I recently passed Registered Electrical Engineer (REE) board exam and if you will ask me if it’s easy? No, the process was really hard. I don’t take the typical path of fresh graduate, I graduated last December 2017 and I didn’t take the April 2018 REE board exam, instead, I accepted the researcher job offer and delayed my board exam to September 2018. Why I didn’t take the April exam? To be honest, I am scared to fail. I am not emotionally and intellectually prepared, I took that job to cover my fear, when someone asked me why you don’t take the April? My alibi is that, I have wanted to become independent to my parents, and it works, everyone believed that.

I know how nervous and scared you are right now. It’s normal, most of your classmate and other takers feel the same. I have overcome that and I want to share to you that advice I wished someone told me before I took my board exam. Let’s start.

1. Start with why?

We must have reason why we want to ace and passed the board exam? Believe me, it’s very important to know your why? When everything gets tough and hard, it will serve as your drive and fuel until the day of board exam. My reason why I study hard and determined to passed the board exam, is because it is my childhood dream to become an electrical engineer. I don’t know what drives you? It might be for your kids, for your parents, for your siblings, for your girlfriends and boyfriends, for your basher, whatever is that, answer the why?

2. Enroll in a review center.

Review center is good because it will boost your confidence. I suggest you enroll on review center where most of your classmates want to enroll. Your classmate will be your support system in your stay in the review center. If you missed some topics, you can ask them. To be honest, don’t expect review center problems to appear during the board exam, during my time only two questions appeared however; most of them are different questions but the same analysis. So, I advise to learn the analysis part, the thought process on solving the problem or theory behind.

3. Study smart.

Study smart means study hard in the right way. Do not study all day. I suggest study 7 hrs. every day and have a break every 1-2 hours. Find the time when your brain performance is at its best. For example, my best time to study is during 5am to 10am and 5pm to 10pm. I do that consistently every day. Of course we are different; find what works with you  too. Most of my other time, I do jogging and sleep a lot. Enough sleep is important to absorb all information you studied.

4. Make it a habit to study early in the morning.

The nocturnal will disagree with this. Let me explain its benefits. In the morning, your mind and body are fresh that is why it is the best time to study. Another reason is that, board exam starts at 7am on its first day, so if you’re not an early riser, it’s against your circadian rhythm and you will be groggy and sleepy during this time and we don’t want that. To those coffee addicts, you need to avoid drinking coffee week before the board exam. Caffeine will dehydrate you during the exam and going to CR is not advisable. Of course you are allowed to use CR’s, but time is very important during exam. As much as possible, avoid it.

5. Practice a marathon problem solving.

You have to do this as the board exam approaches. Try to solve problems for 6 hrs without a break; this is to train your stamina in problem solving specially in mathematics. Board exam subjects range up to 6 hrs. and you have to train and prepared yourself for that kind of situation. If you can last for that long, then you are prepared for the battle.

6. Attend group study.

Always attend group study. When your studying alone, write those questions and problems you can’t solve and bring it during your group study. It is better to invite your cum laude friends during group study, ask their hacks on solving problems, sometimes, it took me 15 mins to solve a certain problem just to found out they can solve it for 1 minute using their tricks and super powers. That’s crazy, being clingy with them is beneficial.

7. Memorize a lot of terms and their meaning.

Sometimes, the hardest questions in board exam are objective questions, there’s no way you can solve them and you cannot derive them either. It will come from what you read and what you memorized else, it’s time to guess again. Have you heard the common advice? When you don’t know the answer, trust the “Power of C”, always choose letter C. Don’t believe that, read and memorize early.

8. Eat healthy foods.

When you are preparing for the board exam, you need to take good care of your body too. No room for sickness. It will affect your review if you’re not physically fit. Go to the gym, eat fruits and healthy foods and have enough sleep always.

9. Go to church before the board exam.

I have known people who don’t go to church for years but when we invited him before the board exam, finally, he joined us. For us who believed in miraculous event, help from above is very important. If you are like me, never forget to asked help from God, He is longing and waiting for your request. Being in harmony with your Creator gives you confidence and peace during your most difficult exam. So go to Him, before the board.

Summary

All I mentioned above are based on my experiences before and during my board exam. We all have our own style in studying and I suggest finding what works for you. If you have questions about the tips I mentioned above, feel free to message me now at my Facebook page below. Keep calm, passed the board exam.