Preparing For The NEBOSH Environmental Diploma Exam -

Preparing well for the NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management exam is essential if you want to do well, so in this post, we are going to look at things that you can do to increase the chances of success in the exam and improve your confidence.

The exam you must complete is 3 hours in total, and you have a choice of 5 questions out of a total of 8. The pass mark for the exam is 45%.

Essentially, doing the best you can in an exam is about two key factors:

Having a good knowledge of the subject, and
Being able to apply your knowledge to an exam question.

We’ll explore both areas and share practical tips to help improve your performance.

Gaining Subject Knowledge

Firstly, let’s look at gaining subject knowledge. Over the years, I have found that many students struggle to study effectively. Studying effectively is key as study time can be limited due to commitments such as work, family or hobbies.

One thing not to do is to pick up your textbook and read it. You will only remember a minimal amount of what you have read.

Therefore, better options for gaining knowledge would be first to develop a study plan. The plan will outline what to study, when, and serve as a basis for your revision. You might complete this after a gap analysis of your topic’s strengths and weaknesses and allocate more revision time to those areas where you struggle, rather than those where you excel.

The plan can include some SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) targets to ensure that you stay on track with your revision.

Study Scope and Approach

I think the Environment Diploma exams are usually quite broad in the questions asked, so I wouldn’t say to concentrate on a few elements from the course. In my experience, a better approach would be to gain a thorough, in-depth understanding of all the subject matter. You never know what will come up on the Diploma exam, and it is folly to try to predict.

Effective Revision Techniques

Many students will have their own way to revise. I am, for example, a big fan of using mind maps, as they show relationships between different parts of information in a clear, figurative way.

However, there are other techniques you could try, such as using index cards, writing your own revision notes (summarising the key points from the textbook), or reciting the content out loud. Try each of these and find the one that works best for you.

I find that mnemonics can also help you to remember key facts. Remember, whatever you do, don’t just read the textbook!

Applying Knowledge to Exam Questions

We will now apply our knowledge to an exam question. So, you have hopefully spent a lot of time revising the subject. This is a good point, but just as important is the application of that knowledge in relation to the exam.

It is therefore important that you spend a fair amount of your time practising exam questions. At the end of every element in the RRC textbook is an exam-style question and suggested answer. There are also many other sources of environmental diploma questions and answers.

When you have finished revising a topic, you should consider attempting a relevant question. Find a quiet place and complete the question under exam conditions. Don’t exceed the time allocated for each question in the exam (36 minutes per question, give or take a few minutes depending on the question type; for example, an identify question would usually take less time to answer than a describe question).

Good exam technique should be applied for every question (read the question, highlight the key words, check the marks available, plan, etc), which you can find out more about in your textbook.

Then, and this is very important, check your answer against the suggested answer. If there are things you missed, make sure to spend time learning them. Don’t spend time learning things you already know.

Completing the Mock Exam

If you are an RRC student, you should also be aware that as part of your Environment Diploma materials, there is a mock exam for you to complete. It is surprising how many students do not complete this.

Complete the mock exam under exam conditions when you feel that you have a good knowledge of the materials. Make sure to complete the exam in sufficient time, before the actual exam, to receive feedback and take action on it.

Then you can submit the exam through the learning centre and get it marked, with feedback, by a tutor. This is a highly valuable check on how your revision is going and if your exam technique is effective.

Conclusion

So, to conclude, don’t forget that knowing how to study is a skill that must be learnt. If you want to increase your chances of doing well in the exam, remember to study effectively before you start revising. This will ensure that you make the most of the often-limited amount of time you have to study.