NC1/Fundamentals question, and another..

[Laurie888]

First, it seems like the content for NC1 and Fundamentals is similar. I downloaded the fundamentals content guide a couple days ago but can't find my NC1 and my acrobat reader needs some assistance before I can make a comparison...

Second, I know the questions they have at the end of the guide aren't extensive, but do they give any indication of how well you know the content? I'm planning on taking my exams quickly now that I have the money for them -- because 1) I've always tested well 2) I am doing well on the initial questions and 3) It takes a while for me to get motivated and once I am I have to just do it. I' not an LPN, just a student, with several years since my last class -- but I did take a couple of the regents exams some years ago with this approach and did well. Just trying to gauge when to take the plunge on each one -- I will take the practice exams for two areas that I am the most rusty in but the others I feel pretty good about. Want to be sure it isn't a false sense of security.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

The questions at the end of the study guide give you a great idea of what will be on the exam- I always study them, because I've found that there will always be at least 2 of those questions on the exam (now, I don't know if they are questions that count into the grade or not). The practice quizzes are very helpful and worth the money. They help you to indentify your weak areas so you can focus more on them. That's so helpful because there is so much material covered in each exam. Good luck to you, and welcome to our growing circle of EC students.

[Laurie888]

I actually started coming here early last summer. No sooner had I finished paying my entrance fee when I my son was hospitalized with bipolar disorder and it's been -- 'one of those years.' I just downloaded most of the content books and took the tests on each of them to get a feel for where I stood and was relieved to see that the areas I was strong in I am still strong in. I totalled my car and that was good news because I was able to take half the money and just pay for all the exams (well I'm about to) and the other half and put down on a newer car. No more dilly-dallying for me! This gives me a set year to finish, I have my first exam next week and the second exam 2 weeks after that (going with my strengths while starting to brush up on my weaker areas). Allowing time inbetween to reschedule if I don't do as well as I think I will (just blessed with a test-taking 'knack').

My one other concern was that I went to the prometric site to schedule my test, and not only could I not do that (every time I clicked on a time it would move to the next month and I never could pick a date that would 'take') but when I called to schedule instead the times they had where totally different than the listed available times online! This is harder for me because I prefer to see what is available in front of me and give myself time to mull things over and compare the various times at all sites within 2 hours (none are closer than 90 minutes for me!). I don't like having to make a choice on the phone like that but I guess if I must I must ... maybe for the next test I'll call once get all the dates and times then call back with my choice. My other area of frustration was that the closest date was 10 days away ... I like feeling I know something and just DOING it. So my mental plan to get this done just isn't going to happen the way I hoped it would :stone -- just when I was all excited, had all my dates picked for my tests only to find I couldn't get in!

Thanks for the welcome.