Testing Your Exam-Readiness

Whether you attend a formal class on a specific topic to get ready for an exam or use written materials to study on your own, some preparation for the BCMSN certification exam is essential. At $125 a pop, pass or fail, you want to do everything you can to pass on your first try. That's where this Exam Cram 2 comes in.

We've included two practice exams in this book, so if you don't score that well on the first test, you can study more and then tackle the second test. If you still don't achieve a score of at least 90% after these tests, you should investigate the practice test resources we mention here (feel free to use your favorite search engine to look for more; this list is by no means exhaustive):

• ExamCram2 www.examcram2.com

• QuizWare www.quizware.com

• Boson www.boson.com

• MeasureUp www.measureup.com

• Transcender www.transcender.com

• PrepLogic www.preplogic.com

• Self Test Software www.selftestsoftware.com

For any given subject, consider taking a class if you've tackled self-study materials, taken the test, and failed anyway. The opportunity to interact with an instructor and fellow students can make all the difference in the world, if you can afford that privilege.

When it comes to assessing your test-readiness, there's no better way than to take a good-quality practice exam and pass with a score of 85% or better. When we're preparing ourselves, we shoot for more than 90%, just to leave room for the "weirdness factor" that sometimes depresses exam scores when taking the real thing. The passing score on BCMSN is 85% or higher; that's why we recommend shooting for 90%: to leave some margin for the impact of stress when taking the real thing.

In addition to the general exam-readiness information in the previous section, there are several things you can do to prepare for the BCMSN exam. As you're getting ready for the BCMSN, visit the Web sites at www.examcram2.com and www.cramsession.com. You can sign up for Question of the Day services for this exam; join ongoing discussion groups on the exam; and look for pointers to exam resources, study materials, and related tips.