TEST Taking Strategies

1. TEST Taking Strategies EIT Dr. Bell, EIT review

2. General Reminders • 93% of UT students pass • increase prepare time, increase preparation for passing • Passing is the goal, not the score • You need about 50% correct • 2 minutes per question in the morning • 4 minutes per question in the afternoon Dr. Bell, EIT review

3. One month before • Get familiar with the reference book • Practice test - practice test - practice test • under test conditions • in whole or in pieces • Determine where you can improve the most with the least amount of effort • Decide which afternoon study you will take Dr. Bell, EIT review

4. The night before • Lessen Stress by • not reviewing new concepts (reviewing is OK) • low stress, fun activities • organize supplies for test • pencils, calculator, food, comfortable clothes, 2 alarm clocks and/or wake up call • Get your sleep the two nights before the test • Know how to arrive at the test site Dr. Bell, EIT review

5. Day of • Don’t talk about test • Ask proctor clarification questions if needed • Don’t spend too much time on any one question • Use various strategies • draw diagrams, pictures, etc. to solve problems • Be confident • Do your best Dr. Bell, EIT review

6. Other Strategies • Know the test routine • Know the reference book • Anticipate the answer before reading the choices • Be aware of qualifiers • but, except, always, never, not, only, must, etc. • Your 1st educated guest is usually the best Dr. Bell, EIT review

7. Other Strategies (cont.) • Answer all of the questions • Stay aware of time • Take time to relax and regroup • deep breaths, meditate, etc • Snack quietly • pre-open wrappers, sodas, etc. • Don’t leave early Dr. Bell, EIT review

8. Other Prep Strategies • Know weaknesses, study those areas, and then work more practice problems. • Timed practice exam. • gives you more practice • find out how well you perform under pressure. • review products (books, video, software) • http://www.ppi2pass.com/cgi-bin/ppi_catalog.cgi Dr. Bell, EIT review

9. What are the exam dates? • October 26, 2002 • April 12, 2003 • October 25, 2003 • April 17, 2004 • October 30, 2004 • April 16, 2005 • October 29, 2005 Dr. Bell, EIT review

10. Morning session? • 120 multiple-choice, one point, 4hrs • Ethics (4%) • Fluid Mechanics (7%) • Materials Science (7%) • Mathematics (20%) • Mechanics of Materials (7%) • Statics (10%) • Thermodynamics (9%) • Fluid Mechanics (7%) • Materials Science (7%) • Mathematics (20%) • Mechanics of Materials (7%) • Statics (10%) • Thermodynamics (9%) Dr. Bell, EIT review

11. Afternoon session choices? • 60 multiple-choice, 2 pts., 4 answer choices. • Chemical • Civil • Electrical • Environmental • Mechanical • Industrial • General Dr. Bell, EIT review

12. Statics Topics • Two-dimensional equilibrium • Three-dimensional equilibrium • Centroid of area • Concurrent force systems • Friction • Moment of inertia • Vector forces Dr. Bell, EIT review

13. What units? • SI (metric) units exclusively. • Currently, at least 80% of the quantitative problems must be solved using SI units. The remainder may be solved using either SI or US customary units. • US customary units show up frequently in the Civil Descipline-Specific afternoon exam. Dr. Bell, EIT review

14. General or discipline-specific? • At the beginning of the afternoon session, you may look at all seven exams in your test booklet to determine which one you want to take. However, the time alloted for this is part of the four hours you have to solve the problems, so don't deliberate too long! Dr. Bell, EIT review

15. General or discipline-specific (cont.) • The advantage of taking the General exam is that you have to study all the same subject areas anyway to prepare for the morning session. • Many engineers, however, will be most comfortable with an afternoon exam that focuses on their own field. • Best to choose before the day of the test Dr. Bell, EIT review

16. Calculators • Battery- or solar-powered • Silent, • Nonprinting, • No word-processing capabilities. • Bring two calculators of the same model with you to the exam, in case one fails. • Use one you know well Dr. Bell, EIT review

17. Pencils • Mechanical pencil that will be provided to you by NCEES at the test site. • No other pencils are allowed. • The supplied pencils use .7mm lead. • You may bring extra lead and your own eraser. Dr. Bell, EIT review

18. Guess or leave blank? • Always guess! • No points are subtracted for incorrect answers, so be sure to leave time at the end of the exam to go back and fill in bubbles for any questions you skipped Dr. Bell, EIT review

19. Other Advice • Make a study schedule and stick to it. • The test is NOT in the same order as the NCEES FE Handbook • Set up your study time based on the exam percentages for each subject. • Use FE Review manual • study guide, problems, diagnostic exam, etc. Dr. Bell, EIT review

20. Other Advice • Not all formulas will be in Reference Manual • Read the question twice, solve the problem once. • Determine what info in needed to solve problem • some problems can be solved analyzing or the answers or reverse engineering the problem Dr. Bell, EIT review

21. Other Advice • Start with problems you know best • Don't take a practice exam or study intensively for a day or two before the exam--give yourself a rest. You'll feel fresher • Read the checklist in FERM of all the things you should bring to the exam Dr. Bell, EIT review

22. Other Advice • Bring lunch from home, with a beverage rather than relying on food at the test site. • Consider ear plugs • A seat cushion may be helpful • Stay positive at the break • Stay in a motel the night before if you have a long way to travel. Be well-rested. Dr. Bell, EIT review

23. Other Advice • Don't forget to go to the bathroom right before the exam. Dr. Bell, EIT review