TNSparky
Well-known member
Hello everyone,
I had a write-up this AM to a member. I wanted to share with everyone. By now you all are getting down to crunch time and the final days of studying. Hang in there. You're almost there. That being said, here's some good things to do exam week:
I would highly recommend working the actual NCEES practice exam probably a week before the actual thing and simulate it like it's a real test. What I mean by that is have all of your references there and practice using them to answer the questions. On the Sunday-Wednesday before the exam, I would put the last-minute touches on the hard spots you're still struggling with.
Now is also a good time to double check your tabs and references and make sure it's all ready to go and you can find stuff....FAST. That is really the key to passing this thing: knowing where to find the correct information and how to find it quickly.
Wednesday evening/Thursday of exam week, put everything down (don't study anymore) and make sure it's all ready to go in a container that's fairly portable. I don't know where you're taking the exam, but you'll see people come in wheeling 2-wheelers with several HUGE storage containers of reference material.....this is absolutely useless in my opinion. I had everything I needed, including snacks/drinks (check your test site policy on this) in a single milk crate. It'll look similar to this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/ORBIS-DA1000-Black-Dairy-Crate-Vented-13x13x11-Black/40892240?action=product_interest&action_type=title&beacon_version=1.0.2&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&client_guid=2a370910-f9c0-4df3-85fa-aa423ebde216&config_id=105&customer_id_enc&findingMethod=p13n&guid=2a370910-f9c0-4df3-85fa-aa423ebde216&item_id=40892240&parent_anchor_item_id=17355910&parent_item_id=17355910&placement_id=irs-105-t1&reporter=recommendations&source=new_site&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=S1n5tJf8nzU9cDgG_9jmNc
Sterilite also makes one: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Large-File-Crate-Available-in-Multiple-Colors/17355910
Either should have plenty of room for you. I had two 2" binders of notes, the Camara reference book, the CI book, a book on protective relaying, the NEC handbook, the NESC, the NCEES practice exam, both my main and backup calculators (both fx-115 ES Plus models) and my snacks/drinks...in 1 crate. It can be done.
When you get to the test center if arriving the day before, walk the area down like any good engineer does in practice. Identify where the registration table is, where the door to the exam room is, where to park, how you will enter and exit the building carrying your reference material (they can be kind of heavy for a long haul). The point of this is that you do not want to start your exam day panicked, flustered and with your blood pressure too high. This is one of the many elements of this exam: they will try and fatigue you early on and try and make difficult conditions getting into the exam room. Don't give them that opportunity. Walk the exam site down the day before. Also remember: TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE. You would think something like this is trivial, but I heard at least 2-3 of them go off while I was testing. I took my own earplugs in with me. If you're the type that likes absolute silence, then this will be the way to go for you. Also, I've heard of someone getting booted from the exam for having a fitbit/fitness watch. Don't do that. Go to Walmart and get a cheap Timex or Casio digital watch that you like and use it for timing, and turn the chime off. Another good thing to do if you're arriving the day before: have multiple clothing options. By this, I mean have clothing you can wear to keep you warmer in the event that it's colder or have lighter clothing that will not get as hot if the conditions are warmer. I wore shorts and a t-shirt to mine with my most comfy pair of tennis shoes I had.
Around 2pm-3pm in the afternoon, you're going to feel really drained and may want to give up....this is a good time to have a Coca-Cola and/or a piece of candy. I have done endurance races like the Ironman before, and the same principle applied. Have a sweet piece of candy or something as a small reward for yourself. You've made it this far, you're almost there. You can do it. Just keep going.
Lastly, when the exam is over at 5pm, have a "lay-down" plan ready. You're going to be really tired, if you have someone coming to pick you up, that's good. If not, have a Red Bull for the ride home. I drove my cousin and I home which was an hour and a half away. We both took exams that day (he was civil and I was electrical). When you get home, thank your wife/husband/fiancé/girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other/support team/whoever helped you. Studying for this thing is a commitment and taking it requires both knowledge and courage and a great support team. If you're like me, at this point after the exam, the worry part of the studying is through and it's time for one's favorite adult beverage of choice.
