To become a registered Energy Advisor, you need to pass two timed exams. The Natural Resources Canada Foundation Level Exam and Energy Advisor Exam are tough if you haven't been in school for a while. Even if you're not too far away from your school days, exam anxiety is a real thing. And advisor exam prep is key to your success.
We get it!
At Blue House Energy, we've created a whole module with study tips and strategies in both the Foundation Level Exam prep and the Energy Advisor Exam Prep. It's also in in our Exam Prep Mastery Program. Each Blue House energy course - and the whole reason for our training - is to support the success of energy advisors. We're here to help you on your way to becoming a registered energy advisor.
You've got some knowledge, you can prepare, and you can pass. But it can take a little bit more support to boost your confidence complete and pass a test if you're not comfortable with a timed exam in a public place.
Everything you know about building science principles can go out the window if you're dealing with anxiety about passing an exam.
We're here to give you some resources so you can boost your exam passing skills.
Keep your cool on the Energy Advisor Exam!
When you get anxious or flustered when taking an exam, you need to take a breath and settle your mind. Easier said than done for many of us. Remember, the exam is 90 minutes, not your whole life. You can try again after a 30 day window. Lots of people have to retake the exams a couple of times because they are challenging.
Natural Resources Canada works with Yardstick Assessment Strategies to provide some resources for exam preparation, including practice questions and tutorials on Yardstick's exam registration site to help candidates get ready for the exams.
But you've got two challenges in one for these exams: get good training for the role of energy advisors, starting with the Foundation Level which include building science principles for new and existing homes, safety considerations on site, renovation of low rise housing.
And: get ready for that exam
You'll need to be well-familiar with the house as a system approach by the time you're ready to prepare for the exam!
For the Energy Advisor Exam, you need to get familiar with the Energuide Rating System, which the system that Natural Resources Canada administers. This system is used nationally to benchmark both new construction and renovation of low rise housing.
There are two areas from the Foundation Level Exam Competency Guidelines that won't be on your test, and that's computer skills and communication.
Energy advisor exam questions are focussed on the role of the Energy Advisor, including administrative tasks and the technical skills required to deliver the EnerGuide Rating System.
Sometimes, it’s can be a challenge to see the correct answers to exam questions. Here’s a good example.
How You Read The Exam Question is Key
One of our Blue House Energy Energy Advisor Exam Prep Mastery students challenged the answers to this question on one of our timed practice exams:
Which three statements are true with respect to steel studs?
The answer choices are:
a. Lighter and less bulky than wood
b. Not damaged by insects or fire
c. Good for meeting load requirements in seismic areas
d. Less costly than wood
The correct choices are a, b, and c:
a. Lighter and less bulky than wood
b. Not damaged by insects or fire
c. Good for meeting load requirements in seismic areas
The learner’s challenge choices were:
a. Lighter and less bulky than wood
c. Good for meeting load requirements in seismic areas
d. Less costly than wood
There are three choices that are based on the fundamental qualities of steel studs: (a), (b), and (c) are always true. The choice (d) is about cost, which is always a variable.
The price of steel - or any material/piece of equipment - fluctuates with the market, and even by regional market, and so it’s quite possible that wood might be less costly than steel. So, ‘d. less costly than wood’ is not always a true statement about steel studs.
Sometimes this type of question means you need to choose the answers that are ‘most true’ - that is they are simply a fact that describes or is associated with the topic. If you find yourself stumped because all of the choices seem reasonable to you, go back and read the question.
If it's asking you to choose one or more ‘true’ or ‘most true’ answers from a list, the correct answers will describe an unchangeable fact, nature or quality of the subject or topic.
Choose the 'Most True' Answers on the Energy Advisor Exams
When you are taking an exam or practicing for one, always ask yourself: which one of these qualities could be considered a variable?
Don’t get into a conversation with yourself about mitigating factors that are not being asked in the question!
Multiple choice questions are snapshots. Think about them as short, snappy, and with limited choices.
The question maker has determined that there is one answer, or multiple answers that fit the bill. Roll with it and go onto the next question.
Rapid fire!
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If you'd like to know more about the Energy Advisor Exam Prep Mastery Program, book a call with Carla, our program coordinator. She's got answers for ya! |
