SHRM Test Prep Help
Hi I am preparing to take the SHRM certification and I am not really sure where to start with studying. Does anyone have advice on how to pass and what materials will be the most useful for success? I purchased the all in one exam guide from McGraw Hill but looking for insight on how to pass! Thank you!
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Hi Rachel,
Which test are you taking and how long have you worked in HR? I LOVE certs (my bank account not so much) so I am willing to share any knowledge and resources I have to help you on your journey.
Sarah
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Sarah Bennett
Hi Sarah! Thank you for reaching out. I have 3 years of HR experience and I am preparing to take the SHRM-CP exam. I really appreciate any help you can provide!
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Hi again, Rachel,
I was about at the exact same point and took the CP just about a year or so ago! I'll tell you exactly what I did. Obviously we all test differently, so it may not be the best strategy for you, but hopefully it is!
The SHRM provided test prep is supposed to be amazing. However, I paid for this exam out of pocket, so I could not afford that option at the time. Instead I did this:
I purchased a book from Amazon "Test Prep Books: SHRM CP" It had a few practice exams and test strategies that REALLY helped. The book is for 2022, but I am happy to send it to you if you send me mailing instructions via email. sbennett@skeo.com.
I purchased a package from Exam Edge, www.examedge.com, of practice tests for this exam. There were ten individual tests that you could retake up to five times. I maxed out taking those exams over and over. You could elect to take the test timed or untimed and I alternated between the two to experiment with test taking strategies.
I decided the best strategy for me was to eliminate two answers immediately, and only focus on the two answers it could be. I then went back and re-read the question slowly to make sure I didn't miss any trick words or context clues before deciding which answer fit best.
I downloaded the SHRM BOCK and read through it to make sure I understood the language. Some of the answers, you might not actually always do the thing SHRM is looking for, but just reference the language in the document and it will lead you to the right conclusion.
Make sure you put extra time into areas where you might not have experience. I had no experience with unions, and needed to spend extra time with these concepts. I learn best by writing down what I am reading, as I have ADHD and have focus issues. This helped A TON! I have notebooks of just writing down basically exactly what the book said, but it stuck in my brain that way.
I wish you all the best of luck! I am sure you can do it! Please let me know if you'd like me to mail you my test prep book or would like to chat more!
Sincerely,
Sarah