How To Be Successful When Taking the ACA Exam
Test anxiety is a real thing that many students suffer from. While they may understand the course material, actually sitting for an exam can give many a high level of anxiety. Our course is designed to cover all of the material in 40 hours (a traditional work week), however you may not want to devote eight hours a day to your studies. You can start and stop our course as needed during the 60-day period. Educational Services & Consulting has certified candidates for 21 years, 95 percent of our students pass their exam on the first attempt.
Set up your space and working area for you. As a student did you like to color code your notes or use up highlighters? Grab those colored pens and your favorite-colored highlighters and add them to a pen cup next to your computer. Then as you take the exam, you’ll be able to think back to the color you used for the concept.
Were you a write it down as many times until you committed the entire thing to memory kind of student or did you use mnemonic devices? Find a notepad or notebook that will let you write it all down, even the memory aides! While sitting for the exam, you can smile to yourself as you remember the mnemonic device, which has the added bonus of relaxing you, which can help you think more clearly and answer the question right the first time.
Could you visualize the concepts, or did you need to sketch them out? Maybe unlined paper is the best office supply item for you. When you answer exam questions, you can think back to the sketch or the visualization and answer confidently.
No matter your learning style, note taking or memorization style, the ACA course will prepare you to not only pass the exam but prepare you to be a successful Accredited Claims Adjuster.
As a quick reminder, the topics the ACA course covers are details on property insurance for residential and commercial, auto insurance, commercial general liability insurance, ethics, communication, and negotiation skills. Plus, lots of insurance terms and concepts. It may seem like a second language, but you will be fluent before you know it and are able to pass the exam.
Some tried and true tips from former students include:
• “Study in 30 minutes bursts followed by a 10-minute break. During that break dance to your favorite song, watch cute animal videos, take a quick walk or get a snack (try a healthy one!). During the exam, I was able to recall the material in reference to the reward.”
• “Set and stick to a schedule. If you are a working person, full-time or part-time, making sure you dedicate designated time every day to studying will be crucial for your success. The 60 days can go by faster than you think! Because I spent my afternoons studying, I made sure to take the exam at the same time that way it wasn’t any different from the day before.”
• “If you have more time in the morning, study then so it is already completed before you move on to your other responsibilities. I also appreciated being able to take the exam in the morning. That way it was done and could move on with the rest of my day and look forward to celebrating my success.”
If you think back to grade school, middle and even high school your study habits and exam taking skills were probably grossly different then compared to now. You may have to try different test taking strategies. We encourage you to experiment and see what works for you. What worked years ago may be a total “flop” now. Have an open mind and be flexible.
If test anxiety is something that’s keeping you from registering for our designation course, we invite you to call us. We would be happy to provide additional information on our 6-20 ACA Accredited Claims Adjuster exam or how to earn your 6-20 ACA designation. Call our Clermont, Florida office at 1-800-309-2459 or read more about the accredited claims adjuster certification process on our website.
In Florida, once you earn your 6-20 accredited claims adjuster designation, you can apply to the state for your all-lines adjuster license. This will enable you to work on home insurance claims, auto and RV insurance claims and property insurance claims. You would have the flexibility to work as a staff claims adjuster or an independent insurance adjuster. We invite you to take your career to new heights! Don’t let exam anxiety stop you, contact us today!