It’s no secret that the NASCLA General Building Exam is a powerful achievement in your contracting career. Passing this exam is clear proof that you are ready to explore bigger opportunities. Unfortunately, you just can’t wing it with this one.
You need the right study resources to provide the structure and confidence you need for success. But what are these trusted tools and materials that will help you prepare for the test day?
1. The Official NASCLA Candidate Information Bulletin
If you only choose one resource before you begin studying, make sure it is the current Candidate Information Bulletin. Not only does it tell you when and where to take the exam, but it also provides an effective preparation roadmap. The information it contains, such as the examination content, examination procedures, approved reference materials, and more, will directly affect how you prepare.
What’s more, the current bulletin goes beyond providing the information you need for effective preparation. It also saves you the expensive mistake of spending a lot of money on study materials only to realise they aren’t permitted for the examination.
2. Online Prep Courses
If you ask most successful general contractors, online prep courses are among the best solutions for structuring your study time. Instead of piecing resources together on your own, you get everything you need, from video lessons to live instructor support in one package.
RocketCert’s NASCLA exam prep courses are among the top options for studying efficiently and accessing comprehensive content. A high-quality online prep course must give you everything you need to understand and pass open-book testing.
3. The Approved Reference Books
Even though the NASCLA exam is open-book, it doesn’t mean you can rely on a pile of books you’ve never opened before. This makes the approved reference materials some of your most valuable study resources, as the examination questions are based on the information in them. Some of the top reference books you need are:
- NASCLA Contractor’s Guide to Business, Law, and Project Management
- International Building Code (IBC)
- International Mechanical Code (IMC)
- International Residential Code (IRC)
- International Plumbing Code (IPC)
- OSHA Standards for the Construction Industry
- National Electrical Code (NEC)
- State-specific codes or amendments
When it comes to using these reference books, you shouldn’t attempt to read each book from cover to cover. Instead, aim to understand where certain information is. One of the best ways to do this is to use “Reference Drills”, which brings us to the next important resource.
Pro tip: Ensure you create a tab system customised to your preferences for easier location of important information.
4. Practice Exams
If you ask us, practice tests are undeniably a powerful resource when preparing for your NASCLA exam. But you must also understand that practice questions are not created equal. NASCLA now has practice examinations designed around the Commercial General Building Contractors examination.
This is a test designed to simulate the testing experience and has a total of 115 questions, a timed, full-length format, and a detailed score report to help you understand the topics you should focus more on. But there are plenty of other high-quality, customised practice exams from education providers. Just make sure they are timed to match the real test, similar in style and difficulty to the NASCLA exam, and provide explanations for correct answers.
5. Personal Question Log
Your own mistake database isn’t a resource you will find sitting on a bookstore shelf, but it will give you greater value than you could imagine. What’s more, the way this works is pretty straightforward. Every time you answer a practice question incorrectly, record why. This will help you understand where your problems lie.
It might be something like misunderstanding the questions, confusing two similar requirements, rushing to answer, or even failing to locate concepts in the book within the allotted time. Whatever the reasons, listing them will help you switch your preparation approach to one that is more effective.
Start Building Your Path to Success Today
Passing the NASCLA exam is quite easy if you know the right steps to take. You, however, must create an effective system that contains parts that work seamlessly together, from high-quality exam prep courses to tabbing and highlighting formulas that save you precious time during the exam.
Ready to embark on this journey? Head over to rocketcert.com right now to see the exam prep courses they offer and add them to your resources toolkit.