Blog Journeys of a Lifelong Learner

I took (and passed) two CLEP tests today: Principles of Marketing and Principles of Management.

Subject preparation began just over a week ago, on the 5th of February.

I will not be posting full details of my test preparations, because those are to be revealed at a later time as part of another project.

My general approach was to work through subject-specific questions on InstantCert.com and read various books and web articles.

This morning, I was initially uncertain whether to take the exams, but the practice test results suggested more than adequate competence for the tests, so I went ahead and took them at the CLEP testing center of Tulsa Community College.

The tests were completed fairly quickly, my scores were among the higher ones I have received for CLEPs, and I was well-prepared for the exams.

Why, then, was I initially reluctant to take them at all? Fear of failure would have prevented me from doing so. I have never previously taken two CLEPs after only 6 days of study (though I plan to improve on that personal record next week). I prefer to maximize certainty that an excellent result is inevitable.

While devotion to excellence is important, it is important to recognize efforts to stall for time disguising themselves as sensibly responsible actions. For many situations, the marginal potential improvement of delaying action is dwarfed by the accelerated results permitted by determined execution. There is rarely a perfect time to act.

I was also uncertain whether to trust my mind to remember material learned quickly. The limitations of the human brain are impossible to reach, however. Experiments in heightened intellectual stimulation may yield delightfully surprising results.

Humans are created with brilliant minds. Let yours demonstrate its power by providing challenges to it! You have not even scratched the surface of its potential.