How to Use the Software

PrepLogic is designed to be user friendly and intuitive. Because the software has a smooth learning curve, your time is maximized because you start practicing with it almost immediately. PrepLogic Practice Exams, Preview Edition has two major modes of study: Practice Exam and Flash Review.

Using Practice Exam mode, you can develop your test-taking abilities as well as your knowledge through the use of the Show Answer option. While you're taking the test, you can expose the answers along with detailed explanations of why answers are right or wrong. This helps you better understand the material presented.

Flash Review mode is designed to reinforce exam topics rather than quiz you. In this mode, you're shown a series of questions but no answer choices. You can click a button that reveals the correct answer to each question and a full explanation for that answer.

Starting a Practice Exam Mode Session

Practice Exam mode enables you to control the exam experience in ways that actual certification exams do not allow. To begin studying in Practice Exam mode, you click the Practice Exam radio button from the main exam customization screen. This enables the following options:

• Enable Show Answer Clicking this button activates the Show Answer button, which makes it possible for you to view the correct answer(s) and full explanation for each question during the exam. When this option is not enabled, you must wait until after your exam has been graded to view the correct answer(s) and explanation for each question.

• Enable Item Review Clicking this button activates the Item Review button, which enables you to view your answer choices. This option also facilitates navigation between questions.

• Randomize Choices You can randomize answer choices from one exam session to the next. This makes memorizing question choices more difficult, thereby keeping questions fresh and challenging longer.

On the left side of the main exam customization screen, you're presented with the option of selecting the preconfigured practice test or creating your own custom test. The preconfigured test has a fixed time limit and number of questions. Custom tests enable you to configure the time limit and the number of questions in your exam.

The Preview Edition on this book's CD-ROM includes a single preconfigured practice test. You can get the compete set of challenging PrepLogic practice exams at www.preplogic.com to make certain that you're ready for the big exam.

You click the Begin Exam button to begin your exam.

Starting a Flash Review Mode Session

Flash Review mode provides an easy way to reinforce topics covered in the practice questions. To begin studying in Flash Review mode, click the Flash Review radio button on the main exam customization screen. Then select either the preconfigured practice test or create your own custom test.

Click the Best Exam button to begin a Flash Review mode session.

Standard PrepLogic Practice Exams, Preview Edition Options

The following list describes the function of each of the buttons you see across the bottom of the screen.

Button Status

Depending on the options, some of the buttons will be grayed out and inaccessible or they might be missing completely. Buttons that are appropriate are active.

• Exhibit This button is visible if an exhibit is provided to support the question. An exhibit is an image that provides supplemental information that is necessary to answer a question.

• Item Review This button leaves the question window and opens the Item Review screen, from which you can see all questions, your answers, and your marked items. You can also see correct answers listed here, when appropriate.

• Show Answer This option displays the correct answer, with an explanation about why it is correct. If you select this option, the current question is not scored.

• Mark Item You can check this box to flag a question that you need to review further. You can view and navigate your marked items by clicking the Item Review button (if it is enabled). When your exam is being graded, you're notified if you have any marked items remaining.

• Previous Item You can use this option to view the previous question.

• Next Item You can use this option to view the next question.

• Grade Exam When you've completed your exam, you can click Grade Exam to end your exam and view your detailed score report. If you have unanswered or marked items remaining, you are asked whether you would like to continue taking your exam or view the exam report.

Seeing Time Remaining

If your practice test is timed, the time remaining is displayed on the upper-right corner of the application screen. It counts down the minutes and seconds remaining to complete the test. If you run out of time, you're asked whether you want to continue taking the test or if you want to end your exam.

Getting Your Examination Score Report

The Examination Score Report screen appears when the Practice Exam mode ends as a result of time expiration, completion of all questions, or your decision to terminate early.

This screen provides a graphical display of your test score, with a breakdown of scores by topic domain. The graphical display at the top of the screen compares your overall score with the PrepLogic Exam Competency Score. The PrepLogic Exam Competency Score reflects the level of subject competency required to pass the particular vendor's exam. Although this score does not directly translate to a passing score, consistently matching or exceeding this score suggests that you possess the knowledge needed to pass the actual vendor exam.

Reviewing Your Exam

From the Your Score Report screen, you can review the exam that you just completed by clicking the View Items button. You can navigate through the items, viewing the questions, your answers, the correct answers, and the explanations for those answers. You can return to your score report by clicking the View Items button.