Disappointment in failing a credit-by-exam test is a normal reaction to have, whether you took the Spanish CLEP test, the American Government CLEP test, or any other CLEP courses. You’ve likely invested time, energy, and resources (likely hard-earned money) into passing your CLEP exam. You’ve been waiting in anticipation to know how you’ve done on the test; the results came back, and your heart sank. We hear you, we see you, and we’re here to remind you that when things don’t go as you’d hoped or anticipated, there’s so much we can learn and grow from. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and assess what to do next.
Understanding the Bigger Picture
- One Exam, Lifetime Ahead of You: Remember that this exam is one of the many moments that make up your life; it does not define you.
- Credit-by-Exam Isn’t the Only Option: There are alternative ways to earn credit, such as traditional coursework, online classes, or alternative ways to prepare for your next CLEP exam, like Peterson’s CLEP test prep. Here, you can find CLEP practice tests, lessons, and resources.
- Failing a Credit-by-Exam Test Doesn’t Define Your Abilities: Successful individuals overcome setbacks. Walt Disney’s first animation company went bankrupt, but years later, he pioneered significant developments in animation and storytelling.
Reasons Why People Fail Credit-by-Exam Tests
- Lack of Preparation: Perhaps circumstances limited your preparation for the CLEP exam to a few days.
- Underestimating the Difficulty of the Exam: Difficulty will range from individual to individual. The easiest CLEP exams depend on your skill set, knowledge, and study habits. The same goes for the hardest CLEP exams for you.
- Test Anxiety or External Distractions During the Test: Perhaps you arrived late, which increased pressure, or maybe test-taking has always been stressful.
- Misalignment of Study Methods with Exam Format: It is crucial to find CLEP exam prep with a CLEP practice test that aligns with the test.
The Benefits of Failure
Walt Disney said, “I think it’s important to have a good hard failure when you’re young. I learned a lot out of that,” according to Goodreads. Even if you are older and taking a clep exam, there are still things to gain from this experience.
Here are some things you can take away from this experience:
- Identifying Knowledge Gaps: Failure highlights areas that need improvement. Focus on ways to bridge the knowledge gap for your next CLEP exam.
- Building Resilience: Overcoming failure builds perseverance. You have the opportunity to try again.
- Reassessing Your Strategy: Reflect on your goals and CLEP study strategies to find the best method for you.
- Gain Experience: The first attempt familiarizes you with the exam process, and now you better understand what to expect.
- Prep for What’s Next: Commit to CLEP test prep for your next test day.
Steps to Bounce Back from Failure
- Take a Breather: Allow yourself time to process emotions.
- Analyze What Went Wrong: Review your test performance and pinpoint challenges.
- Seek Feedback: Reach out to mentors, peers, tutors, or online communities for insights.
- Revise Your Study Plan: Adapt your methods to focus on weak areas.
- Use Quality Resources: Leverage CLEP practice exams, study guides, and tutoring.
- Consider Retaking the Exam: Understand the retake policies and set a timeline. You can retake an exam of the same title three months after the initial testing date. College Board will cancel your score and forfeit your test fees if you retake the exam within three months. “DANTES-funded military examinees: DANTES does not fund retesting on previously funded CLEP exams. However, service members may personally fund a retest after waiting three months”, according to the College Board.
Tips to Pass Your Next Exam
- Set realistic study schedules. You may have less than 20 hours a week to commit to studying. If you have 5 hours, plan out when to commit your time within the week to those 5 hours of CLEP study until test day.
- Practice mindfulness or stress-reduction techniques to combat test anxiety.
- Take mock exams to simulate the real test environment, like the ones available through Peterson’s.
- Join study groups or seek peer support.
- On your CLEP exam day, wake up early and review some of the questions. Eat a good breakfast and drink plenty of water. Arrive early so you can start the exam in a relaxed state.
Sum-Up
You may be working and trying to get ahead in your credits for college while you’re in high school, or your school may not offer any classes that fit your work schedule next semester. Don’t waste time—during the semester and summer, you can use the hours you usually dedicate to school to study for the CLEP exams your school accepts for credit.
Failure is a stepping stone, not a dead end. We encourage you to view failing a credit-by-exam test as an opportunity for growth. Remember, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts,” a quote by Winston Churchill. Failing an exam doesn’t define who you are. Many CLEP exams are complex, but you can persevere through them. Be tenacious in pursuit of passing CLEP scores. You’ve got this! Let’s get to satisfying the requirements for your degree!
