Section 4 Time Constraints

[Benjamin Haim]

Ok, so I likely didn't pass section 4 because I ran out of time.  I had about 6 or 7 questions left and really rushed through about 20 of them or so.  Does anyone have study strategies that will help absorb information quicker?  I suppose that the obvious tips are the best- take more practice exams, etc.  I probably got most of the drag and drops correct, but they killed me in regards to time.  I wonder if there's a process to absorbing all of the info in a more linear fashion that can help speed up in answering the drag and drop questions (basically all grading and drainage questions).  For example- find highest spot elevs, then solve for rims, then solve for inverts, etc.

I really feel like I need to change my study strategy for this section.

[sallie....@gmail.com]

I skip the grading and drag/drop problems and go back to them once I finish the multiple choice. They take more time, are equal with every other question, and your brain isn't going back and forth between logic and mathematics/design. I also use the scratch pad to write the eliminate the answers i know aren't right. Hope this helps.

[Tamara Sorensen]

Your not alone and I was really frustrated with time as well, more so on this test than any of the others I have taken. I only flagged what I absolutely had too (maybe 20 questions) but I barely had time at the end to make it back to those, let alone double checking the rest. Already some answers I wish I could go back and change. I had figured that with a four hour test, 120 questions equals to be about two minutes per question on average. So I would suggest when reading through them for the first time skipping/flagging anything right off the bat if you think it will take more than two minutes to answer. Problem is that I thought there were very few questions that would go really quickly to make up for all the ones that definitely take more than two minutes to answer. But I usually like to read through a question twice just to make sure I'm reading the question right and not missing anything tricky. Eliminating answers helps me. There were some questions, say for example with four possible answers that I could eliminate two of the possible answers immediately and then I'm only having to debate between two of the last available answers.

I didn't think the drag and drop were overly hard, but they seemed to eat up time like crazy. There seemed like a huge disconnect between what I studied and what showed up on the test so that was really frustrating. I feel like I spent hours and hours pouring over information that didn't show up anywhere. I guess I'll have a better idea of what to study if I have to take this again.

[Edward Lee]

Absolutely agree - this is a problem with all sections but Section 4 seems particularly bad. For instance, why include those fastener and lumber span charts in the appendices of their orientation guide but have zero questions on them in the actual exam. Really ridiculous.

[Becky Ellis]

I am in the same boat as others with running out of time on Section 4. I divide up the questions and do the MC/MR ones first and then double back to the graphic questions (thanks Cheryl!). The last 10 questions or so, I was rushed and probably didn't give them the attention required. I finished answering all of the questions with less than 4 minutes to spare. No time for review. By that time I felt stressed and anxious that I wouldn't get all of the questions answered.  In a 4 hour exam, I need a break - to use the washroom, and get some water and a snack - those seem to be precious minutes. IMO 4 hours is not enough time to answer 120 questions that require full attention to detail and some basic calculations. Why are 120 questions necessary? Would 100 not suffice?  Either reduce the number of items or give a scheduled break that doesn't run down the clock!

I have to tell you I was pretty jazzed when we all thought that the number of questions on the tests had been reduced. It is pretty crappy that CLARB had been telling us since NOVEMBER that the number of items had changed for the April exams, but then realized their "mistake" with only 6 weeks to go.  I also almost ran out of time on Section 3 last December and I thought that the change would be a benefit for taking Section 4.

Like others I spent hours reading about materials and methods and fasteners, and things that didn't show up at all on the exam etc. I feel like I got a disproportionate number of questions about irrigation. I don't know any LAs who actually design irrigation systems.

I am not positive that I passed either and I am not excited about having to take Section 4 again. Should I start becoming an irrigation expert now?

[Benjamin Haim]

Thanks for the responses.  This was helpful.  Next time, I'll focus on one set of questions (the multiple choice) first, then the drag and drop.  I'll probably have to time my practice exams, too.  Ugh.  Not looking forward to taking this again.  I'm pretty sure I didn't pass. I need to study hard for exams because I'm not the best test taker but all of those hours I just invested in study time the past two months.  Weekends, studying in the evenings after 10-12 hour workdays, the money you pay for all of it, etc.  It's painful I tell you (I'm sure you guys know).  But I will take it again.  I'll pass....eventually. 

I hear the Corson webinars are helpful.  Going to look into those. 

