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Walter & Group...
[GH] From Dan McCrimmon :
Hello Gordy;
When preparing for the Masters, it is obvious that we need to practice, practice, practice. We also need to learn, understand and expand our knowledge of different techniques, styles and methodologies.
What is not so obvious, is understanding how to take the test, and being prepared for the "trauma" of testing.
So, a few hints from me about being prepared for the testing process itself.
1. Do not assume that you will be tested in a pristine environment. Often, testing locations can be full of distractions, noise, onlookers, stray goats and the occasional heckler. The examiners will do their best to give you the best location, but that will not always happen. Practice casting in a place that is not exactly ideal for a Zen like moment. Use the distractions as a tool. Let the distractions force you to focus.
2. Remember those nice cones and rings you used to practice. They may not be available. Practice accuracy by using impromptu targets. Leaves, pieces of paper or whatever else you can find.
3. Do not get flustered if you cannot start exactly on time. I have seen candidates that were so stressed, that if there was a delay outside the control of the examiners, they started to get angry and frustrated. Stay cool, use that time to practice, or go through your explanations.
4. Practice doing the tasks in random order. there is no requirement for the Examiners to start on the very first task. They could start anywhere on the test. Get used to the idea of randomizing the order of the testing tasks.
5. I have had great candidates give perfect answers to questions I had not asked. Listen carefully to the question and repeat the question back. Take your time. You know the answer. Stop, think, speak.
6. Remember, the examiners very much want you to pass, but they have a job to do. Do not assume that when they ask you to repeat a task, that there is something wrong. An examiner cannot always see all aspects of a casting task on the first try. They may ask you to repeat it. Don't get excited, it is a normal part of testing. In fact, a few times over the years, I have asked candidates to repeat a task so that I could see how they did such a great job of it. You never stop learning.
There are many more hints I am sure, but these are a few that stand out for me.
Dan
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[GH] Dan,
Very good advice.
On 1. : You are right. The candidate must be prepared to be unflustered in the face of unavoidable distractions.
While true, our testing teams try to provide a distraction free environment a possible.
To this end, we have our CANDIDATE'S BILL OF RIGHTS which is available from the FFF Office.
Gordy
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