Don’t Panic
You got this. Breathe.
Seriously, relax. Sitting for a 4 hour test is something you may have last done years ago in college. Finals may not have been your favorite collegiate activity, yet you have been there and done that.
That is why you are building on your experience using many of the tools and concepts in the field of reliability engineering. You are taking a refresher course to reinforce much of what you already know, and become familiar with the few areas you do not know as well.
Before the exam
Prepare your notes and references so you can find information quickly.
Fresh batteries in your calculator.
Remember to exercise and eat well.
Get a good nights sleep.
Work the sample exam problems, review your answers, learn how to use your references.
Mostly, relax, learn, breathe.
Day of the exam
Wake early and enjoy a healthy, hearty breakfast
Plan to arrive early at the exam site
Arrange your materials on your table
Answer the questions you know quickly
Circle back to problems that require looking up information
Save the problems that will take longer to answer till last
Answer all problems, even is purely guessing, as there is no penalty for wrong answer.
Relax, breathe, take a deep breathe.
After the exam
Shake it out, go for a walk, unwind
Take a few notes on areas or types of questions that presented difficulty (just in case)
You should hear about your results in a few weeks.
Use the concepts and tools at work. The real value of mastering this information is using it to improve product or process reliability.
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Additional References
18 Tips for Taking Standardized Exams
How to Prepare for the CRE Exam
Top 10Â CRE Exam Preparation Tips
Recipe for CRE Exam Preparation
May Require Library Access
Appelhans, Bradley M., and Ronald R. Schmeck. “Learning styles and approach versus avoidant coping during academic exam preparation.” College Student Journal 36.1 (2002): 157+. Academic OneFile. Web. 8 May 2016. (abstract only)
Hi Fred
Regarding the exam, I am planning to take it in Octuber this year. Currently I am outside US, I am from Venezuela but I am working right now in Panama for the Panama Canal Project. I believe that in October I will be still here.
Do you know if there is any local representative enterprise that is allowed to take the exam, whether in Panama or Venezuela? I know that the CRE certification exam is not available in Spanish, however that is not a problem for me as I feel comfortable doing it in English. I am most worry about the location.
Regards
Hi Alfredo,
Good question – ASQ does offer the certification exams around the world. I didn’t see a location listed for Panama, yet did see two locations in Venezuela, in Valencia and in Caracas.
The international location list is at http://asq.org/cert/locations/international
You can also contact ASQ to arrange for a proctored exam at your location in Panama – I’m not familiar with how that works, so please contact ASQ directly to sort out the details. email ASQ at help@asq.org
hope that helps.
Cheers,
Fred