Testing with success series

Multiple choice tests

Multiple choice questions usually include a phrase or stem
followed by three to five options:
Test strategies:

Read the directions carefully

Know if each question has one or more correct option
Know if you are penalized for guessing
Know how much time is allowed (this governs your strategy)

Preview the test

Read through the test quickly and answer the easiest questions first
Mark those you think you know in some way that is appropriate

Read through the test a second time and answer more difficult questions
You may pick up cues for answers from the first reading, or become more comfortable
in the testing situation

If time allows, review both questions and answers

It is possible you mis-read questions the first time
Answering options
Improve your odds, think critically:
Cover the options, read the stem, and try to answer
Select the option that most closely matches your answer
Read the stem with each option
Treat each option as a true-false question, and choose the "most true"
Strategies for answering difficult questions:
1. Eliminate options you know to be incorrect
If allowed, mark words or alternatives in questions that eliminate the option
2. Give each option of a question the "true-false test:"
This may reduce your selection to the best answer
3. Question options that grammatically don't fit with the stem
4. Question options that are totally unfamiliar to you
5. Question options that contain negative or absolute words.
Try substituting a qualified term for the absolute one.
For example, frequently for always; or typical for every to see if you can eliminate an
option
6. "All of the above:"
If you know two of three options seem correct, "all of the above" is a strong possibility
7. Number answers:
toss out the high and low and consider the middle range numbers
8. "Look alike options"
probably one is correct; choose the best but eliminate choices that mean basically the
same thing, and thus cancel each other out
9. Double negatives:
Create the equivalent positive statement
10. Echo options:
If two options are opposite each other, chances are one of them is correct
11. Favor options that contain qualifiers
The result is longer, more inclusive items that better fill the role of the answer

12. If two alternatives seem correct,

compare them for differences,
then refer to the stem to find your best answer
Guessing:

Always guess when there is no penalty

for guessing or you can eliminate options

Don't guess if you are penalized for guessing

and if you have no basis for your choice

Use hints from questions you know

to answer questions you do not.

Change your first answers

when you are sure of the correction, or other cues in the test cue you to change.
Remember that you are looking for the best answer,
not only a correct one, and not one which must be true all of the time, in all cases, and
without exception.

ASNT NDT LEVEL III BASIC and UT METHOD Examinations

PART 1 BASIC
The Basic examinations looks simple. In my experience, close to 80% of questions
comes from ASNT SNT TC 1A, CP 189 and MATERIALS and PROCESS BOOK from ASNT.

I recommend the following lectures:

ASNT LEVEL II Basic Study Guides in all published methods

HANDBOOK OVERVIEW.

ASNT SNT TC 1A (2011)

CP 189 (2011)

ASNT MATERIALS AND PROCESS book

ASNT Questions and Answers books up to level II.

The best method to study is to be critic, make your own questions. The questions are not
difficult by itself, ASNT ask for comprehension instead memory. The exam is a
professional object, the people who makes the exam really want to explore the
knowledge as a whole. There are an important number of questions with more than one
correct answer, you shall select the best option. This type of questions reflect the depth
of your knowledge.
One important technique is to read in ACTIVE MODE, this means that you will write a list
of questions before read a topic, for example:
Which is the principle of the method, the main physics concept?
Which inspection needs could resolve the method.
How often is used the method.?
Which conditions are required to apply the method?

How many techniques have the method and how this techniques works?
Instrumentation related with the method.?
Etc etc etc This is the best way to read without be bored and active lecture is the
best way to learn by reading.
After the first lecture has been concluded, some of the questions should be answered,
but many other question rises from this first critical reading. So, make new questions and
read again. A very good approach is to read 3 times the same topic in a critical way. Make
a list of questions, short resumes and tables... comparisons are very important to
stimulate the memory associations.
ULTRASONIC METHOD
I recommend the following books

UT ASNT LEVEL III STUDY GUIDE

Four first chapters from KRAUTKRAMER AND KRAUTKRAMER (Last edition)

UT ASNT HANDBOOK

Question and Answer book Level I, II and III questions

If you have an score with more than 80% in the Study Guide and in the Question and
Answer book Level I, II and III questions you can be sure you will have a good score in the
real life examination.
It is not practical to ask which question someone could remember direct from the
examination, the questions are the same in nature from the Study Guide and Question
and Answers book.
VERY IMPORTANT LEFT THE PROCEDURE QUESTIONS FOR THE END !!!! The method
examination is accompanied with a procedure and a list of questions related with the
procedure, left this aspect of the examination to the end.
Do not spent time with the booklet of equations... it is only in case of emergency.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL
1) Carlos Guinand, an experimented ASNT NDT Level III in many methods gave me
a recommendation that is very useful during the examination. Make a list with the
number of your doubtfully questions. Ex. During the examination, if you have a doubt
about the question # 41, write the number of this question (41) in separate list in
a separate page. At the end of the examination, you will look for this questions to verify
the answer. This will help you save very valuable minutes.
2) Avoid to spent time with the booklet of formulas that is supplied with the
examinations, this could scare you since it have many page of equations, and there is a
high probability that this book will not be needed.

3) Consider using methods for answer multiple choice questions even ASNT usually
minimize effects that help to select the right answer without knowledge
(http://www.studygs.net/tsttak3.htm).
4) To have an overview of your results you can apply the following rule of thumb method:
A) You will fail close to the 10% of questions that you are absolutely sure you are right
B) You will fail close to the 50% of questions that you have doubts about the right
answer.
C) You will fail close to the 80% of questions which you do not have any idea about rigth
answer.
5) Day before exam take a long walk, this day make soft physical exercises spent calories
to be relaxed at night, not recommended to take much coffee since it is important
to sleep.
6) The following post from OLDANI OLIVIERO runs (ndt.net forum):
Re: ASNT LEVEL III BSIC QUESTIONS
In Reply to jose albanela on 19:34 Aug-29-2012 (Opening).
You can take the Basic ASNT Guide. There are 480 questions to be used as reference.
Those questions are of the same difficulty of those used for the examination. Only few
questions included into the Guide could be part of the examination. Test by yourself. On
480 questions a score of 80% could give you the needed confidence to be adequately
prepared.
Never loose the control, some questions could be difficult do not spent time with...
DO NOT FORGET TO COMPLETE THE ANSWER QUESTION SHEET. Some persons begin to
complete the small balls answer sheet just some minutes after the end of the test...