Certification exams have seen a notable increase in popularity as they open new career opportunities for exam takers. That is if they pass one.
Passing the exam can be tricky. Not rarely do people fail at the first attempt. Aside from learning diligently, what can help you pass the exam is knowing some useful tips and tricks.
Burying your head in the book isn’t necessarily the only solution towards getting that certification in your hands. You should know that each of us has an individual learning style. With different approaches to learning, you can find what works best for you and ace that exam.
With that being said, let’s get straight to helpful tips that can be the ace in your sleeve for passing the certification exam.
Create a Schedule
There is not a trick in the world that can help you if you aren’t dedicated to learning. Keep your eyes on the prize and add preparing for the exam in your daily routine.
Rethink your current daily plans and obligations and make room for studying. It's crucial that you learn daily. The more regular you are with the practice, the quicker you'll get into a learning mindset.
Use a Hands-on Approach
Do you want that certification to be real proof of your skills? Then you need hands-on practice.
Tracy Wallace, a Global Knowledge Microsoft Azure instructor, has written in an article, “Certifying people that have just studied for an exam and have not ever touched the product devalues the certification.”
Not only does using the technology maintain the credibility of the certification, but it also helps with passing the exam. Without real practice, you're only making it more difficult for you to pass.
Learn in an Environment that Suits You
Learners tend to thrive in various environments. Some learn best when they are surrounded by peace and quiet, while others need some background noise.
Give both possibilities a try and see what works for you.
Why is this relevant? Because it will save you time. Learning one hour in an environment that boosts your focus can be as productive as learning two hours in a less stimulative environment.
Get to Know the Test
Do research on the exam itself. Collect information such as:
- Exam format
- Exam objectives
- Exam questions
Go through the course syllabus and learn about exam objectives. Based on that, you can arrange your study time to cover every topic.
Knowing what to expect will make you less intimidated during the exam. If you can’t find the answers to all your questions online, contact the representatives of the platform where you’ll be taking the exam.
Use Multiple Sources of Information
Limiting your study material to one source can backtrack your learning. Explore all the available opportunities for learning to maximize your chance for passing.
Keep in mind that you should solely rely on high-quality sources. They are a secure path towards gaining more comprehension and knowledge in the subject you are interested in.
Look for a high-authority website online that can provide you with relevant content. For example, if you need more material on Microsoft Excel, you should browse the Microsoft website for some extra content.
Using multiple sources will also help you get a better understand of what you are learning. Different sources offer different explanations. This will ensure that you have a complete understanding of every aspect that you are trying to learn.
Take Practice Tests
Practice tests help you put your mind in the exam-taking mode. Moreover, they make you more familiar with the test structure.
You might remember how some students used to write essays at home to find inspiration and get into a writing mood before writing the real essay. That's what practice tests will do for your certification exam.
Using practice tests is one of the best methods for decreasing exam anxiety. Timing your test-taking can also help you eliminate the fear that you won’t have enough time.
You can browse for old versions of the exams. Some learning platforms like Acme Collins School even have free practice tests. Make the most out of such opportunities.
Make Cheat Sheets
If you aren’t familiar with cheat sheets, they are organized documents that contain bullet points on a certain subject. The purpose of cheat sheets is to keep the most relevant information in an easy-to-read document.
Rather than trying to dig up a definition you want to recall from the textbook, you can simply take a look at your cheat sheet.
Whenever you have a few minutes to spare (like during the commute), you can pull out your cheat sheet and study.
The cheat sheet also comes in handy before the exam. You can refresh your memory or revise some info that you have a difficult time remembering just before you enter the exam room.
Prepare to Fight the Performance Anxiety
Fear is the biggest enemy of success. You can be fully prepared, but if you let anxiety overpower you on the day of the exam, everything will be in vain.
To cope with exam anxiety, apply some of these methods:
- Arrive 15 minutes early.
- Focus on your breathing to clear out your mind.
- Push out the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.
- Understand that it is fine if you don’t know every single question on the exam.
- When it happens that you don’t know the answer, rely on your instinct. It can surface the answer from your subconscious.
- Don’t rush with reading the questions. Do it carefully and with complete focus.
Final Thoughts
Having certified proof of your specialized skills is exactly what you need to stay ahead of the competition. Considering the continuing need for specialized workers, you'll have what it takes to stand out in the crowd. Use these tips for preparing for your exam wisely and get that certification!
Before we part our ways, let me leave you off with one final tip – be persistent. None of this will help you if you don’t show dedication to passing that exam. Even if you fail at first, don’t let that bring you down. You will succeed, carve that in your mind!
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