Posted on May 28, 2014
PO2 Ce04 Wcs/Ce01 Nmt Lead Technician
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Alright. I studied to make E5, but it was m awards and evals that threw me over the edge. Obviously my study habits are not where they need to be. If you have any advice on studying for Navy advancement exams, please don't hesitate to chime in!
Posted in these groups: Navy Navy0f94af1 AdvancementAcademics Academics
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CPO Electronics Technician
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Edited >1 y ago
PO2 Gibson, it is my firm belief that nothing, and I mean nothing beats the below tips:
1 - Know your training manuals summaries and take the built in tests. What you get wrong, right the question on the index card and the answer on the back.
2 - Utilize NavyBMR.com if they have your specific rate covered. Since the new BIBs are out, they should have study guide and tests based ONLY on the most current BIB. Don't waste your time on NorthStar, it covers everything.
3 - Study your butt off and don't be like the 90% of the Sailors out there that don't. During the most recent E4-5-6 advancement exams I picked two tables from each one and asked the Sailors if they REALLY studied. It came out to about 10% that truly got down with the studying.
4 - Stacks of index cards that you just basically memorize. It's all about preparation.

The reason I think this is the best solution for you and anyone else reading this is due to the fact I was NEVER a good test taker. When someone says they are not a good test taker, it usually means they didn't study. Here's how I went from E-1 to E-7.

E-1,2,3 and PO3 Automatic - Advanced Electronic Computer Field (AECF)
PO3 again due to a bust in 98 - 100% advancement off the test (had to get my name right)
PO2 - Selective Training and Re-enlistment Bonus (STAR) program. Automatic E-5 out of C school
PO1 - Capped to First Class
Took the Chief's exam 6 times and made board only once...the board I made it to is when I was selected for Chief.

So, I never made rate from studying and advancing off a test with the exception of my second attempt as a Third Class. I was tired of not making the cut and one year I decided to study really hard, I mean I was putting in about 30 minutes a day for the last two months prior to the Chief's exam. Doesn't sound too bad huh? I used the NavyBMR.com website and took all the tests online that were geared toward my bibliography and whatever questions I got wrong I slapped them on an index card. I had hundreds and hundreds and I basically was able to memorize them all. The happiest moment of my career besides putting on Anchors, was when I saw that I had scored higher than 98% of the people taking the test and I made board! I could have kicked myself for all the years I wasted not studying.
This is not a long story short because hindsight is 20/20 and want to make sure YOU and anyone else that reads this knows that it's not how many you get right on the test, it's how many MORE you get right over the guy or girl next to you that "KINDA" studied.
Soap Box Speech Complete...Hope that helps.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
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Not sure how popular this is in the Navy, but this is literally the gold standard (the AF version) for promotion testing in the AF since the bulk of our promotion points come from our two test for E5-E7.

https://mcmguides.com/Navy

AF promotion system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weighted_Airman_Promotion_System
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PO1 Admin
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The obvious is PRINT YOUR BIBS!!!! Other than that, maybe get a study group together or make some flash cards. Oh, and start early! I started studying for first almost before I was froked to 2nd haha. I got the E6 BIBS from a fellow YN2 who was studying for YN1.
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PO2 Ce04 Wcs/Ce01 Nmt Lead Technician
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Yeah I'm a year out from the test, printed out the bibs. Reading and answering questions (from the back) and having another ET2 quiz me as I complete each section. We are mixing up all questions from completed sections and making a "phony" test. I was told to make a jeapordy power point game and things like that for the division. Thoughts on that?
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Jeopardy is a great idea. It's good to start a question bank with answers and add to it everytime you think of a good question. Once you have a large bank of questions and answers, you'll be able to use them to quiz your junior Sailors when it's time for them to advance.
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Don't forget to study up on your general military stuff. I'm not sure where you've been stationed, but I've never had duty onboard a ship so the general stuff is what I had trouble with.
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