Jim:
There are actually two test guides worth studying. Also check to see if there is study guide specific to your state. There is a guide for the California exam, for example:
These guides are:
1001 QUESTIONS TO PASS THE APPRAISAL LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION EXAM - this Appraisal Exam Review Manual is specifically designed to prepare students to pass the state Appraisal License and Certification Examinations administered by AMP. It features 1001 carefully selected questions covering all of the important topic areas for the state AMP appraisal examinations. Soft cover 8 1/2 x 11, 258 pages
COST $35.00
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TO HELP YOU PASS THE REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL EXAMS SOFTWARE – This interactive program contains over 1000 exam questions; 8 diagnostic examinations, 4 practice exams; on-line glossary of over 600 key appraisal terms. Provides immediate feedback on why answers are correct or incorrect; pinpoints areas that require further review; monitors your improvement; A must for candidates preparing for the state appraisal examinations. IBM Compatibility - Publisher: Dearborn Financial Publishing Company, Inc. - 2 diskettes COST: Price: $45.00
Make up a grid segmenting an answer sheet into intervals of five. As you go through the tests, put the answer on your answer sheet and then after doing five, check your answers. Score your self and go over all the answers you missed. By doing five at a time you will slow your self down and zero in on problem areas. Keep your answer sheets and later retake the test and compare progress.
The next thing, I would do is go to the Appraisal Institute web site:
Download, the math tips and other down loads about using the HP12C. You should practice with your calculator frequently. In the exam you need to blow past the math. Be ready. After all, appraising is mostly math.
There are some things on the test that are very elementary yet, for beginners some stumble. These things need to be put on flash cards. Flash cards, old fashion, yes, but a good learning tool nonetheless. For instance, you need to know how many square feet in a acre. Make up a flash card for that. You will have a question on section, range and township. You will have a question on leasee, leasehold and lessor, mortgagor, mortgagee While these may be ordinary terms, some beginning appraiser get stuck on them and a flash card is a good exercise to drum the answer into your head.
Don't be afraid of learning tricks. When I started out adjustments were SBA and CBS. That is Subject, Better, Add: Comparable, Better, Subtract
Learn the parts of a building. My state exam in Montana actually had "scuttle" as the correct answer.
Appraising has its own vocabulary. The sooner you fold it into your learning the more comfortable you will be with the exam.
Good Luck,