05-20-2008, 01:21 AM
This is my first post. I took the Organizational Behavior test today, got a 77. This was after about 3 days of really cramming. What I did was I studied for Principles of Management and Organizational Behavior at the same time (got a 77 on POM today, also). I found there to be considerable overlap between the material for both tests.
My first step was assembling the study material. I checked out a couple of organizational behavior textbooks from the library; actually the ones suggested by the DSST information sheet (Shermerhorn was one, Ivancevich was the other). Through the forums I found a Pass Your Class study guide for Principles of Management. I also had the Comex CLEP guide for POM. I signed up for Instacert about a week ago and flipped through the flashcards for not only POM and Organizational Behavior, but also Principles of Supervision. Lastly, I also had access to practice tests and accompanying study material from the DSST study guide (OB), and Petersons (POM).
I basically reviewed all of the material systematically from start to finish. Much of the information I was familiar with because of previous classes and knowledge that I've acquired. I pursued the "management by exception" ;-) principle to anything I was not 100% comfortable with. I would take note of it and investigate it further with wikipedia, google, and the textbooks. You have to be patient, try to avoid distraction, and have a genuine desire to learn the subject. Last steps should include 1) rereading your "exception" notes and revisiting those strange concepts in case you forgot the material in the meantime and 2) taking practice exams and examining the material for the answers you got wrong.
This is probably the best that you can get prepared if you are under severe time constraints. The test will stump you. The actual test is nothing, I repeat, nothing like the practice tests or the flashcards. So don't get complacent. Stay alert while you are taking the test, read the whole question and all of the answers and reread the questions and answers before picking one.
To date I've taken 3 exams; these two plus Information Systems and Computer Applications, which I took 5 days ago and got a 74. I did the same thing for that exam; got the recommended textbooks (Long), the study materials, did the flashcards (I did both MIS and ISCA) researched unfamiliar concepts, reread my notes, took practice tests, etc.
Test taking is not a breeze; for those of you who are reading the forums and are thinking that you can get away with just InstaCert, perish the thought. Take a solemn approach to it, respect the test. The good news is that if you are dedicated, are able to get the right materials, and can avoid distractions for a few days, you can pass an exam and save hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars, not to mention countless hours, by not having to take the actual course... ever...
My next test is Principles of Marketing... I don't know a thing about it and I'm in the process right now of gathering study material for it (If anyone has study guides they can send me, I would very much appreciate it), but I'm pretty sure that I'll be ready for it in two days when I'm scheduled to take it. Please feel free to send me a PM with any questions or advice.
My first step was assembling the study material. I checked out a couple of organizational behavior textbooks from the library; actually the ones suggested by the DSST information sheet (Shermerhorn was one, Ivancevich was the other). Through the forums I found a Pass Your Class study guide for Principles of Management. I also had the Comex CLEP guide for POM. I signed up for Instacert about a week ago and flipped through the flashcards for not only POM and Organizational Behavior, but also Principles of Supervision. Lastly, I also had access to practice tests and accompanying study material from the DSST study guide (OB), and Petersons (POM).
I basically reviewed all of the material systematically from start to finish. Much of the information I was familiar with because of previous classes and knowledge that I've acquired. I pursued the "management by exception" ;-) principle to anything I was not 100% comfortable with. I would take note of it and investigate it further with wikipedia, google, and the textbooks. You have to be patient, try to avoid distraction, and have a genuine desire to learn the subject. Last steps should include 1) rereading your "exception" notes and revisiting those strange concepts in case you forgot the material in the meantime and 2) taking practice exams and examining the material for the answers you got wrong.
This is probably the best that you can get prepared if you are under severe time constraints. The test will stump you. The actual test is nothing, I repeat, nothing like the practice tests or the flashcards. So don't get complacent. Stay alert while you are taking the test, read the whole question and all of the answers and reread the questions and answers before picking one.
To date I've taken 3 exams; these two plus Information Systems and Computer Applications, which I took 5 days ago and got a 74. I did the same thing for that exam; got the recommended textbooks (Long), the study materials, did the flashcards (I did both MIS and ISCA) researched unfamiliar concepts, reread my notes, took practice tests, etc.
Test taking is not a breeze; for those of you who are reading the forums and are thinking that you can get away with just InstaCert, perish the thought. Take a solemn approach to it, respect the test. The good news is that if you are dedicated, are able to get the right materials, and can avoid distractions for a few days, you can pass an exam and save hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars, not to mention countless hours, by not having to take the actual course... ever...
My next test is Principles of Marketing... I don't know a thing about it and I'm in the process right now of gathering study material for it (If anyone has study guides they can send me, I would very much appreciate it), but I'm pretty sure that I'll be ready for it in two days when I'm scheduled to take it. Please feel free to send me a PM with any questions or advice.
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