Exam tips please

[Shockedby277v]

Tuesday is my turn to take my exam. This weekend I'm trying to go over everything again. If anyone has any tips for taking it, especially the Michigan exam, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[George Stolz]

What study material do you have?

 

[Shockedby277v]

Hmmm. Lots. Electrical theory video/workbook from Mike Holts. Conductor sizing and protection, VD Calc, Motor Calc, Dwelling unit calc and raceway and box calc videos from mike holts and NEC exam prep book from Mike Holt's.
Electrical Wiring Residential book from Thomson Delmar Learning. Ugly's book. Various other books from classes prior. My notes and dittos from those classes.

I've taken the practice exam on this site twice on the 2002 and once on the 2005. The second time I took it on the 2002 I did much better. My exam will be based on the 2002.

 

[celtic]

For major tests in general...

Relax.
Always relaxed.
Your start worrying about time, second guessing yourself, etc...you stop thinking clearly.
Find your Zen and relax.

Don't study the night before...sleep an extra hour or two.
A sponge can only hold so much info.
Relax the night before...make sure the car is fueled up, know the route to the test site, leave early the next morning.

On test day, AFTER arriving, read the newspaper - don't even open a textbook/reference book. When the proctor announces START..all the relaxing you have done will take a back seat. Don't waste your energy beforehand...when you read that 1st question, your mind will be clear, and you will literally race through the test WITH time to go back and answer the "tough" questions you skipped.

I would also suggest you aviod this forum (or similar forums) the day/night before the test. Do you really need to debate the ground/up down thing, or have you head full of chatter about masonary boxes, or any of the many other minor points we rant on and on about for 100's of post?

Good luck!
(Not that you will need it )

 

[George Stolz]

...know the route to the test site...

Let me emphasize this. When I went to take the test for my Residential Wireman, I thought the place was downtown. I cruised around on the motorcycle for over 20 minutes, looking for the place. When I finally stopped and looked at the address again, I realized it was on the outskirts of town, and showed up only ten minutes early, nervous as all get out.

Know where it is!

Know where you're weakest, material wise, and devote 75% of your time getting comfortable with it. Return to the less questionable to keep it fresh.

 

[petersonra]

best bet I have found for tests is to look through all the test material and answer the easiest questions first. your brain is thinking about the harder question in the background while you are going over the test answering the easy ones.

start over at the beginning again and go through and answer any new questions that the answer pops into your mind for.

spend as little time as possible on questions requiring long calculations. they eat up a lot of time relative to their value as a whole.

near the end of the alloted time, if it is a multiple guess test and there is no penalty for wrong answers, go back and make best guesses of the unanswered questions. Often 1 or 2 of the answers is obviously wrong and can be eliminated as a possible answer. If there is no penalty for guessing, pick something, you have nothing to lose.

If you get done early go back over the test but resist changing answers unless you are absolutely sure it is wrong. Do check to make sure you put the answers in the correct spot. It would be embarrassing to get 50 questions wrong because you filled in the circles on the wrong lines.

Make sure you are properly identified on the answer sheet when you hand it in.

 

[hardworkingstiff]

If you get hung up on a question, write the question number down and a brief (2-4 words) description of the question. Move on to the next question. While you are looking up answers to questions on the rest of the test you most probably will come across some of the answers to questions you skipped over. It is very helpful if you know where the test question is to the answer you just stumbled across.

 

[77401]

First off the pressure is off. Your life will not change if you don't pass it the first time. Especially your pay..LOL
Very Important...Take lots of scrap paper with you, and write down the questions and answers given, that you have a hard time with.
The best way to study for any exam is to take it and fail.

 

[celtic]

The best way to study for any exam is to take it and fail.

That is not studying.
That is failing to plan...which equates to planning to fail.

 

[hockeyoligist2]

"Take lots of scrap paper with you, and write down the questions and answers given, that you have a hard time with"


Maybe differant there. but scrap paper isn't allowed here.

 

[Shockedby277v]

Thnx for the tips guys. hardworkingstiff, I really like that idea. The practice exams I have taken, I have ran across other questions while looking for another but had a hard time finding them again.

77401, that's the exact same thing everyone at work told me that had failed their exam the first time. I understand the concept of failing, then having the experience of knowing what is all actually on the exam. Hindsight is 20/20. That road I do not want to take but from a optimistic view, that would be the only positive from failing.

 

[roger]

"Take lots of scrap paper with you, and write down the questions and answers given, that you have a hard time with"


Maybe differant there. but scrap paper isn't allowed here.

Not allowed here either.

