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Below are some top scoring strategies that will increase your score when taking a B-Pad exam. Good luck !!
Positive Behaviors
• Use statements that complete express thoughts – not splintered or “Oh yeah, I forgot to say this…”
• Use appropriate grammar and vocabulary – no slang words, use proper English
• If you feel that the answer you have given to a scenario is complete, just stop and wait for the next scenario. Do not try to “fill time.”
More Positive Behaviors
• Demonstrate an organized pattern when speaking. Think about what you want to say before you speak – don’t ramble to fill time. Organize your thoughts; even if the tape is playing, you can wait 2-3 seconds to get your thoughts together. You need to make sure you are making an appropriate response and not just shooting from the hip.
• Use appropriate facial expression or gestures – don’t have a deadpan look. Have a meaningful expression on your face when you need to. In some scenes, your partner will be looking at you for a response – use eye contact back. If you need to use your hands or body language to make a point, go ahead as long as you don’t overdo it and be too dramatic. Don’t touch your face, mumble, lick your lips, put your hands on your face, play with your hair or other distracting gestures.
• Speak at an appropriate volume and speak slowly and distinctly. Do not mumble or speak so softly that your response will be difficult to understand. When people are nervous they tend to speak quickly, so make an effort to slow down. Know your tendencies and adjust accordingly.
• Try to address key issues and bring about a good resolution to the problem.
• Try to demonstrate the appropriate emotion for the given situation, show empathy where appropriate.
Negative Behaviors
• Interrupt – start talking before the presentation is done
• Use too many “ah’s”, “uh’s”, and “um’s”
• Repeatedly use phrases like “you know,” “right,” “okay,” or “you know what I mean”
• Do not attempt to use words you are not familiar with
• Mumble
• Ramble – talked too much or repeated yourself
• Use slang or jargon
• Use abusive language
• Make distracting hand movements
• Tap, pound, jiggle in a distracting manner
• Snap, pop, or chew gum
Solving the Problem
• Identify the root problem
• Organize before you speak – don’t jump right in unless you are ready. If you need to pause for 2-3 seconds to organize your thoughts before you speak, do so. It is better to have an organized thought process before you speak than to immediately jump in and not know what you are going to say in an unorganized fashion.
• Work towards a solution
• Emphasize trust and confidence – show that you care. Empathy!
Presentation Language
• Be simple
• Be concrete
• Be personal
• Be purposeful
• Be adaptable
Delivery
• It’s not what you say, but how you say it – very important!
• …and what you are doing while you say it
o Eye contact – look at the camera and not at the proctor unless the person is standing next to the picture.
o Facial expression – When you need to show emotion, empathy for someone, or when you need to display firmness (keeping citizens back at a fire, someone harassing you) – show it!
o Posture – sit up straight!
o Hand movements – Don’t pull at your hair, scratch your chin – no nervous gestures! Be natural as if you were in the scenario.
Voice
• Speak at an appropriate speed
• Speak distinctly
• Use inflection – show emotion in your voice
• Be relaxed but show you care! Don’t look tense! Take deep breaths before you begin to sit down and watch the scenario. This will limit your anxiety and nervousness.
Preparation Strategy
• Videotape, if possible – very important! Have someone videotape you or speak into a mirror or use a tape recorder to listen to how you sound. This way, you will be able to tell how you sound and, if you are using a video camera, you will also be able to see what your facial expressions are, what your hand gestures are – you will be very surprised what you look like when you review the videotape or listen to the tape recorder! It is in reviewing the tape that you can make your corrections. Be sure to use a video camera and the practice lines we have supplied for you to check your facial expressions.
• Critique
o Self
o Friend (offers specific suggestions for improvement)
• Visualize success
• Importance of repetition – keep practicing over and over!
Since 1950, Don McNea Fire School has prepared over 40,000 fire applicants with our entry level seminars and products. www.Fireprep.com has over 250 pages of FREE information and career articles to help you reach your goal of becoming a firefighter.
Go to www.fireprep.com and register for our free fireprep e-mail newsletter that currently has over 24,000 subscribers.
