Fred’s System: how to avoid failure!
You have probably heard the crew say, “just follow Fred’s system…” and there’s a reason for this.
I am not going to tell you, “I told you so,” if you fail this exam; however, from my eyes, it's obvious why some crew struggle and others find it easier.
As I do this every day, I’m sharing this guide with you.
And trust me, I am the first person who wants to get from A to B the quickest/easiest way, but unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to this exam.
I would hate to see you fail, so please LISTEN TO MY ADVICE and follow my system!
Make a firm decision to commit FULLY
Don’t be “involved.” COMMIT!
Doing things halfway is the mother of everything that can go wrong. Without committing, you won’t achieve anything. Don’t start this journey until you are mentally ready to sit the exam.
That means, don’t buy a house, (I’m talking to you, Mike!), get married or have a holiday, –-just to be clear.
Read about “How we learn”
Listen to what the experts say. Know how your brain works from the get-go.
Talk to your mates who have already sat this exam
Hear first-hand what the process is like and get their advice on how to prepare.
Pre-study
Three months before you fully commit, start with some pre-study.
Read:
Fred’s what to study list - OOW
or
Fred’s what to study list - Master 500/3000
or
Fred’s what to study list - M200
Take time off to study; don’t work - not even a shipyard period!
Do one thing and one thing only. Don’t work on several things simultaneously and expect excellent results. It’s a hard exam, and there’s a huge amount of information to learn.
How long do I need?
It depends on you. When was the last time you studied?
I find most of my students need a minimum of 4 weeks. I personally would allocate 6 weeks.
Get yourself a great study space
No distractions
Quiet room
Fast internet
Stationary/flashcards
Good lighting
Clutter-free
Then when you’re ready, hit subscribe!
It might sound obvious, but start from the beginning and go through the course in order.
Did I mention I have a system? Well, I do.
Print the notes
Write your flashcards
Do the quizzes
Get my past papers
Don’t worry. I supply the past papers to you at the right moment in your journey.
These allow you to do a risk assessment of the likely exam questions and the severity of not knowing the answers.
The key to this exam is knowing the answers to the questions asked. Hence, why we need to determine the questions that are coming. Simple!
Come to my webinars! They are so important!
They really do help, so bring a cup of tea, a beer or a glass of wine and come along:
Test your knowledge under pressure
Understand the level you need to be to pass first time
Find out how to study the right way
Learn exam technique
Get the latest style of exam questions
Access up-to-date past papers
Info on how the exam is done online
Hook up with a study buddy
Some people like to study by themselves, but there are so many advantages to having a study buddy. This is an oral exam, so you need to be able to speak it. Plus, to embed new information in a long-lasting way, an excellent method is to have to explain/teach it to someone else.
Exercise
Not saying that you should go run a marathon; just go for a walk. Get some fresh air. You’ll feel better after.
Sleep
A good, restful night’s sleep is essential and helps to strengthen what you learned during the day.
Read “Why we sleep” by Matthew Walker if you ever have time.
GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FAITH IN THE SYSTEM!
