Took the Certified Residential Exam a 3rd time yesterday...

[Zephyr999]

Suggestion 1: Are you checking your answers by reversing the process?
As in 5+5=10 so then 10-5=5

Suggestion 2: word problems...A is 15% greater than B, B is 10% less than C, D is 10% inferior to C, what is the spread between A and D? Check how you map them out...

Suggestion 3: index cards as others noted...and marking correct answers to train brain...

Good luck!

 

[Alcrawfo]

I used compucram and it helped a lot because I could know right away what I was missing and what I got right.

 

[Gingerman]

No biggie that you took 3 times. I honestly had to take it 3 times. The first time I didn't study thinking, ive been training/appraising for basically 3 years now, it can't be that bad....well I WAS WRONG. That thing was HARD and I took every dang bit of the 4 hours allowed. Second time I rushed it (failed exam 1 on monday, scheduled and took exam 2 that friday). That was a dumb mistake. Second time was easier but not that much easier. Still took ALL of the 4 hours allowed.

THEN I learned from my mistakes. Took practically 2 weeks off and studied my *** off, over and over and over and over again. I needed it though.
Come time for the 3rd exam, it was a breeze. I basically finished the bulk of test in 3 hours. Had the last 1 hour to finish the ~12 or 16 questions I originally skipped. They don't tell you how good you did when you pass like they tell you how bad you did when you fail so idk how much I passed it by but you get the point lol.

Nothing wrong with 3 times. This isn't like high school or college exams though. YOU DO HAVE TO STUDYYYYYY.

 

[Will41]

No biggie that you took 3 times. I honestly had to take it 3 times. The first time I didn't study thinking, ive been training/appraising for basically 3 years now, it can't be that bad....well I WAS WRONG. That thing was HARD and I took every dang bit of the 4 hours allowed. Second time I rushed it (failed exam 1 on monday, scheduled and took exam 2 that friday). That was a dumb mistake. Second time was easier but not that much easier. Still took ALL of the 4 hours allowed.

THEN I learned from my mistakes. Took practically 2 weeks off and studied my *** off, over and over and over and over again. I needed it though.
Come time for the 3rd exam, it was a breeze. I basically finished the bulk of test in 3 hours. Had the last 1 hour to finish the ~12 or 16 questions I originally skipped. They don't tell you how good you did when you pass like they tell you how bad you did when you fail so idk how much I passed it by but you get the point lol.

Nothing wrong with 3 times. This isn't like high school or college exams though. YOU DO HAVE TO STUDYYYYYY.

What did you use to study?

 

[sputnam]

If you need to take it again (and I sure hope you don't) Hondros learning has THE best materials. Its the book Bruce Legg teaches from in his CA live seminars:

Home

Hondros College is the top school in Ohio for real estate license courses, home inspection, and other professions. In-person and online classes available. Start your career today!

www.hondroslearning.com

I teach QE in North Carolina... and I agree, the Hondros materials are good.

 

[TC]

I know an SRA who finally passed on the 4th try.

I know a non SRA that took 7 times to pass.

 

[Gingerman]

What did you use to study?

In a way I made my own study guide (so to speak). I did a whole lot of copying & pasting from many different places. After taking it twice, as I was leaving the exam driving home, I would turn on my voice recorder app and basically talk whatever nonsense came to my head during the 20 min drive.

By the time you get done taking that exam, (I know how it is) your brain is fried & your lucky to remember 5 questions at best lol.

You may not remember a question but you might remember key words or a very important word (probably bc you read the question, knew the word but couldn't recall the true meaning).

Where I pulled my study info from...
Math came from places like youtube, a few different online tests (I'd call them sample tests), maybe some from past mckissock classes.

Questions came from... Mostly many different online tests. All free ones. You know, the ones that I'm guessing 80% of us find as we start googling for this material hahaha. Well they might all kinda suck or not be as complex as hoped but you can generally pull atleast 1 good quality question/piece of info from each.
I also had my old QE classes available for access so I started doing lots of copying & pasting out of there (as needed). You should know where you sucked the most. See if an old class focuses on that topic.

Last but not least. Aside from the math, possibly the most important aspect (for me). Start with the basics!! Seriously. In my case, the math was rough but I caught on. The other stuff probably comes down to definitions. You have this lovely worded question that sounds super sophisticated, but in reality all it is asking you is which answer most closely resembles the meaning of "affirmative easement" or some s*** like that. Haha I remember affirmative easement to this day but when I saw it in a question or answer on test #1 I knew the definition in my head applied to 1 of 2 easements but couldn't remember which one. This all may or may not make sense but hopefully if you've been through it once it twice, you get where I'm going. The basics! Build a good foundation.

