choose to follow, rest assured that the exam is very doable when diligent preparation is applied.
