How to pass your VCA exam
The VCA exam is very passable if you prepare in the right way. With these eight tips you know what to expect and you go into the exam with confidence.
Contents
1. Learn the material, not just the answers 2. Practise with full practice exams 3. Learn from your mistakes 4. Focus on your weak topics 5. Know the question types 6. Read the question carefully 7. Practise in the language of your exam 8. On the exam day1. Learn the material, not just the answers
The exam tests whether you can apply safety rules in situations at work. Learning separate answers by heart does not work well. Try to understand why a rule exists: then you can also answer a question you have not seen before.
2. Practise with full practice exams
Take practice exams with the same number of questions and the same time as the real exam. This helps you get used to the pace and see how long you take per question. Do it in one go, without a break and without help.
3. Learn from your mistakes
After each practice exam, look at the questions you got wrong. Read the explanation and find out why the correct answer is correct. This is when you learn the most.
4. Focus on your weak topics
Your score per topic shows where you still need to practise. Is it hazardous substances, or fire and explosion? Then read that chapter again before you take the next practice exam.
5. Know the question types
For a question with more than one correct answer, you must choose all the correct answers. For statements, you choose yes or no for each line. In matching questions, each item goes with exactly one answer. If you know the question types, you do not lose time on the instructions during the exam.
6. Read the question carefully
Watch out for words like not, always, first and usually. They change the meaning of a question. If you are not sure, read the question again, or have it read aloud when you practise.
7. Practise in the language of your exam
If you take the exam in your own language, practise in that language too. Then you will recognise the words used in the exam. Having questions read aloud helps if reading is difficult for you.
8. On the exam day
- Bring a valid ID
- Arrive on time, so you can start calmly
- Answer the questions you are sure about first, then go back to the difficult ones
- Do not leave any question open: a guess gives you more than nothing
Do you always score well above 64.5 percent in the practice exams? Then you are ready for the real exam.
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