A lot of students come to CSLS with no recent classroom experience, or a lack of good study habits that helped them back in high school or college. In fact, many are afraid that they’ll struggle with the material for their licensed contractor exam when the time comes.
One thing we teach them is that a handful of good study habits can be learned in a short amount of time. And once you have them, they can make all the difference in your preparation and stress level.
To see why that is, here are five easy-to-follow study tips for construction professionals who want to pass their licensed contractor’s exam:
1. Set a consistent study schedule. When you have a time of the day that is put aside as “study time,” it helps you in two ways. First, you set a good habit that your mind becomes accustomed to. And second, you don’t have to scramble to make room in your schedule to study later, so minor distractions and setbacks won’t stop you from doing what you need to. Plus, it’s easier to study in small, consistent chunks than it is during long cram sessions that are likely to tire you out.
2. Create the right environment to study. This is where common sense comes into play. Although it might be a lot more fun and entertaining to study with loud music or a television on in the background, most people concentrate better in a quiet, well-lit environment. It also helps if you can sit at a desk or table, instead of reclining on a couch or bed.
3. Gather your materials ahead of time. If you always keep your study materials in one place, then you’ll never have to look around for them when you need them. Make sure you have things like pens, paper, and notebooks ready ahead of time – you don’t want to disrupt your thought process by searching for something that could already be within arm’s reach.
4. Mix group and individual study. When it comes to study partners, there are two schools of thought. One notion is that they can help you by asking questions, challenging your ideas, quizzing you on sections, and keeping you involved. The other side of the coin is that your study buddy might distract you, especially if you’re already friends. The best idea is usually to mix group and individual study times so you get the best of both worlds.
5. Give yourself a bit of added motivation. Reward yourself for meeting your study goals with a daily or weekly treat. You’ll look forward to your study time more that way, and you’ll also psychologically reinforce the habit.
Are you ready to take action on your dream of earning more money, becoming a business owner, and making your own career path by becoming a licensed California contractor? If so, contact CSLS today and see how we’ve been able to help more than 125,000 other students make the leap forward.
Don’t forget, classroom, online study, and crash course options are all available!
