Hello, I'm getting ready to take the CAP exam this fall in just a couple weeks. I used the CAP SmartBook (which was great) and the CAP Study Guide which actually are the same thing word for word. Still useful since I like to have a physical book in hand as well. I looked at some previous forums and got the impression that the Study Guide was really all you needed. I also read about Marie Herman's study group but unfortunately found out about that too late. I recently purchased the practice exam to get an idea of the format and some of the questions. I was very surprised that most of the questions where not from my 2018 Study Guide at all. Is that because the previous versions of the Study Guide are completely different or is that an indication that my preparation for this has been way off? Thanks, Jason

Hi Jason,

The practice test is intended to give you an idea of the type/format of questions that you can expect on the actual exam. It also helps prepare you with the timing (i.e. with 300 questions spend approx. 42 seconds on each question). Use the CAP SmartBook questions to test your knowledge of what you've studied.

Best wishes to you on the exam.

Hi Jason,

The CAP Study Guide is not designed to be your sole reference for the exam. Use the references listed in the guide for additional support. Also visit the "Studying" section of the certification webpage for more reference material: https://www.iaap-hq.org/general/custom.asp?page=CAP_Certification

Best of luck!

Sonya

Jason - Good luck with the exam!

Linda L. Rolfe, CAP (Ret.), OM

As Sonya said, don't rely on one study guide in preparing for the certification exam. I sat for the exam way before there were dedicated study materials provided and we used the books listed in the bibliography. We also wrote our own "dry run" test questions. When I say we, I mean the members of the chapters (at that time). We actually held a dry run test where candidates came in and did a simulated test -- same number of questions and testing time. Today's exam is very different and chapters no longer exist. Just be sure to study a variety of materials and use the current tests you have as a simulation to practice taking the test and not so much the questions on that test. You will do better than you anticipate. Best wishes on your adventure.

The practice exam had retired exam questions, which were sometimes retired for very good reasons (no longer relevant, outdated info, etc.).

You do need more than the study guide to prepare, but perhaps your experience in the real world will make up for that during the test.

Best of luck to you.