Archive for August, 2009

You’ve studied for your FTCE test, but that scenario still rears it’s ugly head: you simply don’t know the answer to a question. Since your FTCE test is timed to approximately one minute per question, you have two options to quickly choose from. Either you can move on and return to the question if you have any time remaining, or you could employ the fine art of educated guesstimating.


Eliminate Wrong Answers. Know that at least one or two answers are definitely wrong? Then you can increase your odds of getting the right answer. If you’re more mathematically-minded, think about it this way: eliminating just one wrong answer increases your odds of getting the right answer by 20%. How’s that for great odds?


Avoid The “Danger” Words. Answers with words like “always”, “never”, “all”, and “everyone” are usually wrong, since they’re sweeping generalities. FTCE test makers love tripping future teachers up with these trick questions!


Longer Is Better. If you’re choosing between a long and short answer, go for the long one. However, avoid this strategy if the longer answer contains any technical jargon. These are trick questions designed to confuse you.

For more great FTCE test strategies that will help you ace your test, check out the FTCE test prep resources today!

You are on the brink of becoming a teacher. You have an interview suit, you’ve designed your first bulletin board in your head, and you have gallons of hand sanitizer in your closet. Your Praxis study may be the last nemesis standing in the way of your dreams.

It’s time to start your Praxis study…but old school tricks may not be enough. Of course there are the things we’ve been hearing since 2nd grade…get a good night’s rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and bring two or three pre-sharpened pencils.

Those things should be common knowledge to us by now. We need something fresh…something that will propel you to a big-time passing score. Here are some of the things you need (besides the morning orange juice):

• The right Praxis study guide. Your Praxis study sessions will be difficult enough; you don’t need to waste that time on material that you won’t see. Since the Praxis II Test focuses on field specific knowledge, don’t study early American Lit if you’re trying to become certified for elementary education.

• The right questions. It’s no use studying questions that aren’t going to appear on the test. Test preps that only focus on general knowledge will not help you come test day. Find a Praxis Study Program that has real questions from real tests.

• A confident attitude. Nothing is worse on test day than a “negative Nelly.” With the right preparation, you should own the Praxis II. Act like it.

Remember these simple steps. Find the right study guide, practice the right questions, and take the test with confidence.

That empty bulletin board is waiting for you on the other side of the Praxis Test. Prepare well, and you’ll be reloading your stapler before you know it.

So it’s time to start studying your Praxis II Test. This is the moment that will determine if your teacher certification will be easy, difficult, or downright ugly. With the right preparation, you’ll be fine. But what does the “right preparation” entail?

Find the Right Praxis Study Guide

The Praxis II Test is specific – it tests your knowledge of the subject matter you will be teaching. There’s no sense in using a Praxis study guide geared toward secondary math teachers if you are going to be teaching middle school social studies.

You need to know the questions that relate to your field. Limiting your study to the correct, specific questions is half the battle. Nobody wants to spend hours studying the wrong thing.

Repetition, Repetition, Repetition

Once you’ve determined the right Praxis study program for your discipline, it’s time to start practicing. Go over the questions again and again until you recognize them in your sleep.

The questions might change a bit on the actual Praxis II Test, but the gist will be the same. Repetition breeds confidence, and that’s what you need on test day.

Praxis Test Day

The right preparation will pay off big time on test day. Don’t waste your time with a study program that wasn’t built specifically for you. Find a Praxis Study Guide that gets specific. Your teaching career can’t afford to wait because of generalities. Best of Luck!

Have you heard that most people don’t pass the CSET Test? It’s absolutely true. In the meantime, tons of people have taken the opportunity to throw tons of learning materials and extra classes your way. All of that just to help you pass CSET Test the first (or second time). If you are like me, you don’t have very much money. Especially if you have already spent a lot of money going to get your teaching credentials in the first place!

Preparing for CSET Test Costs A lot of Money

I wound up spending a bunch of savings on training manuals that I thought were great, but, they just didn’t address a key way that I learned. It’s kind of hard to explain but explained why I didn’t past the CSET Test the first time. Then I realized a key was this; something about the way I learned when I was younger was different than now.

I Found the Key to Adult Learning with a CSET Test Prep

I did some research online and I was right! When you are little, you use a different part of the brain to learn than when you are older. It took some time (and money) until I found a way that helped me blaze trails to passing the CSET the second time around. I used this program and found it had exactly the right match to an adult learning style. Forget those flashcards. Flashcards are for kids!

Jennifer Barnes – former CSET test taker, Certified Teacher”

I got a call from a friend of mine who was my study partner when we were studying for teaching credentials. Her roommate had reached the end of her row with three failed CSET tests. Of course, since I passed the first time I took the CSET Test, she really wanted my advice.

A Succession of CSET Failures

This poor girl took up her first CSET Test with no preparation. So, of course, she failed. Everyone knows that you have to do something to prepare for the CSET Test! She got smart the second time and got different prep materials. She paid all of that money and still failed. For the third attempt, she also spent tons of money on test prep materials.

Third Times a Charm???

When she got the test results back for the third time and she failed yet again, it drove her completely over the edge! Of course, she is a very intelligent woman, and she also spent a lot of her spare time studying learning techniques. I told her there was only one piece of advice that she needed.

Don’t Waste Your Money on College Level Test Prep

Forget the same brand of test prep materials you used in college or high school. All of them will help you to fail if they do not understand one basic principle. That principle is to address the way adults learn after the age of 22.

What I Learned From Taking the CSET Test

It seems like everyone would know this already. However, even most teachers do not know this. It is an incorrect assumption that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. We hear this and apply it to ourselves (and to the CSET Test!). We also think this won’t apply to us until we are very old. The truth is, we to spend most of our time learning how to teach children. We also spent the most time in our lifetimes learning when we are children.

CSET Test Today and for The Future

We must all keep in mind that we need to nurture learning throughout our lives. Taking the CSET Test was an important step for me and having the career I have always wanted. It was also an important step for me to foster growth around adult learning and education.

Jennifer Barnes – former CSET test taker, Certified Teacher”