I'd say the best things to study are :

#1 the math (if your like me & it blew your mind at first haha)

#2 the Appraisal glossary or that super long list of definitions.

#3 I honestly believe if you study 1 & 2, your good.

 

[Gingerman]

Not gonna sit here & type a dang study guide hahaha but I'll jot down some key words/definitions I still clearly remember studying.

-Alternative easement
-Economic factors that create value
---governmental, economic, social, environmental (aka DUST)... Stuff like this comes in handy
-Bundle of rights
-Types of government power
-governmental restrictions on land AKA taxation eminent domain police power escheat....
-neighborhood life cycle
-conformity
-consistent use
-contribution
-assemblage versus plottage
-Excess land versus surplus land

The only example I can think to tell you (bc it happened to me) is the easement ordeal. A detailed question about easements on test #1. I knew what the heck easements were (duh) but I didn't know the smaller classifications or stuff associated with it (affirmative, negative, dominant & servient estate, appurtenant & in gross, etc etc etc etc) which is why I suggest the basics of definitions.

You get appraisal, you've trained for a couple years. What you didn't do the past couple years is take classes everyday... Taking periodic quizzes & tests that basically forced you to learn what this means & that means. Even after all those quizzes & tests, come finals, your *** is prolly studying again. It's a multiple choice test. It's structured like the traditional class/multiple choice/Scantron filling FINAL EXAM.
Then in the real world, you only use/need to know maybe 15% of the material. Tests aren't based on opinions & theories, they are mostly fact & the easiest way to do that is through definitions. Knowing the meaning.

I know I have my study material somewhere saved in my drive but finding it is another issue for another day.

 

[Basically Rectangular]

I used three study guides; one is an actual book from 2008 "The Complete Preparation Guide, Real Estate Appraisal Exam".
AI online study course
Learnappraising.com online study course

The AI course is the most up to date and comprehensive, learnappraising is dated but has a better online delivery for actual exam simulation. The book is nice because it has a review section and also it is a book!

I would incorporate more than just studying, but also some lifestyle changes and discipline during your period of study. Try and eat right and sleep right, and exercise. If you are focusing on studying then you will be thinking about the topics while you are exercising and doing other things.

Also a good trick is to reproduce from memory a master cheat-sheet with all of the key formulas and notes on it.
During study I would repetitively copy down whatever formula or concept related to each practice question, for example GRM=Value/Income; Opex Ratio=Opex/EGI, etc. PGI=Potential Gross Income; EGI=PGI-Vac&Collection losses; NOI=EGI-Opex.

If you write those down during your studying each time you have a corresponding question, you can eventually write them all down on a sheet of paper. The first thing you do when you sit down to take the exam, before beginning the first question is to write all of that stuff on your scratch paper. It helps your brain to have it there during the stress of the exam and you will actually learn the stuff by writing it down and committing it to memory.

I remember some of the cost approach questions could take like twelve minutes because you had to write all of the stuff down to break down and answer the question; just take your time and plug through it, but get your cost and income approaches nailed down so that you can develop your answers quickly.

Lots of trick questions might be asking for a monthly answer but disguise the question so that you will deliver a correct yearly answer (which is incorrect for what they are looking for), so take your time in understanding what the question is asking for.

Keep at it and don't rush into retaking it is my advice- know your material. Be in shape mentally and physically, four hours is a long time to remain focused.

Good Luck!

 

[Sadie]

Sorry, but no. The best materials out there are Appraisal Institute classes. There is no comparison. Hondros tries to teach passing the test. The AI makes you think.

The problems with passing the test is mostly on the MENTOR. Many trainees are being trained by people who have no business training. Does the trainee really understand Highest and Best Use? Can they write a narrative Highest and Best Use so they understand it?

Does the trainee understand how to derive GRMs and apply them correctly or reconcile them correctly? Has the MENTOR explained USPAP and how it pertains to every section of the report? Most ignore the "summarize" in SR 2-2.

Trainees today need to think that what they were taught by their mentors might be completely wrong and from of the reports I have read over the last years that is my conclusion. But no worries, the AMC idiots will accept those reports.

I am not saying AI doesn't have the better course, but passing the test is key. A while ago I taught the prep class for the test and at that time, it was better to study for the test than for the knowledge. Studying for the test would result in a better test score.