Preparing for the Exam
Here are some documents and links that will help prepare you for the actual exam itself. This includes documents outlining the license exam procedures or are used during the exam as well as some articles about stress management and study techniques.
I recommend reviewing all of these because they may come in handy, especially as you approach the exam itself.
Keep in mind, preparing for the USCG License Exam is a marathon, you will need to pace yourself in order to be successful!
How to beat the Exam
Tips for Success
Pacing Yourself
Setting goals and tracking your progress will be key to covering everything so that you are prepared for any question the Coast Guard might throw at you.
Each topic area (ex. Q100 Rules) begins with a link to a spreadsheet to help you set up your own schedule for studying along with another spreadsheet that will help you record and track your progress. These two tools will guide you through the studying process.
First step for studying, set up these two spreadsheets!
Setting up a study routine can be difficult, but there are plenty of resources to help you with deciding how to break up your time but below is a great article on how to best do this.
Or because I know you wont read the full thing, here is a summary.
And because I cant say it enough times, SLEEP! Here is an article on why sleep is such an important part of studying.
Stress is a natural response intended to help (think flight or fight response in a dangerous situation). Use it to inspire you to study, but don't let it take over and derail your progress. Here is an article about how to turn off stress when it becomes harmful.
Meditation?!?! It honestly helps. If that sounds to uncomfortable, do box breathing. Navy SEALs do it to manage their stress, so why wont you?
Create your support network. Friends, family, teachers, sports team members, mental health professionals, etc. can create a web of resources to keep you motivated when things get tough. And we are here to help you too! Use our Forum Page to find support from others who are going through the same process you are.
Stress Management
Breathe... You can do this!
Managing your stress is critical to staying focused and not letting yourself become derailed.
The exam room will be very intimidating, give yourself the tools to face it head on.
Study Techniques
Yes, people have passed the exam by memorizing questions, but this was NEVER the best way to study. And although this worked in the past, relying on this will set you up for failure with the new Coast Guard questions. Adjust your study habits so that you can use your time effectively and set yourself up for success.
We provide a variety of learning resources to help you study beyond the questions that align with a variety of proven methods. This includes flash cards, practice problems, and guided instruction. Use other methods mentioned in the articles suggested here to round our your study techniques.
The key to learning is attaching value to information. If your brain does not see information as important, it discards it. This is an evolutionary trait that allows for faster processing so that you can identify best actions quickly. But now we need to figure out what helps you with attaching value to items so that you are not wasting your time. Here is an article that lists several different methods that have been proven to be effective.
Here are some more articles that take discuss a variety of study techniques. Find what works best for you.
Here are the rules for the Exam Room that are posted by the Coast Guard and posted on their website. Read these and understand them. Then follow them every time you take a practice test. Use the practice tests to become comfortable sitting under pressure and using the resources which are allowed.
Know what will be provided and what you can bring in the Exam Room. Also, know what is NOT allowed. Every time you take a practice test, make sure you use these resources and follow these rules. This includes using the CFR's! Why practice taking a test that tests your ability to use the CFR's if you are not using them in your practice. That's like playing a scrimmage game without having a ball. Here is the list from the Coast Guard.
The Challenge Sheet. This can be your saving ticket if you are failing by one question. Practice using this while finishing your practice tests so that you are comfortable with it if you find yourself in this situation.
Trick is, the Coast Guard prides themselves in their questions so you will have a very difficult time proving a question is wrong. The best way to approach it, is to explain why it might be vague and have two correct answers. The Coast Guard will most likely say that you must still pick the "best of the two", but this has saved people in the past so it is well worth spending time to become comfortable with the Challenge process.
The Exam Room
The Exam Room for the Coast Guard license can be very intimidating. It follows strict rules that must be respected. They also take cheating very seriously.
But if you know what to expect and practice following these guidelines, it becomes just another test.
Review the procedures and begin taking your practice tests following all of these procedures and using the allowed documents and equipment. Think of it like practicing for a big competition. If you were a professional football player, you run through drills to build individual skills and then on a routine basis you run a scrimmage or practice where you tie everything together and treat it like the real thing. This allows brain and body to work together, preparing you for what to expect.
Practice, practice, practice. The more realistic you make it, the less stressful the actual exam will be. Because you know, it will just be one more test at that point.
Good Luck!
Remember, you have gotten this far. All you need now, is just to pass another test. You got this!