Here’s an old exam rule: If all else fails and time is running out, take an educated guess. It’s true—never leave a question unanswered. After all, the odds aren’t that bad at 1 in 4—much, much better than gambling. Besides, some say you can improve those odds by: eliminating any option that is completely unfamiliar to you; […]

Some students recommend answering the ‘known’ questions first. That way, they pick up the easy marks before tackling the toughies. However, when doing so, cross out or clearly identify those already answered and circle those being deferred on the exam booklet. Then, you can easily go back to them later. Also, sometimes hints from later […]

Reading skills can definitely make a difference in an exam. Let’s do a little test. Pretend that you’re under pressure and in a rush. Quickly read the following statement and write down how many F’s it contains. That’s right . . . the number of F’s. Do it quickly. Ready, here goes: The fine art of filing is fast disappearing because of new […]

It’s a hot topic for some. Can you out-think the exam developer and make educated guesses about what’s on an exam? First, it’s a flawed strategy because OREA exams are randomly computer-generated from a pool of multiple choice questions. The person sitting next to you may or may not be writing the same exam. Second, […]

Students face math right off the bat. The Real Estate as a Professional Career exam is heavy on math and it’s not just number crunching. The exam questions are crafted to test your understanding of how numbers go together in different real life situations. It’s more than just calculating percentages. You can be asked to analyze market […]

Gone are the days of spotting OREA real estate exams; i.e., learning just the bare essentials and gambling on the balance. The OREA Real Estate College’s computer database randomly selects multiple choice questions (MCQs) when creating exams. Odds are you and your buddy at the next exam table are answering different exams. Predicting what will appear […]

Students with good study habits can often eliminate two of four MCQ options relatively quickly. Then the real pressure sets in. Exam writers are good at doing this. They craft two wordings that are very close, but only one is correct.There’s all sorts of chat about how to eliminate the more or least likely correct answer; e.g., […]

An athlete chokes when he or she fails under pressure: The golfer missing an easy but critical putt; the football fumble on the final field goal attempt; or the missed gear shift on the final race restart. Choking also happens in exams. The main culprit: paralysis by analysis or simply over thinking. Stress and anxiety can consume […]

If you get a failing grade, don’t blame the exam or badly worded questions. Forget about the old: They’re just trying to trick me. They’re really not out to confuse you. Relax . . . each MCQ has been carefully thought out and rigidly tested. All the information that you need is provided in the question. […]

There’s nothing to gain over needless worrying, but lots to lose. Many things can lead to exam anxiety: Cramming at the last minute, getting run down, drinking too much coffee the night before (or the day of) the exam, getting wrapped up in other people’s stress just prior to entering the exam hall, applying false […]