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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 19, 1978)
Test programs facilitate quick course credit A partial solution to the high cost of college is to challenge courses offered by the University. Of course, it is necessary to get a passing score before receiving credit for a course, but Evelyn Rowe, head of the testing pro gram from the College Level Placement Examination Program (CLEP) and University Credit by Exam, agrees it’s a “pretty good bargain for students.” Some students have chal lenged as many as 45 credit hours by examination, Rowe said, which amounts to an entire year of col lege Students who have taken tests in the program advocate them as a good way to take care of general requirements in a short time. Even though testing attempts don t always produce successful results, Rowe says about three out of four people pass. The courses most often challenged are general examinations which measure factual information and understanding of material in broad areas of social sciences, natural sciences and humanities. Of the two types of college test ing available, CLEP is a national testing program that is given the third week of every month at the University Counseling Center, Room 150 Susan Campbell Hall. Registration must be completed one month before the testing date. Fees are $20 for one test, $30 for two tests and $40 for three to five tests. CLEP subject examinations are supposedly comparable to the final exams in undergraduate courses and are designed to cover the content of a typical course in that subject. The exams are available to anyone, even persons who are not enrolled, but the University grants passing credit only after the candidate is registered at the Uni versity. University Credit by Exam gives students a choice of receiving a grade or pass on their records after successfully challenging a course. If a student fails any exam, it doesn’t show on any transcript or records. These exams can be taken on the third floor of Susan Campbell for $15 per course. Students are restricted from tak ing an exam if it is more elemen tary than courses for which credit has already been awarded if they have attempted the test before, if they aren’t registered as students or if they are currency enrolled in a higher level course. Donald Leon Taylor, an ac counting major, passed 36 hours of CLEP and gained 15 hours of English by advanced placement while at South Eugene High School. Taylor says he wouldn’t con sider himself a particularly good student, but adds he didn’t have trouble with the tests. He cites good test taking ability as the big gest help in these exams. ‘ Anybody who takes multiple choice tests well should have no problem,” Taylor says. ‘ Some can do it; some can’t.” Students may petition to chal lenge courses that aren't stan dardized by the testing center. Petitions are available at the peti tions window of the registrar’s of fice in Oregon Hall. The petition should then be taken to a faculty member who specializes in the topic. Arrange ments to take the exam are made by the particular department and test results are sent to the regis trar. Most student course challen gers agree that CLEP tests are difficult to study for. University student Dan McGinnis says he re lied on his high school training and prior reading to pass his 27 hours by CLEP. But "you have to think” in taking the exams, he says. Another student commented that the testing concepts were very general and no preparation was needed before challenging exams. However, some students valued the sample questions and study guidelines for standardized exams available at the testing center. A descriptive CLEP brochure says candidates often perform successfully on the general ex aminations with no formal course work in the subject if they use background sources in basic read ing, films and educational televi sion. Taylor suggests having a basic knowledge of current events and a ‘‘sense of what’s going on.” He says some study was helpful to him especially in the American history test. Taylor studied a college-level text one month be fore taking the test and strongly encourages others to do the same before challenging history courses. Taylor says the exams are simi lar in design to the American Col lege Testing and Scholastic Ap titude Tests taken before admis sion to the University. Weekend garage sale set A large, group garage sale for the University community will be held Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23 and 24, in the Edison Community School cafeteria, 22nd Avenue and Onyx Street. The sale is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Central Lane County as a source of support for its citizen information and study programs, as well as its non-partisan lobbying activities. “We planned the date and University-area site of the sale to attract returning students,” says Ann Morsello, sale chairer. Large items for consignment and donations for the sale will be accepted from anyone. Sale hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. For more information, call the League of Women Voters, 343-7917. Oregon Daily Emerald/Fall Orientation Issue Don’t Join the Crowd UO BOOKSTORE Shop on Saturday 8:15-5:30 13th & Kincaid 686-4331 ^ ^ n f Discount on Service & Repairs | ■ 1 With Your U of O I.D. Card. JL\W / W Applies To Students, Faculty & Staff. We’re known best for selling Volkswagen, Alfa Romeo, fine used cars, and excellent garage service at the lowest rates of any authorized Volkswagen dealer in Western Oregon. Bring your car to Siegrist and get prompt service, excellent workmanship, the right parts, and pay less. WE SERVICE: •VOLKSWAGEN •AUDI •ALFA ROMEO •FERRARI /IEGRI/T LEASING & DAILY RENTALS SERVICE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8-5:30 SALES HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30-9, Sat. 9-6, Sun. 12-6 1570 SOUTH A’SPRINGFIELD_ 746-8241 \ j. 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