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