NCIDQ Exam Tips for All 3 Divisions
By: PPI
March 1, 2021
Taking the NCIDQ exam is a big investment in your career. Follow these tips to learn more about the NCIDQ exam subject matter, study schedules, and how to seek out additional study materials.
Familiarize Yourself with the NCIDQ Subject Matter
You should consider starting your exam review by quickly skimming each chapter of our Interior Design Reference Manual. This will help you understand the exam’s general emphasis, as well as the NCIDQ exam areas that previous candidates found difficult.
The NCIDQ exam covers a very broad range of interior design subjects. This means your study most likely can’t include every practice area that could possibly come up. Your prior interior design work experience and knowledge, as well as your brief review of the manual chapters, will help you determine which knowledge areas need more review.
Commit to an NCIDQ Study Schedule
We recommend using Table 4 in our manual or downloading our study guide to plan your NCIDQ exam study schedule before tackling the individual subject details.
Begin with the subjects you are less familiar with, and factor in extra study time for these subjects.
Creating and sticking to your study schedule is arguably the most difficult part of the process to becoming an interior designer, and it requires a lot of self-discipline. You can make this process easier by starting your studies early and creating a schedule that allows time for your personal life.
Seek Out Additional NCIDQ Review Materials
Once your schedule is mapped out, you’re ready to begin your actual NCIDQ exam review.
PPI suggests exploring additional resources to help review subjects you find challenging. Including the use of our three practice exam companion books, NCIDQ IDFX Sample Questions and Practice Exam, NCIDQ IDPX Sample Questions and Practice Exam, and NCIDQ PRAC Practice Exam Problems into your study schedule, is a great way to help you prepare for the exam.
Rest Before Exam Day
Regardless of how much you’ve studied, the NCIDQ exam can be tiring simply due to its length and the amount of concentration needed to get through it.
Consider stopping review a day or two before the exam. Get plenty of sleep the night before, and give yourself plenty of time to get to the exam site on the day of the exam.
Bring Everything You Need on Exam Day
Make sure to bring the following items to your exam. Please note the name on your ID’s must exactly match the name on your confirmation exactly.
- exam confirmation letter
- a current (unexpired) government-issued ID with your signature and photograph on it
- a second piece of identification with your name and signature on it
Ready to ace the NCIDQ exam?
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