For those who have taken a 5.0 test, do you recommend doing the case studies FIRST or LAST?
Arguments for Case Studies FIRST
Pros: Enough time to digest material and answer the questions
Cons: Spending too much time on them and running out of time for other questions
Arguments for Case Studies LAST
Pros: Answering the majority of the questions (getting the low hanging fruit first), since all questions are one point each.
Cons: Risking not enough time for case study questions.
My game plan is doing Case Studies LAST. Since every question is worth one point, regardless of type (case studies, hotspots, drag and place). I'd rather spend my first 15 minutes answering 15 questions vs. spend my first 15 mins answering only 5. Worst case scenario, I guess on the case studies. Based on other posted topics, it also sounds like there's a ton of lag time to navigate the tabs and material for case studies. In addition to time wasted dealing with the program and digesting material to answer a few questions, I'd rather blow through the majority of the test and get as much answered first. However, other people who have tested already have posted in this forum to do them FIRST. I test PPD next week and will update you all on how this approach actually pans out! Still would love to hear from any one else on how to approach these new questions.
PS: First post - stoked and surprised my username was not taken yet.
*UPDATE 1/23/17*
I just got back from the test. I'll write a more complete update on overall test taking experience in a separate topic. I don't know if I passed as I just took it hours ago, so please read the update below with a grain of salt and judge for yourself!
I stuck with my plan to do the case studies LAST. They appeared at the end of the test, but I don't know if this is by design or that the test just happened to put them last. There was lag time in loading each screen, but nowhere near 30 seconds. It was more like 2-5 seconds each click - and certainly not instantaneous. Zoom function for viewing the documents was not good. If you click the + magnifying glass, it will automatically zoom 300% instead of incrementally. Overall, compared to the 4.0 vignette software it was an improvement. However, if this is going to be software that will be used for 10+ years, one would THINK NCARB would be sure it would be on par with current software standards, knowing it will get dated fairly quickly.
I went through 98 questions quickly in 1.5 hrs and had 2.5 hrs left to complete 2 case studies, 11 questions each. I ended up taking a total of 1.5 hrs for the case studies, leaving me 1 hour to go back and review questions. I reviewed 110 questions in that 1 hour.
Case Study #1: Took me 1 hour to answer 11 questions, 2 of which complete guesses after completely giving up. The first case study was more difficult than the samples in both the PPI/Ballast 5.0 book and the NCARB demo exam. More material to look at to answer the question. 1 question was a bit vague to me, and the scenario felt incomplete/missing crucial information.
Case Study #2: 30 minutes to answer 11 questions, The second case study was easier and pretty much on par in terms of difficulty compared to PPI/Ballast and NCARB samples.
I felt like case studies simulated and tested "real world" scenario of problem solving. However, I don't think that the second case study tested anything that the first one didn't already test, so it seems unnecessary to have to do 2 case studies. If i were to suggest an improvement (aside from technical/software), I would take out the second case study or differentiate the second one to test another skill or application of knowledge.