Introductory Sociology CLEP - Free Study Guide!

Name of Exam: Introductory Sociology CLEP

Number of Questions: 100

Time Limit: 90 Minutes

ACE Recommended Passing Score: 50

Practice Test Available?: Yes - Click here

Cost: $72 (Starting July 1st 2009) + Sitting Fee (Usually no more than $20) at your testing site. Military can take CLEPs for free with Tuition Assistance. Check with your Educational Officer!

Difficulty 1-5 : 2
(One being the easiest, and five being the hardest)

Exam Description:

Sociology could be described as the study of society, and the behavior of individuals which make up that society. The Introductory Sociology CLEP tests your knowledge of how sociologists conduct their studies, and the basic concepts, methods, and terminology used in the Sociology field. They may ask you to read a few charts and graphs, but most are intuitive and should pose little challenge.

Personal Thoughts:

This is an introductory test, and as such doesn't go into any great detail. While studying is of course recommended, this should be looked upon as one of the easier CLEP's. There are plenty of free resources out there, which I've listed the best ones I've come across below. If you don't want to take any chances, a solid knowledge of the REA book and the InstantCert flashcards also found below will see you through this exam.

Exam breakdown:

According to the College Board website, the Introductory Sociology CLEP exam is broken down as follows:

• 30% Social Stratification (process and structure)
• 20% Institutions
• 20% Social Processes
• 15% Social Patterns
• 15% The Social Perspective

Areas of Study
A few of the topics that you will need to know are:

• History of Sociology
• Social Interaction
• Human Ecology
• Community
• Collective Behavior and Social Movements
• Social Interaction
• Sex and Gender Roles
• Power and Social Inequality
• Demography
• Political Institutions
• Family Institutions
• Sociological Theory
• Deviance and Social Control
• Methods
• Rural/Urban Patterns
• Religious Institutions
• Groups and Organizations
• Social Mobility
• Educational Institutions
• Race and Ethnic Relations
• Aging

Free study resources
Click on the titles to go to the study resource.

DelMar College Sociology Site - A professor's study notes gives a brief, but detailed description of sociology.

Introduction to Sociology - An outstanding site for the Introductory Sociology CLEP exam that's basically a digital textbook. Though it doesn't have the complete text, it has Chapter overviews, quizzes, crossword puzzles, and true or false exams.

Free Exchange - A set of flashcards made by a student studying Sociology. There's some good info in here, but I wouldn't study only these and expect to pass.

Wikipedia - Sociology - Wikipedia isn't a bad resource when it comes almost any CLEP ending in "ology". The Introduction to Sociology CLEP is no exception. As long as you're armed with a list of topics, you can find the background info to that sociology topic on Wikipedia. Used in conjunction with the InstantCert forum, you'll cover everything you need for this exam.

Recommended bargain-priced study resources

Always check your library first! You may be able to find some of these for free. You don't have to buy the officially recommended resources all the time. If you're the type of person that prefers to study from a textbook source however, then please see below.

CLEP Introductory Sociology w/CD (REA) - The Best Test Prep for the CLEP Exam (Test Preps) - This is another CLEP that REA actually covers the material required. That's not always the case, but for the Introductory Sociology CLEP it is.

Sociology: The Essentials [Third Edition] - 3rd edition is currently going for $6.78 on up though third parties As always, make sure the seller has good feedback if you go the used route. If the edition, or speed of shipping matters to you, and price is no object (you lucky person!) then you can get the newest edition here - Sociology: The Essentials

InstantCert Academy - Introductory Sociology Specific Exam Feedback - Seven pages of study notes, specific topics of study, and after action reports. Be sure to check out the Flashcards as well.

If you don't know what InstantCert is, then click here for the scoop as well as a discount code: **InstantCert Academy**

You'll find an InstantCert link for every exam here if that gives you an idea of the amount of information they have available. It's an outstanding resource.

Closing Thoughts

Don't get worked up over this exam. Besides one or two others, the Introductory Sociology CLEP is probably the easiest CLEP there is. This covers the very basics of Sociology and therefore isn't meant to strain your brain.

Do a solid review of the material, and pick up the REA and hit the InstantCert flashcards if you're still not confident about your chances. I have never heard of anyone failing this exam that used those two resources together. You can do it!

Best of luck!