Test Taking Strategies

By Anne Martinez

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You've cracked the books, learned on the job, and memorized minutiae you never knew existed. There's no doubt about it, you've learned a lot. But there's one more thing you're going to have to do before you can lay claim to that certification you covet: pass a test. Probably more than one.

While some people actually enjoy the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise, many others would be happiest never facing an exam again. Fortunately, there are things that any test taker can do to make the experience less nerve-wracking and more successful. If you're lucky, you may even be able to move into that elite group that takes pleasure in pitting themselves against the exam writers and coming out on top.

The first step is to put this test thing in perspective. A test is only a test. If you don't pass this time around you'll probably have to take it again. Inconvenient, and maybe a little painful to the ego, but certainly not life shattering. Take it seriously, but don't blow its importance out of proportion. Remember that a small amount of anxiety can be a good thing, sharpening your focus and keeping you on your toes. Getting Ready
Effective preparation is key to exam success. It's important to go into the testing session confident that you know the majority of the material well. Follow good study techniques over time and you should be set on this count. Base your plans on last minute marathon cram sessions and you're headed for trouble.

Mastery of the material is the most important part of exam readiness, but mastery of the exam format runs a close second. By becoming familiar with the ways questions are likely to be presented, you'll be able to quickly focus on the question rather than first having to decipher the mechanics of its presentation.

Find out as much as possible on the format of the exam in advance. Will it be multiple choice (as many certification exams are)? Will it include matching and case studies? What is the passing score/percentage? How much time is allotted? Will you be able to mark questions and return to them? Before the advent of adaptive testing, that was almost always an option. Now, because of the way adaptive tests work, it often isn't.

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