Are the CLEP and Excelsior Test the Same?

[amo911]

Are the tests the same? I here some saying the test was easy for one and hard for the other. All i know is that I took the Excelsior Psych Life Span test and I know my stuff and did some good studing but the test kicked my behind. I scored a B but it was only through God. The test in my opinion did not truely test the knowledge but the ability to take a test.

But back to my question are they different tests? If so how do you know what material to study

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I have never taken either type of test, so my information is obviously secondhand. However, I've been told that the CLEP and DSST exams seem to be a much lower level of difficulty than the Excelsior Credit Exams (ECEs).

Furthermore, the ECEs result in a letter grade whereas the CLEP and DSST exams are graded on a pass/fail basis.

So, to answer your original question, the ECE is definitely not the same exam as the CLEP or the DSST. They're administered by different entities, have different levels of difficulty and are graded differently.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I've never taken a DSST exam, but I have taken a few CLEP exams and went through the EC exam-based ASN program. With the EC exams, you can expect the facts to be presented in the form of patient care scenarios. Since the nursing programs are online, these exams test your ability to apply what you've learned in your exam preparation by providing 'situations' and giving you the chance to identify the best response. There are some basic terms and definitions, too. In my opinion, though, Excelsior College is #1 in paraphrasing. So, your EC examination content guide will identify what you need to study, and you need to study it so well that you can recognize the questions and its solutions no matter how it's worded.

Congratz on the B! Now you understand why we say EC is not an easy way to earn a degree. They gave us NOTHING except the opportunity to EARN a degree. You're not alone. I had quite a few bruises on my *** from those exams kicking it, too!

[ThatKat]

Which other tests are you thinking of taking? They are not the same, but similar. DSST and Excelsior offer some options for upper-level credits, while CLEP does not. Also the pricing differs as well.

I also completed the EC ASN program, and have to agree with BSNbeDONE. They only give you the opportunity, and then you've got to hustle, because essentially you're on your own.