2010-04-30 I passed (4 of 5)
Regardless of the book's flaws, I passed the CLEP test. I studied for about 10 hours, focusing on the 3 practice exams. I first did the exams with explanations turned on, and then re-took them with explanations turned off. I noted which questions I got wrong for further study. As other reviewers noted, 3-4 of the questions have wrong answers: the explanations indicate a different answer than what is scored as "correct."

During the actual test I felt that I was guessing a lot and didn't think I'd pass. I think one skill that helped me was practice analyzing multiple choice questions and increasing my chance of a correct guess through the process of elimination (e.g., four of the answers somehow group together, and one of them sticks out as not belonging).

Considering that I only spent a week preparing for the test, I'm very satisfied with my passing score and not having to take a semester-long class.

2010-02-25 Excellent starting point for studying for the CLEP - History of the United States I exam (4 of 5)
I purchased this book a few weeks ago and used it to help guide my CLEP studies.

After taking the exam today, I can definitely say that you have to know a lot about a lot.

Regarding this book --

The good: The newest edition date is 2008. It does a pretty good job of covering the areas in which you'll be tested on and gives you a starting point to see where you need to focus.

The specific "could be better" comment: It does not cover the antebellum era to the depth you need to know on the exam.

The previous reviewers are correct. You NEED to know the antebellum era like the back of your hand in order to pass this exam. I started with this book, used Wikipedia, a college US history textbook, and [...] to help focus in on the details.

My college's US History textbook -- American Stories: A History of the United States, Volume I (ISBN10: 0205572693).

Yes, I passed with a 59. With working full-time and trying to study for the CLEP, a pass is a pass!

Best of luck to you if you are studying for the CLEP History of the United States I exam. Put in the study time and you can pass, too!

2009-11-30 Great book (4 of 5)
This book was extremely helpful. Especially the practice tests. The only study material I used for this test was this book, the collegeboard test, and wikipedia. I scored a 64. Worth the money.

2009-11-30 This book is not nearly sufficient on its own... (3 of 5)
I just took the clep exam and passed with a 68. HOWEVER!!! before you get excited and buy this book I felt grossly unprepared based on the material in this book. It was much harder then the practice test would lead you to think. If I had not researched on my own I don't believe I would have passed.


My study plan. ..(over a period of about 4 weeks)
I simply read the book completely then took the first test and got a 51. studied the "explanations" built into the test and then took test 2 and got a 60. Then I decided to make flash cards for all the questions within test one and two until I knew all of them cold. Then took test three and made a 80. I made more flash cards from test three. Then I checked out of the library a documentary on the civil war, and one on slavery. After that, I learned all the presidents, and what they did during their term in office (outside of this book of course).


What was on the test...
When I walked in I felt ready, yet when I saw the first question I thought "I'm in trouble." There were at least 10 questions about the "antebellum" period which is not covered in the book. There were 5-8 questions about Indian chiefs and what tribe they lead, and where they were in the US, and "what was 'x' tribe leader famous for saying". NOT one word in this book or on the three test about Indian chiefs. Several questions on women's rights at different periods. There were also a lot of questions about books, authors and social life during the pre-civil war time and pre-revolution period then I would have ever expected.

while I was studying I kept notes on where I got the information in case I wanted to go back. All and all I would say that if you know the book and practices test answers cold (as I did) and studied nothing else you will probably just barely make a 50 if you guess really well, as I felt I did (you may even fail).

It was the outside sources I believe give me the best prep. I specially could answer more questions from outside sources then from my prep within this book which is disappointing.

I give it three stars because I learned some interesting things about US History and for only about 100 pages of reading it covers a good bit of material. However, as a prep for the CLEP History, I don't think this book cuts it. You will have to study other material if you want to pass. One person said they had questions from this CD that were the same as on the actual clep exam. I just took it and there was only one question (out of 120) that I felt was similar to any of the 360 questions I had memorized. I may have just taken a different test.

My final advice... "DON'T BET YOUR SCORE ON THIS BOOK ALONE! A text book is probably your best bet, or at a minimal study the test questions, be familiar with all the treaties, which states are slave and free, famous authors, and know every thing there is to know about the colonies before the revolution in 1775!

2009-11-03 I passed!! (4 of 5)
This book is very adequate preperation for the U.S. History 1 CLEP exam if you have already taken U.S. History in high school. I just read through all the material in this book, used my high school U.S. History textbook for maps, charts, and more detailed explanations of concepts I didn't quite understand, and took the cd-rom practice tests. Because of the REA test format on the cd-rom, I knew what to expect on test day. Reading the explainations for the questions helped me a lot because many of the questions on the actual test were very similar. I passed with a 65 (you have to make a 50 to pass), and I don't even feel like I studied very much.