I’m a history buff, so I figured the Civil War and Reconstruction DSST would be an easy win for me. I’ve watched my fair share of History Channel specials, and I thought I had a solid grip on all the major battles and key players. Unfortunately, that’s only a small piece of what this exam throws at you. You’re going to need to dig deeper than just troop movements and famous generals. 😉 Yes, the exam does cover the battles and well-known figures like Lincoln, Grant, and Lee. But what tends to trip people up are the questions on political parties of the era. What did those parties stand for? What was the abolitionist movement all about, and who were its most notable figures? You’ll also need to understand the legislation leading up to the war— the back-room deals that made some states join the union as slave states and others free. It doesn’t stop there. You’ll also be asked how the world viewed the U.S. Civil War. Which countries got involved, and why? These kinds of questions can catch you off guard if you’re only focused on the battlefield side of things. I’d highly recommend taking the History of the United States I CLEP and the History of the United States II CLEP before tackling this one. The first covers material up through the end of the Civil War, and the second starts with Reconstruction. Not only will those exams help prepare you for this one, but you’ll also pick up six credits along the way.