I've noticed a few comments on the board about how students study for exams using IC, and I was wondering if more people could contribute their personal experience. It might be interesting to see different ways students utilize IC and perhaps it could help current and future students incorporate their IC study habits as well.

For Example:

Here is my study process for IC Principles of Management.


The reason why I do them in order the first time is because it is given in a natural progression, which is a little easier for my initial retainment.

With this process, I'm taking each part at least 4 times. I would say my average is closer to 6 times for 95% and above.

--disclaimer-- this is not a recommendation to anyone, just an insight on my personal approach --disclaimer--

Nice topic. It will be interesting to see how everyone does this.

For myself - If it's something easy (Management, History, Org Beh) and relies primarily on memorization, then I'll go through the cards just reading them. I hit each section in order once. I've got a decent memory for the written word, and that's usually enough.

If it's something off the wall that requires alot of memorization (Adulthood and aging for example... How many different types of aging can you have?) Then I'll go through them twice usually just reading, and mentally answering as I go. I'll usually be good after the second time, but sometimes it takes requires a third read-through.

If it's something seriously hard for me.. Business Law springs to mind.. Then I'll follow much the same as Gary and Basket. Read through them all once, then read through the individual section, and then mix them up and try to answer them. The ones I miss, I'll pay attention to and review after I'm done. I usually do this until I can get through 95% of the cards mentally. Thankfully I've only run into two or three like this (Soviet Union, Business Law, MIS)

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Chebasaz
PMP, CISSP, A+, Sec+, MCDST, ITIL

Knocking out the last few for Excelsior BS General Business

Credit Record
November 2008 - 156 Credits
March 2008 - 147 Credits
February 2008 - Completed Excelsior BS Liberal Studies (Management/Administration and History)
January 2008 - 123 Credits
February to December 2007 - 106 Credits Earned

BMWGuinness brought up a good point in his post....when I go back through the sections I have already completed, I ALWAYS do them in the random mode. You will learn to memorize the answer, this happens at the subconscious level even though you try not to; the random mode will truly test the absorption level of the material and bypass the memorization factor...to a great degree.

Great post and conversation...this is sure to help many people. Lee

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Associates Degree, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
Bachelors of Science, Liberal Studies Degree, Excelsior
MBA Human Resource Management, California Coast University

I do the same type of thing. Although if there is a free study guide, I will use that and glance at the IC cards. Usually I will take a free test if available, find where I am weak, go through the IC cards once or twice, look up some terms on Wikipedia, glance at the specific test IC board info, and then test again. I review the test answers. Back several weeks ago, I found some military site that had all of the Clep exam fact sheets with test questions for all of the cleps. That has been helpful as well.

I am nervous about the ECE upper levels, so I will probably spend more time on IC cards. I have not used the random function yet, but will do so on the upper levels.

Except for my nemesis math exam, I have been able to get A's on all of my exams by this m/o.