[Benjamin Haim]

Yeah, I was also a bit surprised with the irrigation questions.  I live in CA and so irrigation is a must here.  We install it in all of our projects (and our drought just made things even more serious in this arena).  But still, my thinking was- this is a national exam.  How much emphasis can they possibly place on irrigation considering places like New Jersey average 4" of rain in July?  One of my study strategies for the first two sections was to focus more on what they're likely to test you on the most.  For example, I basically obsessed about soil classification on section 2.  Sure enough, plenty of questions on that and I passed the first time.  But really, you never know what they'll test you on.  For section 4, I placed SO much focus on Q=CIA.  Studied it for hours and hours.  Test time comes and barely any questions on that topic.  Ugh. So frustrating.

[sallie....@gmail.com]

I took the exam last August, along with Sections 2 & 3 (passed those). I knew I had bombed Section 4 when I walked out. As soon as I was done I wrote down as many areas on the test I had a hard time with so I knew what to study for if I had to take the test again.

[Tamara Sorensen]

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I was so surprised how much specifications and ADA showed up on this new format for Section 4. I almost think it took up 20% of my test. I hadn't read through the ADA chapters since when I took Section 3 in December so I was regretting that. I had spent so much time going into stormwater management at great lengths and not near as many questions as I would have thought on that. Irrigation was a real surprise. Not as much on erosion/control as I would have expected either. I'm not sure how I did, but seeing how much lower the pass rates are for Section 4 I'm not holding my breath. I agree, four hours is a long time to go without a scheduled break without time penalty. Section 3 has been the only test I've managed to eek out a super fast restroom break. I had no time to even consider that for Section 4. 

[Emily Garavuso]

I suggest everyone on here email CLARB with your thoughts on the exam.  I too feel that it is inhumane to not have a scheduled break to get a glass of water and use the rest room.  It is not good for your body to sit this long.  The material covered on the test was not at all in line with what I expected either.  There were also tons of questions hitting on the same topics.  When there is so much information to cover there is no reason to ask questions on the same topics over and over again. There were also a number of poorly worded or drawn questions which force the test taker to waste precious time.  Like if you're going to ask me a question about elevations but you don't give me a starting elevation point - I have to waste a lot of time figure out the difference between all the answers offered to find the ones that fit the questions requirements!  While graphic questions were only 40% of the test they probably took up 70% of the time. I didn't run out of time but it did feel tighter than the other exams I've taken. 

I keep a chart while I'm taking  the exam- 3 columns to write down the question numbers ( I do this on practice tests too).  Column 1 I am sure of (or certain enough not to come back to it) Column 2 is for 50/50 guess (and I write down which choices I'm between), Column 3 is the educated guess when I'm between more than two options.  A side note is made of the topic of any question that is totally foreign to me.  I flag all the graphic problems and do them second because they take more time.  When I'm done I go back through the 50/50 and then through the more difficult choices. This also allows you to walk out of the exam with a ball park of how you might have done on the exam.  Instead of that yucky feeling you have after going over and over the questions you didn't understand.  

This was a really disappointing exam.  Don't let if get you down, you learned a lot in the process regardless of weather you pass or not.  If you need to take it again you'll be that much more prepared.  Hopefully CLARB will be prepared next time too.  

[Jessica Escobar]

I did feel this exam took the most thought and time, but still had about 50 minutes remaining after I went through all of the questions a second time.  I'm sorry you ran out of time.  The grading and drainage questions did use a disproportionate amount of test time, but grading does take time and effort in real life, so...

Definitely separate the types of questions next time using the flag option.  How many days until the scores are up?  I'm dying to know!  I'm ready to start studying for the CSE.

[Sophie S]

Hi Jessica-

Did you take any of the offered tutorials/ webinars etc.to prepare for Section 4 that you were able to review and complete the exam? Aside from the test taking strategy, do you have any insight into what you studied and what you thought was most helpful?

Thanks! sophie

[Ray Freeman]

Interesting that some candidates are reporting running out of time. I have not heard any of that from my former students, but the exam does morph.

Here's some thoughts:
Since all questions are worth one point (which is insane), on your first pass avoid questions with calculations, or that require you to read complex charts (wood member sizing), evaluate construction details, and grading plans with calcs. These will be the most time-consuming questions.

With regard to annoying concentration on or lack of questions on subject matter, this is to be expected...based on past history. Section 4 in particular covers a huge range of subject matter. With 120 questions, there is no way CLARB can test you on everything they list. Think about it: Grading, Drainage and Construction Documentation. Big topic. This is what CLARB does:  They focus a magnifying glass on certain subjects: Recent (2016) hot topics include Specs, correct use of fasteners in details, irrigation, stormwater management, sedimentation and erosion control. Then some subjects don't get tested at all. Examples from the past: Rational Method, Manning Nomograph, Web member sizing chart. Next time they give the exam, they are back!

So, you have to be prepared for a lot of topics, with the understanding that they may or may not be tested when YOU sit for the section.