Test your knowledge with practice exams
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Practice exams are available in a variety of formats and from a growing number of vendors. A few simply provide a list of questions followed by a list of answers, while others closely mimic the actual testing environment. Most fall somewhere along this spectrum. Practice exams with a less sophisticated interface and fewer questions cost less. Some can even be had for free from Internet Web sites, though the quality level of these is often suspect.
Other than cost, there are three major considerations when shopping for practice exams: user interface, test database, and test engine. Look for an interface that incorporates several different question formats. At the very least, it should have multiple choice single answer and multiple choice multiple answer (i.e. pick all that apply) formats. Fill in the blank is less important. If you're prepping for one of the new, simulation-based exams, they are different enough that you'll want a practice exam that matches their presentation format. For any type of exam an on-screen timer is nice to have, but not critical - you can always use your wristwatch. Another useful feature is the ability to restrict a practice session to particular objectives or a limited number of questions., which facilitates shorter, more focused sessions.
The part of the exam that contains the questions is called the test database. The more questions in the database, the better. This will reduce the likelihood that you will simply memorize questions (accidentally or intentionally), which reduces the value of the exam as an assessment tool. More questions also means greater coverage of the material, another advantage.
The test engine is the part of the practice exam that selects items from the test database, organizes them for the user interface, and handles scoring. It's the guts of the practice exam and the most important part. Look for an exam that randomizes questions. At least one vendor's test engine (MeasureUp) randomizes the order of the answers as well - a nice plus.
You might wonder if you should look for a test engine that incorporates adaptive testing - a technology that's in increasing use by certification sponsors. Instead of presenting every testing candidate with the same questions, or even the same number of questions, an adaptive exam attempts to pinpoint the exam taker's skill level with a minimum number of questions. This is done using an algorithm that takes into consideration both the difficulty level of the questions and the candidates previous correct and incorrect answers. Adaptive exams increase test security because each test taker views a small selection of questions. They are also, in theory, easier on the test taker because they are shorter.
