They say nothing worth doing is easy. Earning your IT exam certifications is a good example. It’s not easy, but with proper preparation, you’ll find that it’s attainable and well worth the effort.
Self-Assessment
Look at the IT certification body of knowledge and exam blueprint to identify the areas where you need the most work. The body of knowledge is a comprehensive outline of all the subjects and subtopics prescribed for the exam. The exam blueprint gives you an idea of how many questions from each topic area you can expect.
Read The Textbook, Enough Said.
Train
You wouldn’t get off the couch and run a marathon; you need to train first. Find a training class in your area or get the convenient online version.
Learn In Context
Privacy doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Read our privacy publications, check out what’s happening on our blog and try out the tools people are using in the resource center.
Practice, Practice and Practice
When you think you’re ready, complete sample questions if any to get a feel of the actual exam. And if you find you’re not quite ready yet, repeat steps 1-4.
Determine When You Will Take The Test
You may have to take the exam at a specific time; however, if the test will be available for several hours (or even a few days), choose a time that presents the least potential for distraction, interruption, and stress.
Gather All That You’ll Need To Take The Test
If you can have materials such as notes, books, or writing implements with you, be sure that they’re set to go.
Take A Deep Breath
Once you’re logged in, take a moment to relax and get focused.
During the Online Exam:
Focus
Keep an eye on the clock. You may want to set an alarm to notify you when you have limited time (e.g., 10 minutes) remaining in your testing period. Print and save copies of the test questions, as well as your answers. These will prove extremely helpful if you have technical problems during the test or if you encounter issues while submitting your answers.
First, write short-answers or essay questions in a word-processing program. This makes it easier to edit and check your work. Once you’re done, then cut and paste your answer into the designated field on your exam site.
Don’t Leave The Test Page
If you are permitted to search the web or check other websites for information, do not use the same tab or copy of the browser as you do for your exam you may lose all your work. Instead, open a second copy of your browser (or, choose a completely different browser), then conduct your search.
Having Some Technical Problems?
Don’t panic. But contact your instructor immediately detailing the exact problem that occurred and any error messages you might have received. If you can take a screen shot, that is helpful as well.
Check Your Work Before You Submit It
Ensure that every answer is complete and appears as you intended. Review the accuracy of your answers, as well as your spelling and grammar.
Click Submit
You should only need to do so once, but if you have a problem, try once more. If you still have a problem submitting the test, let your instructor know immediately, and send your intended answers in an attached document.
After The Online Exam:
Review
Assess your own progress
How do you believe you did? What questions did you find confusing? Did you have to skip anything? Return to your notes and readings, and see if you can find the answers to the questions that challenged you.
Check Your Grade
In some cases, you may be able to learn your grade immediately. However, exams with written answers will take longer for your instructor to grade, so allow some time to find out your score.
Ask Yourself How You Can Improve On The Next Exam
Did your study strategies work? Did your plan for taking the test online prove successful? Write down your observations and keep them in mind for the next time you take a test. In general, we recommend that you study for a minimum of 15 hours in advance of each exam. Now it’s time to get cracking!
