OK I know I have only passed one of the four exams and I am planning to take my next exam this coming Friday. But I am a huge analytical guy and I have been evaluating my studying technique to see where I can improve. Here are my conclusions which may help others out.
Please note for me I read all the course material for the exam provided by "Art of Service", read the ITIL book (in this case Service Transition) and did the 30 hours of online learning. I have also read some other ITIL books before this. So the bellow technique assumes you have read and REALLY understand the material.
1) The scenario is on paper so use this to your advantage (I will go into more detail later). The answers will only appear on the computer screen. Thus go visit your testing center BEFORE you take the exam. Is it a comfortable environment? Do not be afraid to literally run your fingers across the text on the computer screen if this helps you focus on key concepts.
2) With number one established here is my new technique which has been VERY effective on practice exams.
a) Take the sheet with the answer choices and prop it up at 90 degrees. This is to simulate the computer screen where you will be seeing the answers. You can also display the answers on the computer but I found this works better for me and provides better post analysis.
b) Read the scenario very slowly and carefully. Now using a pen (not a pencil) underline the relevant FACTS ONLY! Then squiggle, scratch out whatever works for you the remaining portions. Why you may be asking, this forces you to focus on the important data. For example I have yet to have a question where the industry matters: food, medical etc. So remove this extra data. When you read the questions you will probably need to re-visit the scenario, because you have removed the unnecessary data you have saved yourself valuable time and allowed yourself the opportunity to get the data you need faster and more efficiently which is critical to pass these exams.
c) What you should be left with is a sheet with lots of text scratched out and some text underlined.
d) Now think about the data you have and what types of questions may be relevant to the DATA.
e) Read the question sheet (but DO NOT WRITE ON IT OR MOVE IT) remember you are trying to simulate the computer screen. Now you can display the questions on a real computer screen I just found this worked better for me.
f) Look at the answers: Now here is the key, using your studying of ITIL which answer seems to best ADDRESS the pertinent data? Again I am saying "DATA" because this is so critical here. Look for dates, times and number of processes, functions etc. These most likely will be key to selecting the correct answer.
g) Mark your scenario sheet with your choice. I write A-D and then circle the one I think is the 5 point answer and then I select on the screen and move to the next question.
3) This is the MOST CRITICAL THING! When you think you are done. Click the REVIEW button FIRST.
On my first exam it said I did not answer one of the questions. Because I marked my scenario sheet with the answers I thought was correct I was able to go to the question by clicking on it and choosing the answer again.
Remember there are only 8 questions so if you do not answer 1 questions this can cost you the exam. SO ALWAYS REVIEW BEFORE SUBMITTING TO ENSURE YOU ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS! Once you submit there is no going back.
Now comes the fun part waiting, you will get an e-mail in a few days with your results.
You can check on my web page for more details. www.pelegit.com (choose ITIL tab)
From my experience the questions that best addresses the data in the most ITIL appropriate way is the 5 point answer. Now please note this is an ITIL exam not a work experience exam so one needs to separate ones experience from the answers and just think: "What does ITIL Service (blank) say to do?"
Well this concludes my study technique. I hope this helps others with the intermediate exam. Now this has worked for me very well in the simulated test environment.
For me personally the thing that really threw my off on the real exam was that the questions were not on paper. I did pass luckily but it was touch and go at times.
So in conclusion, relax, stay focused and don't forget to review that you answered ALL the questions.
Good Luck!
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