NJ Cops | Page 82

Preparing to prepare for an exam Throughout the past 23 years of preparing aspiring candidates for the New Jersey Law Enforcement Entry (LEE) exam, I have often been asked, “What steps can I take now before I attend your prep course?” Since the entry-level exam being used by the NJ Civil Service Commission is a very lengthy DAVID and specifically-designed, three-factor psychoPAPROTA metric assessment, I provide the consistent response: “Read, read, and read some more.” This simple advice is so critical to a candidate’s success. The longer a candidate has been away from an academic setting, the more important this advice becomes. For many, once you are out of school, the practice of reading drops to minimal levels. Anybody who has sat for a very lengthy examination has likely experienced some degree of reader fatigue. The fatigue is both physiological and psychological. The perceived importance of the examination creates a heightened level of stress, which, if not harnessed properly, can contribute to fatigue midway through an exam. Likewise, the strain on a person’s eyes during a lengthy exam is a common problem for those who do not read regularly. These two negative effects are not mutually exclusive. The stress experienced tends to contribute to the eye strain experi- • Basement Waterproofing • Kitchens and Bathrooms • Finished Basements • Masonry, Paving, Concrete, Pavers • Plumbing and Electrical • Home Additions • Custom Tile Work • Custom Trim Work and Finish Carpentry • Drywall and Painting • Tenant Fitout Owned and Operated by NJ Law Enforcement Officer For fastest service please call 908-432-8858 or you can reach Level Construction via email at [email protected] NJ HIC LICENSE # 13VH07415900 82 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ APRIL 2016 enced during the testing process. As the eye strain worsens, a candidate logically tends to experience more negative stress. This phenomenon significantly contributes to decreased performance on a competitive exam. While attending my entry-level exam preparation seminar is extremely beneficial and recommended, there are steps candidates should take before the prep course even begins. It is highly recommended that aspiring police candidates begin the training process of preparing for the lengthy LEE exam now by reading regularly to both enhance their reading skill, condition their minds and bodies for both their studies and, ultimately, for peak performance on the actual exam. By saying reading skill, I specifically mean reading speed, accuracy and comprehension. This training exercise of reading should progressively grow in length and be with purpose. The objective is to condition the eyes while also enhancing reading skill. This means that candidates should not just read to get through the paragraph or page, but should actually focus on the content and context and try to recall what was read after completing small sections of the article or text. This small tip is one of many that will make a considerable difference in performance on exam day. Please let your friends and family who will be sitting for the upcoming NJ Law Enforcement Entry exam know. d