A friend, knowing that Dr. Tom’s Classroom is all about helping people pass the PE Exam, sent me an article titled “5 Scientific Steps to Ace Your Next Exam,” where “Scientific” refers to “Cognitive Science.” It was interesting that these 5 steps are right in line with the steps we emphasize in our courses. Here are the 5 steps:
Step 1: When to Study and How Much
Certainly the more you study the better you will do on an exam. However, spreading out your time rather than cramming it into one long session is best. The author calls this “spacing.” This is what we recommend in the Dr. Tom courses, and in fact provide a weekly 5-day study plan. Cognitive science also shows that you should cover each topic 5 times before the exam. In the Dr. Tom courses we provide more than 5 learning opportunities with Lessons, Lesson Problems, Bonus Problems, Challenge Problems, and Assessment Problems, then at the end of each 5 weeks a Practice Exam is provided and then 2 Practice Exams at the end of the course.
Step 2: What to Study and How to Do It
In a cognitive science experiment, students were separated into 4 groups: those that would do a single review, those that repeatedly reviewed the information, those who worked on free recall of the information in a mock test (meaning you don’t look at your notes), and those who were to create a concept or mind map. At the beginning of the experiment the students were asked which group would do best and which would do worse. Their answer was logical, those that created a map and did repeated reviews would do best, and those that did a free recall/mock test would do worse. As it turned out, the opposite was true. In cognitive science this is called the “testing effect,” which basically means “testing” beats “review.” In the Dr. Tom courses there is much free recall/mock testing.
Step 3: What Kinds of Practice to Do
The most valuable are mock tests which are identical in style to the test you will actually take. Then problems in the class you are going to take the exam. If time, generate questions yourself. The Practice Exams in Dr. Tom’s courses follow the first principle to a tee. As said earlier, Dr. Tom’s courses have Practice Exams at the end of each 5 week period plus 2 Practice exams at the end of the course.
Step 4: Make Sure You Really Understand
Unless you understand the core concepts of a topic, you may fool yourself into thinking you know the material. This is why the Lessons in the Dr. Tom’s courses are so important. They take start with the underlying principles and then build on those with supporting examples and practice problems. Solving problems without this understanding may compromise your success on the actual exam.
Step 5: Beat Anxiety by Simulating the Exam First
As the article says, “Big exams come with big anxiety.” And the PE Exam may be the hardest exam an engineer will take. Literally the “Big One!” The article recommends, and so do we at Dr. Tom’s Classroom, that you take the Practice Exams in as close an environment as possible. Same materials and time constraint. These exams are timed and present the questions to you on your screen, just like the PE Exam. Our participants tell us that this style of practice really helped relieve their test anxiety and prepared them for success.
I also like to recommend that you minimize your studying the week before the exam, and especially the day before the exam. Follow these 5 Steps, then take a break, knowing you’re well prepared. Go into the exam with a clear mind and a calm spirit.
All the best,
Dr. Tom
Mechanical PE Exam Prep That Works
Pay Up Front and Save $100!
Test Drive Your Course for Only $50!
Pay-As-You-Go and Start for Only $50!
Don’t miss out on the latest posts (and more)! Follow DTC on:
