USPAP TEST

[Pat Avalon]

I have to take the New Jersey USPAP test on thursday , anyone have anything that could help me pass the test , the instructor is terrible and i dont think ive learned enough to pass...Anything would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Read it. If you can actually figure it all out, let us know!

Sorry, I really do with I could help.

 

[Farm Gal]

Ditto Pam, Read it...

and here some straight advice: do not read too much into the questions, your first answer is probably the best...but read ALL the choices before you decide which is best 8O .

You probably know more than you think.

If you bomb it, try to recall the ones that hug you up and we'll try to help!

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

It says, don't lie, cheat, steal or do anything else bad. Good Luck!

 

[Randy Beigh]

Pat

The answer depends somewhat on the instructor, but may also depend on the type of manual you have received from the instructor. As I just took USPAP a few weeks ago, the instructor did not use a true course manual. He used a combination of USPAP from the Appraisal Foundation and a manual from the Appraisal Institute. We were constantly flipping back and forth between the 2 manuals. Very annoying. But, I understand that there are true course manuals out there. If you have one of those, it will be easier to learn the subject.

The other thing that I noticed is the instructor, on the day of the exam, said he has only had 2 people ever fail the exam. On the review, he gave us the questions and answers, so all we had to do was do a little memory. Out of the 16 people in the class, no one failed. I don't think this is the best way to learn anything, but I got out of there.

Now, a little course on taking multiple choice tests. Since I started doing this a couple of decades ago, I have never failed any test.

I turn the test into a 3 step test. It takes a little longer than the people who whip through the questions and are out the door, but it has proven very helpful for me.

Start by answering all the questions you absolutely, positively know the answer to. No guessing. Calculate what percentage that is of the whole. Most of the time, I found that I have already passed. Then go back and do the questions you think you know. The third pass are the questions you the haven't foggiest idea what the answer is.

I have even figured the percentages to each of the steps. I figure I get about 95% of the ones I know, 60% of the ones I think I know, and 25% of the guessing ones.

Like I said, this has never failed me and it has the advantage of letting me know if I passed before I ever leave the room.

Hope this helps

 

[George Hatch]

Pat,

The National USPAP course and the test for it focuses on the nature and structure of the USPAP itself and the material included in the Preamble, the Definitions, and the 'Rules' Section (Ethics, Competency, Departure, Supplemental Standards and Jursidictional Exception). There is much less emphasis on the Standards and Standards Rules (Standard-1 to Standard-10), the Statements on Appraisal Standards (SMT-1 to SMT-10) and the Advisory Opinions (AO-1 to AO-23).

I would focus most heavily on the Definitions and the Rules sections. These are the areas that govern the practical applications of the technical requirements (which are contained in the Standards and Statements on Standards sections) and the origin of most misconceptions about the USPAP. Pay particular attention to the verbiage because details count. If you have a student manual (you should), go through those sections again and try to really understand the examples they are using.

Regardless of how good or bad an instructor is, there is no substitute for taking a couple hours a night for a week or so to read through and study the whole thing. As I'm sure you already know, the material has a lot more applicability in daily appraisal work than simply preparing for a test.


George Hatch

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

No wonder nearly half of the people who took the USPAP instructor's test didn't pass it the first time. Sorta like the blind leading the blinder. Hopefully some day the appraisal standards board will prepare a Power Point standardized presentation...until then it's still individual interpretation of how it should be presented.

Read USPAP yourself. Get out a highlighter and highlight the key points. Key in on the Advisory Opinions. Become very sensitive to Scope of the Work and Intended User. Understand the DEFINITIONS. Review the Glossary.

Lastly, if the instructor gives you the answers..take them, pass the test, and feel blessed.

 

[Charlotte Dixon]

No wonder nearly half of the people who took the USPAP instructor's test didn't pass it the first time.

It's mind boggling isn't it? And I'm sure most of those instructors are no slouches! You've got it right, Mike.

 

[Bob Ipock]

Hopefully some day the appraisal standards board will prepare a Power Point standardized presentation...until then it's still individual interpretation of how it should be presented.

Mike, ask and ye shall receive! The 2003 USPAP 7-hour and 15-Hour are standardized manuals...all students, in all states will be getting the same books.

Also THE WHOLE COURSE (7 & 15 hour) is on a CD Rom for the instructor complete with a Powerpoint Presentation. I bought a laptop last week and have ordered a multi-media projector and will start learning more about how to use these tools.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Thanks for the input Bob...that will help both you and your students grasp what the ASB is trying get across. Guess I will have to give the test another try....my employer (Dearborne) is anxious to have another USPAP instructor since only one of the four passed the test the first time.