By Paul H. Stein and Ettore Berardinelli Sr.

THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION
PART II

In this final section of preparing for the written portion of promotional exams, we will talk about the myth of the “good test taker”, and discuss effective reading, study partners and test day pointers.

We have all heard people claim that they simply are a “good test taker”? Are there guarded secrets for success on exams, or is there some genetic ability that ensures success on exams? Not really. The “secret” is simply that success comes from being prepared. And the biggest part of being prepared is being an above average reader. Since we have already discussed preparation several times in previous articles, let’s zero in on how to improve our reading skills.

First and foremost, the more you read, the better reader you become. The next key to effective reading is concentration. The more you’re able to concentrate, the more you will retain. Concentration on the material you are reading depends on your balance of interest at that moment. It is difficult to concentrate on study material when there are distractions in your life, or higher priority items are on your mind. Your first step in preparing should be to remove the distractions and take care of the higher priority items, that way you can concentrate on your study program and the material your are trying to absorb.

READING RETENTION
Reading retention is enhanced when a good reading environment is maintained. A good reading environment is a quiet area, free of distractions and interruptions. When reading, sit in a firm upright chair. We all know what happens when you try to read in a too comfortable a chair!
Another key to efficient reading is to increase your reading speed. Many people believe that increasing speed reduces concentration and retention. Not true. The faster the material is read, the more concentration is required. When the material is read with the conscious intention of pushing speed to the top comfortable level, it brings with it closer attention to the material and improved retention.

STUDY PARTNERS
There are many benefits to having a study partner or a study group. Working with other people that share the same interest, direction and goals increases the motivation to study, and creates a synergy for success. Even though you are actually competitors, study groups do work for some people. Setting up a study schedule with a group increases the motivation to study. Additionally, two or more people can cover more material and quiz each other as the study group progresses through different areas of the exam.

Before starting a study group, make sure that a reciprocal benefit is received. Partners should have fairly similar backgrounds, experience and education and completely understand that the “competition” only starts when the actual testing process begins.

TEST DAY
On “test day”, here are some measures that can be utilized to help you remain cool, calm and collected. First, use some common sense. The night before the exam, any studying you do should be limited to reviewing items that you have already become familiar with. Don’t try to cram at this point, as you have systematically approached your learning process over the past months. Relax at home and get plenty of rest. It is highly recommended to take the day before the exam off. If you do work your shift the night before the exam, even at the slowest station in the City, Murphy’s Law tells you that you will have several medical runs after midnight, a working structure fire and a late relief. Murphy’s Law always wins! Be well rested and confident on test day.

Arrive at the test site early. Give yourself plenty of time to get there, find the location of the test site and relax for several minutes. Bring some light reading like the newspaper to get your mind warmed up. Eat light, be a little hungry. They say that our minds work better when you are a little hungry. Once again, use common sense. Don’t think that if your mind works better if you are a little hungry, if you don’t eat for several days before the exam your mind will really be working. Yes it will, but all it will be thinking about is food. Drink a cup of coffee or tea just prior to the exam. The caffeine will help energize your system. Try to avoid sugary foods, as the sugar rush received only lasts a very short period of time, and after the sugar rush comes the sugar dive, and often the dive occurs before you have finished the exam.
During the exam, listen to the proctor. Their only job is to help you get through the exam process. Listen to all the instructions, don’t try to jump the gun and get a head start on your competitors. If you are confused with the instructions, ask for clarification.
Plan your time. When you receive your answer sheet, make two very light check marks every 25 questions. These check marks will remind you of two things. First, if you have a 100-question test and 100 minutes to complete it, when you get to question number 25, you should be at least 25 minutes into the test. The second check is a reminder to make sure that if you are on question number 25, you should be on answer number 25. There is nothing more psychologically damaging than to be on question number 99 and answer number 100. A word of caution about these check marks. If you are using a Scantron automated answer sheet, be careful where you place these “reminders” and erase them before turning in your answer sheet.

Don’t linger over difficult questions. It is OK to skip a question. Just remember to skip a number on the answer sheet also. When you have skipped a question and you return to it later, your first intuition is usually the best. Don’t change an answer unless you positively know the answer is different than your first thought. Don’t rush through the test. Take your time. There are no rewards for finishing first.

SUMMARY
This is the part where we will tell you what we told you! The best way to improve written test scores is to be prepared for the test and understand the testing process. Being prepared is not a one-shot study period or a weeklong cram session. Systematic, intensified study sessions over a long period of time, with regular review sessions, is the best study system.
There are four components to a successful study program. They are:

Purpose, selection of material, effective reading, and review

Understanding these components and taking advantage of the information gained through effective reading, review and note taking will help you retain the material and do well on the examination.

A person who has continually done well on exams is usually one who has been prepared, is a good reader and has paid attention to the workings of the organization through their career. Becoming a good reader is like any other skill. It can be practiced, analyzed and improved. Take the time to do that.

Maintaining reading concentration through reading at a fast, comfortable pace helps improve knowledge retention.
Best results are usually received when the candidate is mentally and physically prepared for the test. The testing process is nothing to be apprehensive about. It is designed to provide the department with the best-qualified candidate for the job. If you have prepared yourself well, you will be that candidate.

Good Luck!

This entry was posted on Friday, May 15th, 2009 at 6:23 am and is filed under FD Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.