In NC the scrap paper, pencil, calculator, and code book are furnished by the exam giver and all are left there when you leave the room.

Go into the exam as prepared as you can be and with the attitude you will pass. If for some reason you do not pass, get back on the horse and try again after more studying.

Roger

 

[celtic]

....that's the exact same thing everyone at work told me that had failed their exam the first time. I understand the concept of failing, then having the experience of knowing what is all actually on the exam. Hindsight is 20/20. That road I do not want to take but from a optimistic view, that would be the only positive from failing.

ummm..don't you think they use more than 1 test?
Like a test A,B, and C all administered during one session greatly reduces cheating and also the "I'll fail and I'll know the questions" mentaility".

NJ's DMV uses such a system. Now if an arcahic set-up like NJ's DMV has figured it out...anyone can.

The only positive from failing is:
If you want to get the credentials, you will positively be taking the test again.

 

[Shockedby277v]

ummm..don't you think they use more than 1 test?
Like a test A,B, and C all administered during one session greatly reduces cheating and also the "I'll fail and I'll know the questions" mentaility".

I would agree, they probably do use more than one test. Here is another thought from a different standpoint though.

A few months ago when I decided to spend a lil money on further education to pass this test, I had a few options. There is a all weekend class in Detroit, this guy guarantees you to pass. Everyone in the past few years, that works in the company I work for, has went to this class and swears by it, for the exam. Every single one says he gives you word for word answers. 77401 posted on a similar topic, that was about range calculations. He stated the same. So in my opinion, yes there probably is multiple tests but they're very similar. Of coarse, that's just my assumption.

Instead of taking that coarse though, and after looking through countless sites and books, I chose Mike Holt's materials. I'm glad I did. I feel it has given me the how to vs. the here's the answer. To be honest I would rather be able to do my job right than to hold a card. My employer provides their own class. Next year their looking into buying workbooks. That way, they will have a set curriculum. I have been pushing Mike's products.

For the exam, we have to bring a unmarked code book *listed tabs are ok*, they do not provide them anymore, 2 #2 pencils, Picture ID and calculator. They will provide the scratch paper.

 

[celtic]

We have a guy(I'm sure more than 1) like that here.
The "deal" is...you pay the money and attend the classes, take then test THEN he wants you tell him a couple of questions/answers from the test. This "ensures" HE gets the current test material, but YOU get ...well, just about zip except for the answers. You're not any brighter, you just have the current answers.

 

[hillbilly]

My advice...Know where you are going beforehand, leave early so you don't have to rush, dress comfortably, leave everything at home or in the car that's not required to take the test (I couldn't even wear my hat...talk about stress) and relax. I almost missed my exam because I was "sure" that I knew where to go (thank goodness I left early). When the the test begins, remember, this is what you do, you know the answers, you've studied and prepared, so don't worry as much about passing, but about being the best in the crowd.
steve

 

[tomP]

All good suggestions.. RELAX, its not the end of the world one way or the other!!
Just took the Michigan exam earlier this year and passed at age 62 so it can't be all that difficult..
I hope you remembered to read over the Mi articals # 217 and # 230 as there will be several questions on this also.
Take only what they tell you and don't get intimidated by the test or the people administering it.
Again RELAX and good luck.

 

[dlhoule]

Hmmm. Lots. Electrical theory video/workbook from Mike Holts. Conductor sizing and protection, VD Calc, Motor Calc, Dwelling unit calc and raceway and box calc videos from mike holts and NEC exam prep book from Mike Holt's.
Electrical Wiring Residential book from Thomson Delmar Learning. Ugly's book. Various other books from classes prior. My notes and dittos from those classes.

I've taken the practice exam on this site twice on the 2002 and once on the 2005. The second time I took it on the 2002 I did much better. My exam will be based on the 2002.

With your preparation: I predict a score of 91%.

BTW Since MI is in process of updating the electrical code rules they are having a public forum on Tues. June 20, 2006 at 1:30 PM at 2501 Woodlake Circle, Okemos, MI 48864 in conference room 3 on the 1st floor. I am planning on attending just to here what people have to say. Well, maybe I'll express an opinion or 2 of my own.

 

[Shockedby277v]

hehehe that's a good one Dlhoule! I'll be there too! but I'm not saying a word or looking anywhere distant .... think I oughta bring those ol'boys some coffee and donuts ... heard they can tear your test up if you hiccup and they didnt like the sound.

And grats tomP that is a awsome accomplishment

 

[Shockedby277v]

correction my address I'm going to is a lil different .... thought you were being humorous