Post by lupine on May 13, 2009 20:16:36 GMT -5
I took the exam today for the state of Oregon, and I passed--93 of 100 questions. Woo hoo!
It was a lot tougher than I had anticipated, and I studied HARD. My style is to first answer the questions I'm solidly confident about, and lightly indicate the answers I "think" I want to select, putting a dash next to those and the "stumpers".
I had about 15 questions with dashes at the end of the exam, a LOT more than I'd have expected given my confidence in questions in the CHC guide and two online practice tests. Much of this had to do with wording. A few seemed easier on the second go-over, and there were about five that were pure "Hail Marys".
The test is at least a decade--likely 20-25 years old. I judge this by the funky font that makes me think of old mimeographs from the 70s. I was half-expecting to see something like, "If your female RT has a touch of morning sickness, an appropriate treatment would include"... with "Thalidomyde" being the most-likely-to-be-correct answer.
There are a lot of questions recognizable from the CHC guide (my copy is the 2009 edition) but they may be reworded a bit, or with different options in the answers. So...don't memorize when you study, but think of why the answers are correct when you study them.
I'm not going to give up too many details--I studied (and guessed) hard for that 93 score!--but I don't think it's unethical to prepare some future Oregonian falconers for a few blind curves.
Study the different behavior patterns among rough-legged hawks, merlins and kestrels. Rough-legged hawks aren't really addressed in the CHC guide, but they do show up on the Oregon test. The rest of the species-related questions will be easy to anybody familiar with the CHC guide.
Note that there is at least one question/answer that might be downright contrary to contemporary falconry teachings. Remember to try and think like the test-writer.
Try and get as much context to the CHC study guide answers/questions as possible, and this will help you with the tough, out-of-left-field questions you'll come across.
I feel that my technique of studying the CHC guide by having a friend make me recall possible answers, rather than just select the offered multi-choice options, helped immensely. I also believe there was value in reviewing certain raptor identification websites, as well as Beebe's A Falconry Manual, to a limited degree. I purposely stayed away from other introductory books until after the test so as not to cloud my brain with conflicting options. Don't know if that hindered or helped, but I did get a pretty high score, so....
The Oregon test is 100 questions, all multiple choice. No true-false, no essay, no interpretive dances. I think about half to two-third were immediately recognizable as close to CHC guide questions. The ODFW website has a break-down of the test questions and their categories.
Don't count on consistent perfect scores on online practice tests to ensure a high score on the real thing.
As far as Oregon-specific statutes, there was nothing in that section that would stump somebody from any other falconry state.
And rain is good luck!
Michelle/Lupine
PS: Not to be an elilitist (heck, I'm not a falconer yet, I'm just good at studying and taking exams) but I tried to give tips on studying and preparation, not to give answers or a "cheat sheet". I really do see the value in a challenging exam that filters out people who aren't truly committed to falconry.
I love that I left the ODFW with a sense of accomplishment, and a serious respect for the falconers who have had to go through it before me. So in that spirit, I hope this thread continues as a guide, but not as a giveaway.
It was a lot tougher than I had anticipated, and I studied HARD. My style is to first answer the questions I'm solidly confident about, and lightly indicate the answers I "think" I want to select, putting a dash next to those and the "stumpers".
I had about 15 questions with dashes at the end of the exam, a LOT more than I'd have expected given my confidence in questions in the CHC guide and two online practice tests. Much of this had to do with wording. A few seemed easier on the second go-over, and there were about five that were pure "Hail Marys".
The test is at least a decade--likely 20-25 years old. I judge this by the funky font that makes me think of old mimeographs from the 70s. I was half-expecting to see something like, "If your female RT has a touch of morning sickness, an appropriate treatment would include"... with "Thalidomyde" being the most-likely-to-be-correct answer.
There are a lot of questions recognizable from the CHC guide (my copy is the 2009 edition) but they may be reworded a bit, or with different options in the answers. So...don't memorize when you study, but think of why the answers are correct when you study them.
I'm not going to give up too many details--I studied (and guessed) hard for that 93 score!--but I don't think it's unethical to prepare some future Oregonian falconers for a few blind curves.
Study the different behavior patterns among rough-legged hawks, merlins and kestrels. Rough-legged hawks aren't really addressed in the CHC guide, but they do show up on the Oregon test. The rest of the species-related questions will be easy to anybody familiar with the CHC guide.
Note that there is at least one question/answer that might be downright contrary to contemporary falconry teachings. Remember to try and think like the test-writer.
Try and get as much context to the CHC study guide answers/questions as possible, and this will help you with the tough, out-of-left-field questions you'll come across.
I feel that my technique of studying the CHC guide by having a friend make me recall possible answers, rather than just select the offered multi-choice options, helped immensely. I also believe there was value in reviewing certain raptor identification websites, as well as Beebe's A Falconry Manual, to a limited degree. I purposely stayed away from other introductory books until after the test so as not to cloud my brain with conflicting options. Don't know if that hindered or helped, but I did get a pretty high score, so....
The Oregon test is 100 questions, all multiple choice. No true-false, no essay, no interpretive dances. I think about half to two-third were immediately recognizable as close to CHC guide questions. The ODFW website has a break-down of the test questions and their categories.
Don't count on consistent perfect scores on online practice tests to ensure a high score on the real thing.
As far as Oregon-specific statutes, there was nothing in that section that would stump somebody from any other falconry state.
And rain is good luck!
Michelle/Lupine
PS: Not to be an elilitist (heck, I'm not a falconer yet, I'm just good at studying and taking exams) but I tried to give tips on studying and preparation, not to give answers or a "cheat sheet". I really do see the value in a challenging exam that filters out people who aren't truly committed to falconry.
I love that I left the ODFW with a sense of accomplishment, and a serious respect for the falconers who have had to go through it before me. So in that spirit, I hope this thread continues as a guide, but not as a giveaway.
