subject: CSET Study Guide Advice: Believe Less, Do More with Your CSET Study [print this page] "I've never really taken a second look at my CSET study guide ," my friend said.
"So what's the big deal?" I said. "Just open it up and get on with your CSET test prep."
He shrugged. "I know what to do, but every time that I think about actually doing itI get scared."
Unfortunately, my friend's story is not a new one. As a CSET test coach, I've encountered hundreds, if not thousands, of students who know exactly what they need to do with their study guides for the CSET test.
The thing is, they just get too scared to do it and they encounter what I like to call the "lack of belief" wall.
Your CSET Prep Secret Ingredient: Belief
For many of my students, the last time that they encountered a standardized test was back in high school. Fast-track several years later, and it's no surprise that potential teachers are afraid to take their California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) test.
But when it comes to acing the exam, it's not fear that's the problem: it's the lack of belief that they can actually pass the "CSET test."
Think about it this way: if you focus on an end goal (in this case, acing your CSET study) that you truly don't believe you can accomplish, then you won't do it. Period. And that's why so many examiners suffer from crippling procrastination. It's not that they're lazy.
It's just that they belief that they simply can't do it.
Overcoming This CSET Study Obstacle
If you want to master this exam and get your California teacher credential, then follow these tips to jump-start your brain into believing in your extraordinary capabilities:
Start planning your CSET study guide prep by making a goal map.
Examine the first step and ask yourself the following question: "Do I believe that I can (insert goal here)?"
Keep going until you encounter that belief wall, where you believe that you can't perform a step. In order to preserve and protect your review for your CSET study guides, you need to tackle that step.
Take that step and make a new goal map for it. Focus your energy on this goal, rather than the overarching goal of acing your CSET test prep.
Every time you complete each step, remind yourself of how close you're coming to your original goal. You're almost there and thanks to your practical action, your belief should be growing by leaps and bounds!
Let's face it: every second you spend trying to convince yourself that you believe in yourself is a wasted opportunity to get started on your CSET prep.
But by focusing your energy on taking actual steps, your belief will automatically grow as you complete each step. And that's what it takes to achieve CSET test greatness.