Good luck my friend. You will do well. Cheers! :winko:
I had a write-up this AM to a member. I wanted to share with everyone. By now you all are getting down to crunch time and the final days of studying. Hang in there. You're almost there. That being said, here's some good things to do exam week:
I would highly recommend working the actual NCEES practice exam probably a week before the actual thing and simulate it like it's a real test. What I mean by that is have all of your references there and practice using them to answer the questions. On the Sunday-Wednesday before the exam, I would put the last-minute touches on the hard spots you're still struggling with.
Now is also a good time to double check your tabs and references and make sure it's all ready to go and you can find stuff....FAST. That is really the key to passing this thing: knowing where to find the correct information and how to find it quickly.
Wednesday evening/Thursday of exam week, put everything down (don't study anymore) and make sure it's all ready to go in a container that's fairly portable. I don't know where you're taking the exam, but you'll see people come in wheeling 2-wheelers with several HUGE storage containers of reference material.....this is absolutely useless in my opinion. I had everything I needed, including snacks/drinks (check your test site policy on this) in a single milk crate. It'll look similar to this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/ORBIS-DA1000-Black-Dairy-Crate-Vented-13x13x11-Black/40892240?action=product_interest&action_type=title&beacon_version=1.0.2&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&client_guid=2a370910-f9c0-4df3-85fa-aa423ebde216&config_id=105&customer_id_enc&findingMethod=p13n&guid=2a370910-f9c0-4df3-85fa-aa423ebde216&item_id=40892240&parent_anchor_item_id=17355910&parent_item_id=17355910&placement_id=irs-105-t1&reporter=recommendations&source=new_site&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=S1n5tJf8nzU9cDgG_9jmNc
Sterilite also makes one: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-Large-File-Crate-Available-in-Multiple-Colors/17355910
Either should have plenty of room for you. I had two 2" binders of notes, the Camara reference book, the CI book, a book on protective relaying, the NEC handbook, the NESC, the NCEES practice exam, both my main and backup calculators (both fx-115 ES Plus models) and my snacks/drinks...in 1 crate. It can be done.
When you get to the test center if arriving the day before, walk the area down like any good engineer does in practice. Identify where the registration table is, where the door to the exam room is, where to park, how you will enter and exit the building carrying your reference material (they can be kind of heavy for a long haul). The point of this is that you do not want to start your exam day panicked, flustered and with your blood pressure too high. This is one of the many elements of this exam: they will try and fatigue you early on and try and make difficult conditions getting into the exam room. Don't give them that opportunity. Walk the exam site down the day before. Also remember: TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE. You would think something like this is trivial, but I heard at least 2-3 of them go off while I was testing. I took my own earplugs in with me. If you're the type that likes absolute silence, then this will be the way to go for you. Also, I've heard of someone getting booted from the exam for having a fitbit/fitness watch. Don't do that. Go to Walmart and get a cheap Timex or Casio digital watch that you like and use it for timing, and turn the chime off. Another good thing to do if you're arriving the day before: have multiple clothing options. By this, I mean have clothing you can wear to keep you warmer in the event that it's colder or have lighter clothing that will not get as hot if the conditions are warmer. I wore shorts and a t-shirt to mine with my most comfy pair of tennis shoes I had.
Around 2pm-3pm in the afternoon, you're going to feel really drained and may want to give up....this is a good time to have a Coca-Cola and/or a piece of candy. I have done endurance races like the Ironman before, and the same principle applied. Have a sweet piece of candy or something as a small reward for yourself. You've made it this far, you're almost there. You can do it. Just keep going.
Lastly, when the exam is over at 5pm, have a "lay-down" plan ready. You're going to be really tired, if you have someone coming to pick you up, that's good. If not, have a Red Bull for the ride home. I drove my cousin and I home which was an hour and a half away. We both took exams that day (he was civil and I was electrical). When you get home, thank your wife/husband/fiancé/girlfriend/boyfriend/significant other/support team/whoever helped you. Studying for this thing is a commitment and taking it requires both knowledge and courage and a great support team. If you're like me, at this point after the exam, the worry part of the studying is through and it's time for one's favorite adult beverage of choice.
Good luck my friend. You will do well. Cheers! :winko:
