Editorial Reviews From the Back Cover CLEP INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGYEverything you need to pass the CLEP Introductory Sociology exam and get the college credits you deserve.CLEP is the most popular credit-by-examination program in the country, accepted by more than 2,900 colleges and universities. For over 15 years, REA has helped students pass the CLEP and earn college credit while reducing their tuition costs.DIAGNOSTIC EXAM TO FOCUS YOUR STUDYOur online diagnostic exam pinpoints where you’re strongest and where you need to focus your study. Armed with this information, you can personalize your prep and review where you need it the most. MOST COMPLETE SUBJECT REVIEWOur targeted review covers all the material you’ll be expected to know for the CLEP Introductory Sociology exam and includes a glossary of must-know sociology terms.TWO FULL-LENGTH PRACTICE EXAMSThe online REA Study Center gives you two full-length practice tests and the most powerful scoring analysis and diagnostic tools available today. Instant score reports help you zero in on the topics that give you trouble now and show you how to arrive at the correct answer—so you’ll be prepared on test day.Access the REA Study Center at: www.REA.com/StudyCenter About the Author William Egelman, Ph.D.Chair of Sociology DepartmentIona College, New Rochelle, NYRobyn A. Goldstein Fuchs, Ph.D.Adjunct Assistant ProfessorNew York University, New York, NYSherry LarkinsSociology InstructorRutgers University, New Brunswick, NJPaul T. Murray, Ph.D.Sociology ProfessorSiena College, Loudonville, NYThomas J. Sullivan, Ph.D.Sociology ProfessorNorthern Michigan University, Marquette, MI Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. PASSING THE CLEP INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY EXAMCongratulations! You’re joining the millions of people who have discovered the value and educational advantage offered by the College Board’s College-Level Examination Program, or CLEP. This test prep covers everything you need to know about the CLEP Introductory Sociology exam, and will help you earn the college credit you deserve while reducing your tuition costs.GETTING STARTEDThere are many different ways to prepare for a CLEP exam. What’s best for you depends on how much time you have to study and how comfortable you are with the subject matter. To score your highest, you need a system that can be customized to fit you: your schedule, your learning style, and your current level of knowledge.This book, and the online tools that come with it, allow you to create a personalized study plan through three simple steps: assessment of your knowledge, targeted review of exam content, and reinforcement in the areas where you need the most help.Let’s get started and see how this system works.Test Yourself & Get FeedbackScore reports from your online diagnostic and practice tests give you a fast way to pinpoint whatyou already know and where you need to spend more time studying.Review with the BookStudy the topics tested on the CLEP exam. Targeted review chapters cover everything you need to know.Improve Your ScoreArmed with your score reports, you can personalize your study plan. Review the parts of the book where you’re weakest and study the answer explanations for the test questions you answered incorrectly.THE REA STUDY CENTERThe best way to personalize your study plan and focus on your weaknesses is to get feedback on what you know and what you don’t know. At the online REA Study Center, you can access two types of assessment: a diagnostic exam and full-length practice exams. Each of these tools provides true-to-format questions and delivers a detailed score report that follows the topics set by the College Board.Diagnostic ExamBefore you begin your review with the book, take the online diagnostic exam. Use your score report to help evaluate your overall understanding of the subject, so you can focus your study on the topics where you need the most review.Full-Length Practice ExamsThese practice tests give you the most complete picture of your strengths and weaknesses. After you’ve finished reviewing with the book, test what you’ve learned by taking the first of the two online practice exams. Review your score report, then go back and study any topics you missed. Take the second practice test to ensure you have mastered the material and are ready for test day.If you’re studying and don’t have Internet access, you can take the printed tests in the book. These are the same practice tests offered at the REA Study Center, but without the added benefits of timed testing conditions and diagnostic score reports. Because the actual exam is computer-based, we recommend you take at least one practice test online to simulate test-day conditions.AN OVERVIEW OF THE EXAMThe CLEP Introductory Sociology exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, each with five possible answer choices, to be answered in 90 minutes. The exam covers the material one would find in a college-level Introductory Sociology survey course. The exam stresses basic facts and principles, as well as general theoretical approaches used by sociologists.The approximate breakdown of topics is as follows:30% Social stratification (process/structure)20% Institutions15% Social patterns20% Social processes15% The sociological perspectiveALL ABOUT THE CLEP PROGRAMWhat is the CLEP?CLEP is the most widely accepted credit-by-examination program in North America. CLEP exams are available in 33 subjects and test the material commonly required in an introductory-level college course. Examinees can earn from three to twelve credits at more than 2,900 colleges and universities in theU.S. and Canada. For a complete list of the CLEP subject examinations offered, visit the College Board website: www.collegeboard.org.Who takes CLEP exams?CLEP exams are typically taken by people who have acquired knowledge outside the classroom and who wish to bypass certain college courses and earn college credit. The CLEP program is designed to reward examinees for learning—no matter where or how that knowledge was acquired. Although most CLEP examinees are adults returning to college, many graduating high school seniors, enrolled college students, military personnel, veterans, and international students take CLEP exams to earn college credit or to demonstrate their ability to perform at the college level. There are no prerequisites,such as age or educational status, for taking CLEP examinations. However, because policies on granting credits vary among colleges, you should contact the particular institution from which you wish to receive CLEP credit.Who administers the exam?CLEP exams are developed by the College Board, administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), and involve the assistance of educators from throughout the United States. The test development process is designed and implemented to ensure that the content and difficulty level of the test are appropriate.When and where is the exam given?CLEP exams are administered year-round at more than 1,200 test centers in the United States and can be arranged for candidates abroad on request. To find the test center nearest you and to register for the exam, contact the CLEP Program:CLEP ServicesP.O. Box 6600Princeton, NJ 08541-6600Phone: (800) 257-9558 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)Fax: (609) 771-7088Website: www.collegeboard.orgOPTIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANSCLEP exams are available free of charge to eligible military personnel and eligible civilian employees. All the CLEP exams are available at test centers on college campuses and military bases. Contact your Educational Services Officer or Navy College Education Specialist for more information. Visit the DANTES or College Board websites for details about CLEP opportunities for military personnel.Eligible U.S. veterans can claim reimbursement for CLEP exams and administration fees pursuant to provisions of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. For details on eligibility and submitting a claim for reimbursement, visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov.CLEP can be used in conjunction with the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which applies to veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation.Because the GI Bill provides tuition for up to 36 months, earning college credits with CLEP exams expedites academic progress and degree completion within the funded timeframe.SSD ACCOMMODATIONS FOR CANDIDATES WITH DISABILITIESMany test candidates qualify for extra time to take the CLEP exams, but you must make these arrangements in advance. For information, contact:College Board Services for Students with DisabilitiesP.O. Box 6226Princeton, NJ 08541-6226Phone: (609) 771-7137 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET)TTY: (609) 882-4118Fax: (609) 771-7944E-mail: [email protected] Read more