Exam Attack Plan – Part III

Last time we talked about learning the basics of your exam.

That includes learning what it will cover.

But, in addition to determining what you need to study, you also need to become familiar with the style of the test questions during your basic prep-time. Since all these big tests are timed, the last thing you need is to waste that time reading the instructions. Make sure you understand what types of questions you will have (i.e. passage reading, fill-in-the-blanks, short essay, etc…) and what you will need to do.

In case you missed it last time, we have checklists that cover all the topics tested on a few of the popular exams on our site right here:

ExamToolkits.com checklists

If you’ve had a chance to review one of our checklists, you will see that it is organized like this …

The 1, 2, and 3 correspond to each phase of study you are on. What you’re going to do is place a checkmark under each one when you’ve completed it. For example, if you figure out exactly what type of algebra questions will be tested on the exam, you can place a checkmark under the 1. When you review the details of these algebra questions later, place a checkmark under the 2. When you take actual practice exam questions pertaining to algebra, place a checkmark under the 3.

It may work best to go through everything in order (or at least the different sections of your exam; like all the math topics instead of jumping around), so you will have all the 1’s marked off first, then all the 2’s.

Go ahead and get your list ready! If you’ve purchased a review book or course, make sure to list out exactly what will be covered on the exam.

Feel free to look through our exam charts and download the sheets that pertain to the exam you’re taking. If we don’t have it and you would like it, please contact us. We may be able to put together for you.

Here’s a re-cap of the 3-step strategy:

Phase 1: Learn the basics.
Read and take notes if possible. If not, read instructions for that section of the test and familiarize yourself on the topics covered. That’s all we mean by phase 1 activities.

Phase 2: Learn the details
If you have a workbook or study manual to study from consider reviewing those phase 2. Flashcards could also fit under the phase 2 activities. If you don’t want to buy flashcards, then create some. Any review of the actual material counts as phase 2.

If you can’t distinguish between the basics and the details for you subject matter, then just review the material (no use getting hung up before you even start). Some courses you may purchase will already have the materials broken up this way.

Phase 3: Answer practice questions.
Try to get your hands on actual test questions. If you cannot find actual test questions, most test prep books have similar questions already written up. If you are going to need to write an essay, then you need to start writing those essays for practice!

At this point, you should have a test date all planned out along with 3 other dates set-up for covering the basics, reviewing the tested topics in detail, and taking practice exam questions. You should have downloaded one of our checklists (if we have one for the test you are taking) or created one of your own.

It’s at this point that you need to get started! Make a commitment to stick to each and every one of your deadlines and start checking off points on your checklist.

» Find out how to set your goals and stick with them here ...