You can't hide from test anxiety, but you can manage it, just like you can avoid the coronavirus.
UPDATED 3/19. CIDQ has cancelled all exams for the Spring 2020 testing administration. Your exam eligibility and purchased exam will be transferred to fall.
I know you’re probably already feeling stressed about taking the NCIDQ Exam – and now your fears have potentially been heightened by thoughts about the coronavirus. We've already had a lot of questions about this in our NCIDQ Study Group.
At Qpractice, we understand both test anxiety and the uncertainty you might be experiencing about the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. The health and wellbeing of our community members and our team is our top priority, and we are committed to being responsive to your needs as the situation evolves.
As interior designers, our top concern is always the health, safety, and welfare of our clients and the general public. That's really what the exam is all about — not aesthetics. At Qpractice, we are also concerned about the health, safety, and welfare of our members, team, and subscribers. Our goal is to provide resources to help you study and pass your exam, safely.
While keeping the larger community in mind, you must also take steps to protect your own safety and make the decisions that are best for you.
We’re here as a resource for Qpractice members in the midst of this ongoing situation, and we wanted to reach out with some tips for managing stress and staying healthy over the next few weeks as you prepare for the exam.
Strategies for staying well and doing your best on the NCIDQ Exam
Because it's almost exam time, many of you are already stressed about your upcoming test dates. You certainly don't need any more worries right now — especially about the coronavirus. That kind of stress can actually make it more likely that you will get sick, and it doesn't help your exam performance.
So while you can't change the circumstance, you can change your thoughts about this. And in turn change your feelings, actions and results. This is typically the way it works in our day-to-day lives:
- Circumstances lead to your thoughts.
- Your thoughts create your feelings and emotions.
- Your feelings lead you to take action.
- The actions you take lead to your results (whether those are good or bad).
This model is something we teach in our private study group to help our members reprogram their thinking, for example this common thought pattern:
Circumstance
Running behind on study schedule
Thought
“There is so much to do, there is no way I will get this done”
Feeling
Overwhelmed
Action
Procrastinate / paralysis
Result
Don't get through the study material on time
Don't pass the exam😫
Use the model to change your thinking, and change your results:
Circumstance
Running behind on study schedule
Thought
“There is a lot to do, but I can totally do this. I’m good under pressure.”
Feeling
Determined
Action
Take action and focus
Use Qpractice resources like workshops, practice tests, answer vault
Discuss anything you're unclear on in the study group
Target your time to where you need the most review
Result
Studying on track
Pass the exam
Use this time to study, not panic
Instead of worrying about circumstances beyond your control, reprogram your thinking. Because now can be a super time for you to focus on your exams, instead of being distracted by other activities and commitments. Feel free to reach out and show me how you've applied the model to your thinking about the coronavirus.
As an online virtual community, we offer you the ability to study anytime, anywhere — from the safety of your own home. We offer you a safe space to continue your learning and adding knowledge about how to protect the public, while also protecting yourself.
Studying locally in groups might mean more exposure to colds, flu, or coronavirus. Some local events may be cancelled, and some instructors may choose not to travel.
Instead, Qpractice offers you access to almost a thousand other active members this season — designers just like you who share a common goal of preparing for the exam. Members who participate the most almost always do the best on the exams — and some have even joined our team. So it's time to put away Facebook and Instagram for only a month or so, and put our mobile app on your home screen instead.
Get active, get involved in our online community.
Stay away from drama and misinformation floating around online, so you can spend your time productively and have fun instead with us in the study group at the same time.
Taking care of yourself while you study
Looking after your own health is always important when you’re getting ready for the exam, but it’s particularly important now.
Take care of yourself by making sure you stay hydrated, washing your hands thoroughly, eating well, and getting lots of sleep.
We also recommend that you make “common sense” decisions about how you interact with people and colleagues. Take precautions and pay attention to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommendations to avoid coronavirus, colds, or flu.
Protecting yourself from coronavirus (COVID-19) on exam day
According to Prometric, candidates will be allowed to use masks and gloves while testing, and they will be providing disposable wipes so surfaces can be wiped down.
On test day, we recommend sanitizing your desktop, keyboard, mouse, calculator, pencil, dry erase marker, and chair arms before you sit down. Don’t forget your noise-cancelling headphones, especially the ear pads.
If you take a bathroom break, wash your hands thoroughly before and after, and use paper towels when opening doors as you’re re-entering the room.
Make your best effort to avoid touching your face or neck during the exam. While masks are best reserved for healthcare workers and those who are already infected, you can DIY a simple version that will help remind you NOT to touch your face.
Have more questions? Here’s where to go next
If you have any questions about how you can use Qpractice to study for your exams, please feel free to contact us at any time.
For more questions about your personal exam situation, you can reach out directly to CIDQ, to make sure you’re receiving the most up-to-date information.
NCIDQ Examination
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 210
Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: 202-721-0220
Fax: 202-721-0221
Ray Resendez, the Customer Experience Manager, answers most calls and can answer questions. His email address is rresendez@cidq.org.
You can also get in touch with the Exam Director, Cornelia Springer, at cspringer@cidq.org.
For additional information about COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
I hope you find this helpful, stay well, and pass your exams. Please share this with your friends and colleagues, and I welcome your feedback.
You can pass the NCIDQ Exam.
Join designers like you, and move ahead in your career!