How do YOU usually study with IC?

[starlinghunter]

Just wanted to know how everyone uses IC, whether you go through the flash cards with a textbook beside you, to look up vague topics as you come across them, or keep a notebook beside you, like me, and write a lot of notes and new terms and concepts in it to help cement it now, and to go over later.

How do YOU do it?

- Sam

[Pjbarney]

Excellent question, Sam. I'd love some tips on this as well.

[Sanderco28]

I guess it depends on how you study but for me I'm new as well it's been going the questions cold a few times and then the ones you keep missing right the theory down and go over them until you know it and get everything correct a large majority of the time. Also check out petersons dod just search it and you'll get some free info and it comes with practice tests.

[SoliDeoGloria]

I will first look at the Specific Feedback section to see how accurate the flashcards are for a certain test. Sometimes the flashcards are right on, and sometimes you will need other sources.
Because I am a very visual learner, I like to go through the flashcards (one section at a time) the first time with a notebook in hand, and write down any terms or phrases I don't know and their definitions. It does take longer, but I remember it better.
I have also put Wikipedia up in another tab on my Internet, and if there's a term or phrase I don't know, I will look it up on there. (Or another example is sometimes the flashcards have lists of things or terms or procedures, and they will say what a few of them are, but not all. I will use Wikipedia to look up the rest.)
Next I go through them a few more times, trying to get above 90% at least twice. When I feel like I'm getting most of them, I will randomize the order to make sure I know the information rather than just reciting the order of the answers. Then I go on to the next section! Depending on how much time I have to study, I adjust. Of course everyone learns differently, but this has worked well for me.

I have rarely used a textbook (except for Am. Government and Psychology), but the REA books (which are specifically for CLEP tests) can be great for some subjects (Human Growth and Development). Just try a few different things, and see what helps you remember best.

[OpenRoot]

I generally use the IC online flashcards to make paper flashcards rephrased for my learning style. Writing the cards helps me learnthe terms and concepts and I can add my own examples. The paper cards are also easier for me to use at work or on the train when I only have my phone for internet access.

[Westerner]

Great thread. It's nice to see other ideas in studying. I just signed up with IC for my Modern Middle East DSST coming up. :leaving: I have a couple books and I have several peoples notes and SE feedback copied to my iPad Notes, so I can access those on the go, which is extremely helpful. I'm liking the IC flash cards...nice, clean format, good explanations

[Lyanne]

I usually go to Specific Exam Feedback and copy/paste the need to know. I read the recommended books, wiki or google the need to know from feedback, making notes in a word document, then hit the flashcards.
As I go through flashcards, one section at a time, I keep re-doing the ones I missed. If I miss a question 3 times in a row, I write it down, because obviously it's not getting in my brain. I study my notes more, then go through again. If I miss questions I already missed, I highlight them in my notes.

[mrs.b]

I studied almost exactly as SoliDeoGloria. Specific Feedback forum first, then cards one section at a time, only I used an Excel spreadsheet on a thumb drive instead of a notebook so I could carry compact notes between home and work more easily. I took notes on all the concepts, not just unfamiliar. Don't ask me why, but I worried if I studied unfamiliar concepts too much without reinforcing those I got right during the first pass, I might lose some of that. I would highlight those ideas I felt I needed to research more thoroughly than IC went into, and look them up at Wiki or sources referenced in Specific Feedback.

It typically only took one solid pass, studying the notes, then another pass randomized, along with reviewing the outside sources as needed to pass. The only exception to that was DSST Business Ethics in Society. I really did not use IC flashcards much at all for that one because there were fantastic notes uploaded to Specific Feedback that more than covered the material with very minimal additional information needed.

[GoodYellowDogs]

The first time I go through them by clicking through - not filling in any answers. Then the second time I go back through and fill in the answer. When I score low, I go back several times.

[starlinghunter]

Thanks all! It's great to see how dif. people study with IC.
I probably relate most to SoliDeoGloria and mrsb. It start by seeing what people are saying about the test on the forums, and then go through the flashcards, section by section, writing down any important/misunderstood terms, concepts and facts in a notebook. One set of pages, "Vocabulary", includes most any thing that has an applicable name (i.e. terms, theories, people), and a second set of pages, "Notes", consists of anything that doesn't really have a title, such as important facts about concepts.
If I come across a subject that doesn't make sense with the IC explanation, I use Wikipedia, another info. site, or a textbook to research it.

When I've gone fully though all sections, I go over my own notes, making sure I have most everything cemented in my brain, then I'll go through the flashcards in a random order, and see how my score is.

To solidify things, I then take any free practice tests I can find, and if I think I'm ready, take the official practice test, on the day I plan to take the actual test. If my score is still good, I finally take the real thing! (If the score turns out bad on this practice, my testing center is flexible, and will allow me to cancel, the day of!)

-Sam