NCA Logistics: (Part II) Optimal Preparation Time
Greetings, NCA Candidates! As we dive into a new year, I've received numerous inquiries from fellow NCA Candidates regarding the logistics of planning exam sittings and effectively allocating study time. While my previous posts covered smart study techniques in my Avoiding Information Overload post and suggested subject combinations, I believe it's essential to take a step back and discuss planning basics.
In the first part of this series, I provided guidance on determining the number of exams suitable for each sitting. If you missed that post, you can revisit it here. In today's post, I will delve into the amount of time you should allocate for preparation and how to make the most of your study time efficiently.
Part II: How Much Time Do I Need to Prepare and How to Study Efficiently?
The answer to this question depends on your preferred study approach and personal study habits. If you're the type who meticulously reads and creates your own notes, you will naturally require more time. However, if you are comfortable with skimming through materials and relying on reliable third-party notes, you can dedicate less time per exam (remember to ensure the third-party notes are from a credible source!).
For two of my exams, I had to start from scratch as I couldn't find pre-existing notes. I purchased the required textbooks, followed the syllabus, and created my own notes. This process took me about five weeks of studying after work and during weekends (equivalent to 40 hours per week) for each subject, allowing me to feel adequately prepared for the exams.
For the other five exams, I heavily relied on NCA Tutor™ notes. Given that I took my exams in the UK where textbooks were hard to obtain and time was a constraint due to the impending round of articling applications, using these notes was my most viable option. They worked exceptionally well for me, reducing my study time to approximately 1.2 weeks per course (at 40 hours per week).
Typically, I spent five days carefully reading through printed copies of the notes from beginning to end, making necessary markings and highlights. Occasionally, for topics or concepts I found challenging, I supplemented with extra reading or watched relevant lectures on YouTube. However, for the most part, I adhered to the provided notes. Once I completed one subject, I moved on to read through the notes for my other exams. This process usually concluded a week before NCA exam week (e.g., three weeks for a three-exam sitting), leaving me an entire week to review and refresh my understanding of each topic.
During this revision week, I created quick-reference notes and organized my materials to bring into the exam with me. The primary focus was on ensuring I comprehended all the concepts and knew precisely where to locate the necessary information during the exam. You can find more details on this activity in my other blog here.
I hope you find this outline of my personal experience and study habits valuable! Whatever approach you choose, ensure it aligns with your unique study habits. Draw from your past law school experience to determine what works best for you.
Happy Studying!
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