Positive Behaviors
• Use statements that complete express thoughts – not splintered or “Oh yeah, I forgot to say this…”
• Use appropriate grammar and vocabulary – no slang words, use proper English
• If you feel that the answer you have given to a scenario is complete, just stop and wait for the next scenario. Do not try to “fill time.”
More Positive Behaviors
• Demonstrate an organized pattern when speaking. Think about what you want to say before you speak – don’t ramble to fill time. Organize your thoughts; even if the tape is playing, you can wait 2-3 seconds to get your thoughts together. You need to make sure you are making an appropriate response and not just shooting from the hip.
• Use appropriate facial expression or gestures – don’t have a deadpan look. Have a meaningful expression on your face when you need to. In some scenes, your partner will be looking at you for a response – use eye contact back. If you need to use your hands or body language to make a point, go ahead as long as you don’t overdo it and be too dramatic. Don’t touch your face, mumble, lick your lips, put your hands on your face, play with your hair or other distracting gestures.
• Speak at an appropriate volume and speak slowly and distinctly. Do not mumble or speak so softly that your response will be difficult to understand. When people are nervous they tend to speak quickly, so make an effort to slow down. Know your tendencies and adjust accordingly.
• Try to address key issues and bring about a good resolution to the problem.
• Try to demonstrate the appropriate emotion for the given situation, show empathy where appropriate.
Negative Behaviors
• Interrupt – start talking before the presentation is done
• Use too many “ah’s”, “uh’s”, and “um’s”
• Repeatedly use phrases like “you know,” “right,” “okay,” or “you know what I mean”
• Do not attempt to use words you are not familiar with
• Mumble
• Ramble – talked too much or repeated yourself
• Use slang or jargon
• Use abusive language
• Make distracting hand movements
• Tap, pound, jiggle in a distracting manner
• Snap, pop, or chew gum
Solving the Problem
• Identify the root problem
• Organize before you speak – don’t jump right in unless you are ready. If you need to pause for 2-3 seconds to organize your thoughts before you speak, do so. It is better to have an organized thought process before you speak than to immediately jump in and not know what you are going to say in an unorganized fashion.
• Work towards a solution
• Emphasize trust and confidence – show that you care. Empathy!
Presentation Language
• Be simple
• Be concrete
• Be personal
• Be purposeful
• Be adaptable
Delivery
• It’s not what you say, but how you say it – very important!
• …and what you are doing while you say it
o Eye contact – look at the camera and not at the proctor unless the person is standing next to the picture.
o Facial expression – When you need to show emotion, empathy for someone, or when you need to display firmness (keeping citizens back at a fire, someone harassing you) – show it!
o Posture – sit up straight!
o Hand movements – Don’t pull at your hair, scratch your chin – no nervous gestures! Be natural as if you were in the scenario.
Voice
• Speak at an appropriate speed
• Speak distinctly
• Use inflection – show emotion in your voice
• Be relaxed but show you care! Don’t look tense! Take deep breaths before you begin to sit down and watch the scenario. This will limit your anxiety and nervousness.
Preparation Strategy
• Videotape, if possible – very important! Have someone videotape you or speak into a mirror or use a tape recorder to listen to how you sound. This way, you will be able to tell how you sound and, if you are using a video camera, you will also be able to see what your facial expressions are, what your hand gestures are – you will be very surprised what you look like when you review the videotape or listen to the tape recorder! It is in reviewing the tape that you can make your corrections. Be sure to use a video camera and the practice lines we have supplied for you to check your facial expressions.
• Critique
o Self
o Friend (offers specific suggestions for improvement)
• Visualize success
• Importance of repetition – keep practicing over and over!
Since 1950, Don McNea Fire School has prepared over 40,000 fire applicants with our entry level seminars and products. www.Fireprep.com has over 250 pages of FREE information and career articles to help you reach your goal of becoming a firefighter.
Go to www.fireprep.com and register for our free fireprep e-mail newsletter that currently has over 24,000 subscribers.
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