Some of us hold degrees in instructional design (ID) but still wonder, “OK, so what does this look like in the real world?” That was me. I was pretty sure I knew what ID in the corporate world looked like, but I wanted to be able to prove it to myself and others. I had graduated in May, and stumbled upon and applied for the APTD certification exam the same month. In a moment of heightened self-confidence, I selected a test date just over a month out—which meant I needed a solid study plan. Some days I wondered what I had done to myself, but it worked out. If you are someone who could use a little pressure as motivation, maybe this approach would work well for you also. The following tips helped me, and could possibly assist you, in efficiently preparing for the APTD exam.
APTD Learning System—Should I?
Maybe your workplace’s professional development budget is funding your APTD journey. Maybe you’re footing the bill out of your own pocket. My situation was the latter, and after paying for the exam fee, I hesitated about whether I wanted to purchase access to the APTD Learning System. I realized the importance of reframing my mentality from “this is a cost” to “this is a personal and professional investment in myself.” When put into a broader scope, it’s obvious that this somewhat minimal investment can lead to infinite career potential and possibilities. While I didn’t purchase all available resources, the APTD Learning System was fundamental in preparing for the exam and I would suggest any hopeful APTD pursuer purchase it.Learn on the Go
You’re busy. Who isn’t? Who has time to study for an exam? The great thing about the APTD Learning System is that I could access the app on my desktop computer, smartphone, and iPad whenever and wherever I found a spare 10 minutes—during lunch, waiting at the doctor’s office, or some nighttime reading before going to sleep. The no-frills, user-friendly interface made it so simple to start with a chapter, leave mid-section, and then be automatically redirected where I left off the next time I visited the app. In addition, I digitally highlighted sentences or portions that I knew I would need to review before the exam, as they were new or complex topics. The day of the exam, I focused on those highlighted portions and even typed them into a separate Word document, as I knew the kinesthetic act of typing notes would help with recall.Check Yourself
What if you’re studying but wonder, “Am I really getting this?” Thankfully, the APTD Learning System provides section review questions to test your understanding. I learned to pay particular attention to words that made something untrue, as I would often select an answer and then realize it was incorrect because of a word within the question itself. In that sense, the review questions prepared me for not only the content of the exam, but also the question styles. To help the content “stick,” I would review questions from the previous day before moving on to new content.Set Goals
Whether you give yourself one month or several to prepare for the exam, it is incredibly important to set studying goals. Will you study one section or one chapter per week? Set realistic goals and literally enter them into your smartphone calendar with reminders, or print calendars and leave them somewhere you’ll see them daily, like your desk. By chunking the studying process, you make it more attainable and less intimidating. As you complete one study session goal, give yourself a smiley face, a small treat, some “me time,” or whatever else it is that will help you celebrate the positive rolling snowball you have set in motion. Maybe you challenge yourself to study for five to 10 minutes a day. That’s great! You know why? You’ll almost always surpass the time limit you set, because starting is the most difficult part.To do and become anything in life, we need to take that first step, open that next door, start conversations, and enjoy all the opportunities that come from that leap. Even before earning APTD status, I was talking to anyone who would listen about being involved with ATD and how I was studying for the APTD exam. Many amazing professional discussions and much good fortune came from simply taking initiative. Surprise yourself and wow others by creating an APTD preparation plan that will set you up for wild success.
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