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Excelsior College exams, CLEP Tests, and Dantes exams  are an affordable  option for earning College credit.  A Professional or Student made study guide can decrease your study time  and increase your undertanding of the subject.   Auction offerings for distance education and equivalency testing study guides are increasing.  With so many options its difficult to chose the right guide. Here are  some suggestions to help you.

ANATOMY OF A STUDY GUIDE

There are No Easy Answers

A study Guide should Guide your learning. College level learning is beyond simple memorization. If you want to pass the  exam you will have to study. Lists of things to know and hundreds of questions and answers will not help you learn and understand the content.   Look for a study guide that will hlp you to learn VS one that promises the answers.

Content is Critical

Ideally study guides  should be organized to match the tests content.  For Example organized to the testing agencies outline.  The study Guide should  expand upon the testing agencies outline, All  key concepts should be covered.

Study Guides are available in print, electronic and audio format find the type of material that will work for you.

Freeware should be free

Content should be original or the source should be disclosed.   Look for a seller that states clearly how they created or obtained the study material.  If its not stated ask the seller.   If the seller promises you original notes and sends you yahoo group freeware you will have recourse.

Big is Better 

CLEP DSST and EXC Exam content outlines are 400 to 2000kb.  A study guide that can be emailed to you likley does not contain  the information you need  to pass a  3 or 4 credit College level exam.

Variety is the Key to Success.  

People learn in a variety of ways. Different concepts require differnt types of learning. Some concepts are easier to learn with pictures, graphs,or tables;  other concepts require   readings , summaries or flashcards. Look for a study guide that provides a variety of resources for your study.

Some Things are too Good to Be True

Actual Exam questions are not available online - Be leary of Buyers who claim to have the "Actual Exam Questions" Its unlikley that an ebay seller has the actual CLEP Dantes or Excelsior Exam questions.  Each of the testing agncies have many different versions of each test.  Their test banks are closley gaurded, and students who take the exams sign an acedemic honesty statement promising not to divulge test questions. 

Checking out the Seller

Identitiy

Know who your dealing with and where they are from. Certainly a seller does not need to list their full name  in their auction, but email responses should contain a name. (not an ID).  A response from "3 nurses in the USA"  is not as valid as a response from "Mary Smith in California".  A reputable seller does not need to hide behind a pseudoname or hide their location.

What do they Know?

Reputable Sellers are well informed about the exam, and will answer questions.  Has the seller taken the exams? Can they provide credentials?  Can they answer questions about there exam process.  Qualified sellers of Study Guides will answer your questions and provide information abou there own experiences.

Verify Credentials

Excelsior College Graduates can be verified. If your buying study guides for Excelsior College exams - ask the seller if they are a graduate. Excelsior.edu alumni connection has a  data base of its graduates. Search for Excelsior College alumni by name, degree, graduation year, and location.

Nurses credentials can be verified. If you are buying study guides for Excelsior College Nursing exams check to see if the seller is a Registered Nurse. Most state boards of nursing allow online searches to verify nurses credentials. If the seller claims to be a nurse and it cannot be verified look elswhere.

Read your Seller by Reading their Feedback  

Feedback can give you valuable information about a seller.  Analyze both purchases and sales.  Look for Positives, Negatives, repeat customers.  

View their  Purchases. If your seller just bought  "math for dummies"  their advanced algebra CD /Study guide may not be a wise purchase. 

Follow a feedback link and look to see who else their customers buy from. (did there bidder need to buy more material on the subject)?

Support is Essential 

Look for a seller that offers trouble shooting and exchanges.  A reputable seller will stand behind their product.

Excelsior College Study Guides