Studying for an important test as an adult with a busy life can be hard, but if you want to make the most out of each and every one of your study sessions as you work on your firefighter promotional exam prep you’ll want to avoid these mistakes.
Taking Too Many/Not Enough Notes
If you basically just rewrite the book as you take notes you are going to have way too much information to study when the time comes. Keep your notes precise. If you need help on what is important, look for keywords and reference the questions at the beginning and ends of the chapter. Those questions are a great guide on where to focus your attention. At the same time don’t be on the other end of the spectrum and not take any notes either. When you take notes you want to give yourself a quick reference guide of the most important points in the book that will likely be test questions.
Cramming
If you expect to cram it all in and pass you are going to be in for a rude awakening come test day. Let me put it frankly, you will not pass your firefighter promotional exam if you begin studying the night before the exam. You have to put in the time if you want to pass the firefighter promotional exam and get promoted, a lot of time.
Studying in a Bad Spot
If you are not studying in a location ideal for such, you will have a hard time having a productive study session. If the tv is on in the background, your phone has all of its notifications on, and people keep interrupting you, you are not going to be able to study. You also are probably going to get really frustrated when the study session is over and it feels like you didn’t get anything out of it. When you sit down to study you need to make sure you are in a location that will produce productivity from you, whether that be a quiet spot, a place with background noise, the perfect comfy chair, phone off etc. just find a spot. This will look different to every person who is studying for the firefighter promotional exam because everyone requires different things to focus.
Not Quizzing Yourself
The best way to study for your firefighter promotional exam is through self-testing. If you just read the book or your notes you will not do as well as you would if you incorporated some testing in there. Flashcards or online practice tests are an excellent way to test yourself. You can even take it a step further and ask your spouse, friend, or even child to quiz you, just get some questions and answers in there to boost that memory.
Studying with Unproductive People
Studying with other people can be so beneficial when it comes to taking your firefighter promotional exam. Studying with people can also be a great way to not get anything done if you study with the wrong people. If you are studying with someone, such as a roommate, who isn’t taking the promotional exam they may get bored and become a distraction. If you are studying with someone who just has a hard time focusing that may be a problem also. Study with other people, but choose those people wisely so you don’t waste a study session and can get the most out of it.
The Takeaway
Studying for your firefighter promotional exam should be at the top of your priority list. Don’t let these studying mistakes or distractions get in the way of you accomplishing your goals and promoting in the fire service.