| The Certified Meeting Planner | | | | questions again and ask yourself: how |
| certification is a classification | | | | could this question be re-worded to make |
| created by the Convention Industry | | | | a new question on the same topic. Keep |
| Council to distinguish meeting planners | | | | these "re-worked" questions in mind as |
| who have demonstrated their knowledge of | | | | you continue to study as typically test |
| special event planning via successful | | | | creators will re-use the same idea to |
| completion of a special CMP examination. | | | | create many different questions. |
| Aside from the recognition, achievement | | | | Buddy-Up |
| and wide acceptance of the certification | | | | Study groups are an excellent way to |
| in the industry, many CMPs use their | | | | increase your retention of the facts you |
| certification as a bargaining chip or | | | | need to know for the CMP exam. Keep in |
| competitive advantage when applying for | | | | the mind the following, though: we |
| jobs or attempting to win new client | | | | remember an average of only 5% of what |
| business. Successful completion of the | | | | we hear, but we remember 50% of what we |
| examination is not a walk in the park, | | | | discuss, and 90% of what we teach to |
| but with a few study tips you can be | | | | others. This means that merely "sitting |
| well on your way to becoming a Certified | | | | in" on a discussion session will do you |
| Meeting Planner. | | | | less good than reading the text on the |
| Write to Remember | | | | subject. But if you are able to discuss |
| On average, we remember 5% of what we | | | | the material with others, or even teach |
| hear in a lecture, 10% of what we read, | | | | the material to the group you will |
| but 30% of what we write. Take notes on | | | | retain far more than you would listening |
| all the reading you do and prep-classes | | | | or reading. |
| you take before the test, put the main | | | | The modern model for adult study groups |
| points on a stack of notecards, take the | | | | is based on studies of adult-education |
| cards everywhere you go and review them | | | | and centers around a cooperative |
| whenever you have downtime. These simple | | | | learning environment. Informal study |
| steps will increase your retention rate | | | | groups can have a similar structure |
| 3-6 times and will give you something to | | | | without the need for a dedicated |
| do when you have a few minutes to spare | | | | instructor or leader. At the end of each |
| in an airport or waiting room. | | | | study group session, break up the next |
| Practice Makes Perfect | | | | meeting's topic into sub-topics and make |
| Once you have mastered some of the basic | | | | each person or pair of people |
| CMP principals and read through one or | | | | responsible for learning the material in |
| two study books make use of practice | | | | that section and teaching it to the |
| exams included in your study materials. | | | | group (maybe answering prep-questions at |
| The average retention rate for something | | | | the end of a chapter?). This will allow |
| you have actually performed is 75%. Make | | | | everyone the benefit of not only reading |
| use of practice tests to help sharpen | | | | and writing the material (10% and 30% |
| your focus on important topics. Once | | | | average retention), they can also teach |
| you've finished a practice exam and | | | | and discuss the material (90% and 50%). |
| graded yourself, run through the | | | | |