A plan of action is a set or schedule of events that will be completed to achieve the goal. In this plan of action, the goal is to pass the test the exam. This post will really go over items that anyone would consider before going into a large exam, whether it be the NCLEX, Certification test, or a final.
#1 Schedule the test
This works for the test that needs to be scheduled, and test facilitators state that you should have already begun to study. If that’s the case for you among the study you definitely want to remember to schedule the test. But for me, I need a deadline. A deadline for me is the right motivation and pressure to make a plan and see it through. Some tests or exams you may not have the opportunities to schedule, a final for instance is a time and date set by the teacher or the school. I like to work with a calendar, I prefer a planner but any printed or digital form will do. Label the date of the test on the calendar, this is your deadline.
#2 Review the blueprint
You have the test date, everything needs to be complete by that date, preferably a few days before the deadline to allow information to soak in. But what information do you need to know? The CMSRN has a blueprint for the exam, the NCSBN has a test plan for the NCLEX, and a final has a syllabus for the class. Have this document available to do a quick skim over, to start the planning.
#3 Long term study plan
Do you have weeks or months? If yes, this is for you. The calendar with your deadline in one hand and your blueprint/syllabus in the other. How many topics do you need to go through for the exam? Let us say you have four weeks before the scheduled date, and twenty topics to read. You might want to start out by reading and studying five topics a week. But if you want to have a few days of rest before the day with a week of questions and still time to go through the 20 topics. Start at the deadline, and plan backward. Let’s say the deadline is on the 28th of the month and you have every day available.
Day 28 Test day
Day 25-27 Rest
Day 20-26 Questions
Day 1-25 Read a chapter or go through a topic a day.
If you have to work or have other plans you put those dates in the calendar and work backward in the same manner. Write these down, color code the days, and you have your plan.
#4 Short term plan
You only have two weeks and you need to study. First things first, look at your test plan. Go down and think about the topics. How well did you understand the topic? If it was an item that you aced or was well understood, put that aside. Make a list of the items that you didn’t understand completely. These are your priorities. Study the items on your list, then you can go on to review the topics that you have a better understanding of. In this method, you may not be able to get to all the topics but you will have to prioritize what needs to be studied.
In the Long term study plan I added in a few days of rest. Take the time to relax and let the information sink in. Or if something comes up the few days act as a buffer to get everything done. Do you have a different study plan?