I have to say that this book was very big, fairly expensive and NOT HELPFUL. I got a 60 on the Humanities exam, but not ONE question on the actual CLEP exam was in this book. I would suggest saving your money & going to the library to look at art books, listen to classical music, read literature and rely more on your stock knowledge of the fine arts. Had I not had a good background, I would have surely not passed. Not worth the study time.

This book proved to be a comprehensive study guide for the Humanities CLEP. However, it is not enough to pass on its own. I would highly recommend purchasing additional general CLEP studies guides in order to take more sample tests. The sample tests in this CLEP guide are much more basic than the test. Also, you must supplement this guide with a good visual book of art & architecture from B.C. to present day. There are quite a lot of visuals of paintings, sculptures and architectural items to identify.

THIS REVIEW IS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TAKE THE CLEP GENERAL EXAMS, BUT HAVE LITTLE OR NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE IN THE TEST SUBJECTS

I just took the new computerized Natural Sciences General exam.I took it on May 16th, 2002.

I reviewed information in this book, and Cracking the Clep, and Comex Books. THANK GOODNESS I HAD THIS BOOK. Every review I read said that that Cracking the Clep was best. After I studied that book, I thought I would Ace the test. The questions in Cracking the Clep was a lot easier than the ones on the new test.

When I was studying this book, I couldn't answer more than 60%-70% correctly. The material in this book was diverse and alot harder than the other books.

This turned out to be the KEY! Not one question in any of the books showed up on the test. NONE! However, since this book asked the broadest array of question, and had the broadest array of material, I was exposed to a vast expanse of what COULD be on the test. I learned the CONCEPTS. And That is the KEY to Passing.

I scored in the 94th Percentile. and finished the test 34 minutes early.

I do recommend Cracking the Clep as your first review. However, if you can get about 60%-70% of the answers right in this book, you should be well versed to pass the newer computer version of the Natural Sciences test. Get this book. Take the Practice Tests, and review your wrong answers.

7/18/02 Update ***
I used this book to study for the Social Science and History general exam also. I passed last week with 98% (percentile) in 42 minutes! -Before I studied, I knew virtually nothing of this subject nor Natural Sciences. This book, The companion book "Best review..., and Cracking the Clep (plus the Comex books) are all slightly different. However, If you know NOTHING about your subjects, these four books are essential. They are all you need.

I also just passed the English Comp with Essay using these books.

Remember, no matter what anyone says, NONE of these books will give you the answers directly on the test. What they do is expose you to general concepts, so many in fact, that when you see one on the test, you will have a good chance to choose the correct answer.

The CLEP is designed to be a general test. To pass, you have to know a little bit about a lot. This book, along with the others do just that. If you can pass the sample tests in this book with even 60% correct, using the scoring system in the book, you
can be assured that you will pass the clep. Don't waste your time at the library pouring over questionable material.
Use the above books. Read each. take the practice tests. Review your wrong answers only.

If you can get even 60% correct on all of the practice tests in this book, you will pass the Clep handily.

One final word: None of these books alone expose you to enough information if you previously did not know the subject. Use the books like this:

1. Best Review ... - Best general reading material
2. Cracking the Clep - Closest structure to the actual test, but
questions are very easy. Good confidense builder.
3. Best Test Prep (this book) - Hard diverse questions
4. Comex Books - Good Hybrid of all books, but not complete on
it's own.

If you use all four of these books, you will go into the tests with confidence and will score a lot higher than you would imagine.

I worked through the 6 biological sections and found multiple mistakes. Eventhough my copy is from 96, they still haven't changed the test format in the 2000 revision. In fact all of the incorrect answers are still in the new book.

A few caveats; 1. the review sections aren't the worst. I read through them for a general level of understanding. For any in depth information refer to a textbook. 2. The physical science section is difficult. However, if you can work through the tests it will help..

Although this book does have six full exams as promised, they are not in proper mcat format and do not match the difficulty level of the real exam. It is an O.K. book if you want to reinforce the basics, but your performance on these exams would be a poor indicator on how you would do on the actual test.

this is a really terrible book! The verbal section has only 7 passages. It really messes your timing up when you are really taking the test. Plus, the questions are a joke. The physical sciences and bio. sections are filled with errors, which required way too many calculations in a timed test. The mcat is about timing, strategy, and intelligence. This text fails at two out of these three criteria. The latter is due inheritance. And the editor claims that this text is up-to-date(Actual Publishing date is 1991).