# Need help studying for a certification test **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2016, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-studying-for-a-certification-test/743650 "2016-01-20T03:05:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-studying-for-a-certification-test/743650/1 "2016-01-20T03:05:47Z")
It is the Colorado teacher-certification test known as the PLACE - Instructional Technology #51 to be specific. I took the [practice test here](http://www.place.nesinc.com/PDFs/CO_FLD051_studyguide.pdf) and based on my prior experience in education and computers I got a 9/12 so I’m not real confident that I can pass without studying. The problem is that instructional technology seems to mean different things to different authors/college programs so before I start buying books online in a crapshoot that they may cover this material I was wondering if anyone had any advice or experience that could help me out. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-studying-for-a-certification-test/743650/2 "2016-01-20T03:32:10Z")
Here is some crapshoot advice. Medical certifications frequently have what are called “pearls” to use as a study guide. For instance CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse). A study guide company publishes a list of 100 or so questions that are frequently on that examination. Maybe only 5-10 are actually on your test, but that is 5-10 correct answers to increase your odds of passing.