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Setting the Stage for Success: A Few Test-Taking Tips
Are you planning to take one of ASQ’s certification examinations? If you are, here are a few test-taking tips that can improve your exam experience.
Long-Term Preparation
- Carefully examine the list of topics in the body of knowledge associated with the exam you plan to take. Identify the areas that you are less comfortable with, and plan to address these issues.
- Consider taking a review course. Review courses can be either selfpaced (computer-based) or live.
- Self-paced course - ASQ’s Self- Directed Learning Series courses include printed material and an interactive CD-ROM. This printed material can be very useful for reference purposes during an exam. Other organizations also offer primers or other selfpaced review materials.
- Live course - the ASQ Greater Detroit Section offers review courses for many certification exams twice a year. The pass rates for candidates who take a live review course (like those offered by the ASQ Greater Detroit Section) are generally much higher than the overall pass rate for each type of exam. Both types of review courses help refresh your understanding of the body of knowledge. However, one may find a live course very helpful for the level of real-time interaction it offers, especially when dealing with complex technical subjects.
- Take some practice tests. Mock tests are included in ASQ Self-Directed courses. Other organizations may also sell test discs or other materials with simulated tests. Practice tests can help you assess your readiness in each of the areas of the body of knowledge for the exam you plan to take. Practice tests can also be valuable for learning how to manage time during the exam, as well as identifying areas for extra practice.
- Build your library of reference books. Examples include Juran’s Quality Handbook and ASQ’s CQE Handbook, which are both good general references for the CQE body of knowledge. ASQ also offers other handbooks for certifications such as the CQA and CQMgr.
Before the Exam
- Make sure that you can quickly access the information you plan to use during the open-book portions of the exam you plan to take.
- If you have the materials from the ASQ Self-Directed course, become familiar with the included index, which can be useful for locating information by keyword. You can also develop your own index based on items that you find yourself looking up during practice tests.
- Use tape flags or small sticky notes to bookmark pages that contain frequently used facts.
- Highlight specific areas of importance in your reference materials.
- Choose your reference materials carefully; there is limited time during the exam, so excessive quantities of reference materials may be a hindrance.
- Check your calculator to make sure that the batteries are good and that it is in working order. Also be sure that you can efficiently use the calculator that you plan to bring to the exam. The test is no time to be trying out a new calculator.
- Get a good night’s sleep prior to the exam, so that you’re rested and ready for the exam.
- Make sure you bring all the required materials (#2 pencils, reference materials, calculator, etc.). Most importantly, you must bring a photo ID (such as your Driver’s License) and your confirmation letter
- Plan your commute so that you arrive at the exam site about a halfhour prior to the exam start.
- When you arrive at the exam room:
- Make sure you know where to find the emergency exits, restrooms, and vending machines.
- Make sure that you are in the right room. Refer to the posted signs for the correct room for your examination. Also be aware that some exams are held in multiple rooms; in this case, your room is determined by the first letter of your surname.
- Organize the reference materials you have brought along so that you can easily reach them.
- Have your photo ID and confirmation letter ready for check-in.
In our next issue, we’ll cover some more test-taking tips about what you should do during the exam, and after the exam!
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the July 2007 Quality Herald.