The Best Ways To Study

Over the years there has been one question we get time and time again around exam time. How would you recommend I study? Should I use study guides, or software, or both? If I had the million dollar answer, college would've been a lot easier (and shorter) but we can give you some advice.

Should I buy study guides? The salesman in me says of course you should. But honestly, its personal choice. If someone is hesitant to buy study guides I usually tell them to buy the books, go over the books, and then buy study guides if they feel they need some more reinforcement. Its a catch 22, if you buy the books with the study guides you save money. But if you don't need the study guides you feel like you wasted the money. This is another reason we try to run as many discounts and specials as we can during exam time (follow us on Twitter for even more discounts and sales). I'd guess 70% of those studying buy some form of study guide, with maybe 10% buying every available study guide.

Should I buy print or software study guides? Again this is a personal choice. Each has pros and cons. Software is a little more versatile, allowing you to mix up questions from all chapters to form a test, or allowing you to print flash cards. But, and in my opinion this is a big but, do you want to be stuck in the house all summer staring at a computer? The biggest benefit to the print study guides is their mobility. You can curl it up, stick it in your back pocket, and lounge on the beach in Maine, lay down in the hammock on your back yard or take it fishing down the Cape with you. Try doing that with a laptop.

Do I even need the texts? Many have tried to pass with only the study guides. Most have been unsuccessful. I'm yet to hear of anyone doing well while only using study guides. I'm sure it has happened but those successes are few and far between.

What other advice do you have? Over the years we've gotten the most positive feedback from people who used study groups. For the group to be successful, you have to choose your group wisely. First, keep the group small, no more than 5-6 people so everyone can have their say. Second, as much as they may be your friends, choose people you won't be competing against. This means you may have to find people who are on different departments. You don't want it to be a competitive atmosphere, you want it to be beneficial to everyone involved. Third, no one gets to miss a meeting. If someone is sick in bed, the whole group meets in their bedroom (and someone brings chicken soup). Sometimes it takes trading shifts, but it only works if everyone is dedicated.

We want to hear what has helped you. Either post it in the comments or add it to the discussion board on the FSP Facebook page (make sure its the one with posts, we somehow ended up with 2 pages). You can find all you study needs at www.fire-police-ems.com. And if you have any questions or comments let us know through email, by phone, in the comments section or with Twitter.

New 2009 Massachusetts Police Exam

Just a quick heads up that the new Massachusetts Police Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain promotional list has been posted by state Civil Service. The list is...

Community Policing: A Contemporary Perspective, 5th ed.

Criminal Investigation, 10th ed

Police Administration, 7th ed.

Supervision Of Police Personnel, 7th ed.

Also, Law Enforcement Dimensions offers a number of books to help explain Massachusetts general Law and Constitutional Law, along with many resources for the Massachusetts police officer. The entire list, with all additional resources, can be found on our website.

We expect the Massachusetts Fire Department Lieutenant and Captain list to be released any day now. To be notified via email when the list is released, please send an email to support@fire-police-ems.com with fire promo exam in the subject. We will send you a link to the list as soon as we get it posted. Also, we will announce it on our Twitter page at http://twitter.com/FSPbooks. For the time being we have possible reading lists posted at www.fire-police-ems.com.

If you are planning on having a promotional exam, register it with FSP by emailing support@fire-police-ems.com for discounted package pricing. We already have a number of lists posted, including Dallas Fire Dept., New Jersey Fire Depts. and Duxbury Fire Dept.