CS102 Study Strategies

1)     First, remember that simply completing your hours does not mean that you are prepared for the test.  The 150 minutes is equivalent to you coming to class and sitting through two T/TH lectures or three M/W/F lectures.  Surely, you wouldn’t just attend your other lecture classes and then never look at the material again before taking the test.  You must complete your required time, and then put in as much additional time as you need to be prepared for the test.  You can complete additional time at home with your disc, or here in the lab.

2)     Take notes as you go through the lessons.  As you read the material it seems really easy, but believe me, if it is not a skill you normally use, you will not remember it when it is test time.  If you come across a skill you don’t use, as easy as it seems, go ahead and write it down.  Then review your notes, and practice the skills you wrote down in the actual program you are studying.

3)     Taking the pretests and practice tests over and over is good practice, but it will not guarantee you a good grade on the exam, you must use those tests along with the material in the lessons to prepare successfully for the exit exams.

4)     Master the pretest material.  The material on the pretest consists of 50% of the exit exam.  If you are going to miss one, don’t miss one you know is going to be on the exam!  The pretest is only available in the lab.  If you take it, you can always use the “Custom Lessons” button at the bottom of the score screen (just keep pushing “yes” and “ok” until the lessons begin).  The custom lessons will take you back through just the lessons you are missing.  Also, utilize the student workers in the lab.  That is what they are there to do.  Tell them you need help with the ones you are still missing (after reviewing the material again) and ask them to show you how to do them.  Then practice it over and over until you have the material mastered.

5)     Take the practice tests on the software (in the lab or at home).  Each time you take the practice exam, you should be given 2-3 new questions.  The more practice exams you take the more potential exam questions you will see.  If you miss a question on a practice exam, not only will it say “incorrect”, but it will also tell you how to correctly do it.  The idea would be to get all the way through the exams without using the hints.

6)     Remember to ask for help and assistance.  The lab is always staffed with an instructor and two assistants.  Don’t apologize for asking questions.  That is their job!

7)     Take advantage of the "study" time in the lab.  If you finish the material the day of the pretest and don’t look at it again before testing, you will not do as well.