How to Handle Long Test Questions on the CPCU Exam

by | Jan 7, 2018 | Test Strategies

On your CPCU® tests, it is common to encounter very lengthy test questions. Usually you are given a scenario with a lot more information than you need, and the question is trying to test if you know which details are relevant to the concept at hand. That level of detail provided can be overwhelming, so here is how you can keep from losing focus:

If you find your mind wandering away or you have to keep re-reading because you simply aren’t retaining the details, try this strategy: start by reading the question first. When you know what you are trying to determine, it gives your brain a context for processing all those details you are reading. It also allows you to immediately eliminate unnecessary information if you know it is not pertinent to the question asked.

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You can also apply this strategy again later when you are double-checking your answers. If you initially did the problem by reading from start to finish, when reviewing your answers, begin by reading the question at the bottom first. Then, read the rest of the problem from start to finish and see if you still get the same answer you did the first time you answered the question.

Another startegy that might help is to write down all the key details in a bulleted list on your scratch paper. Simply reorganizing stuff from full sentences in to short snippets like that makes the information so much easier to digest. Consider this example:

Benjamin has his home insured with Westfork Mutual under an HO-3 policy for $100,000. He is the named insured on the policy. There are three other residents of the home: Maria, Benjamin’s mother; Daniel, his nephew; and Cian, a family friend. An accidental fire causes damage to the home and to personal property of all four occupants. Benjamin reports the loss to Westfork and Fatima, a claim representative, is assigned the claim. Which one of the following will most likely be Fatima’s principal concern when analyzing coverage for the loss?

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Now, this is a lot of information being presented. If you were to list it in a bulleted form, it might look like this instead:

  • Benjamin has HO3 pol for $100k
  • Benjamin = named insured
  • 3 other residents
    • 1) Maria (Ben’s mom)
    • 2) Daniel (Ben’s nephew)
    • 3) Cain (family friend)
  • Fire causes damage to home & personal property of all 4 people

See how much easier it is to understand the information or refer back to the key details when it is listed like this instead? Any time you feel overwhelmed with the level of details in a particular problem, use this particular strategy to help sort things out.

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