Sandra J.H. Braun

I passed my L&E today!! I studied with TDC. The questions were written exactly like the mocks. I felt really prepared and confident. I took a full 7 weeks to study, which I probably didn't need to do. I took all the mock exams and scored in the mid to high 70s, then I took the final mocks and scored low 70s. I should have stopped then but was afraid because my score went down, so I took a Gerry Grossman test! Bad idea--completely different format and I didn't do well (68) and my confidence went down. But after a couple pep-talks with people who had passed and failed, I evaluated my test weaknesses (anxiety and distractions) and created strategies for overcoming the stress that would help me focus. Then I redid the first three mocks and scored crazy high (95), listened to the rationales and knew I was ready and could not prepare any more than I had already. And as recommended as a tool to reduce stress, I got to the testing site more than an hour early and had time to check out the sign-in procedures and see everything ahead of time. Then I did some relaxed breathing and listened to a pre-exam hypnosis I found on YouTube, which focused on motivation, enthusiasm, preparedness, and enjoying exams. When finished with that, I ate a small snack, went to the bathroom and checked into the exam feeling very alert and motivated. During the test I continued to feel confident and when reading a question whose answer didn't come logically, I assumed it was a question that didn't count and spent little time on it (I was finding myself being critical of the writing style and thinking of what was missing--that is when I said 'don't worry' and moved on). I finished with 2 minutes to spare, which was perfect planning as I was ready to turn it over to my higher power as I waited for them to tell me I passed (actually they don't tell you, they hand you a sheet of paper that tells you the news).