Insurance Exam Study Tips - Part 4

December 14, 2008

Tips for Answering Math Questions on the Insurance License Exam.

When you first look at a question, attempt to complete it on your own without looking at the answers that have been presented to you. Trying to work out the question on your own is the best way to LEARN THE STEPS necessary to complete these types of math questions.
Work on the questions more than once. Do not work on them in the same order every time, and do not just memorize the answers. Again, it is most important that you LEARN THE STEPS necessary to complete the type of question you are working on.
Make up a sheet with all the formulas you need to know and memorize all the formulas on the sheet.
Learning THE STEPS will give you the opportunity to â€œBrain dumpâ€ and write down the STEPS on the piece of paper you are given at the test center to work out the various math formulas. Once you have them written down, you do not have to worry about remembering them any more. Be careful not to take up too much room on the paper because when you use up one piece you must turn it in to get another blank piece of paper.
Read each question at least twice and each answer at least twice. Eliminate the two answers that you know are wrong, and pick the BEST answer from the remaining two. Remember there is only ONE BEST ANSWER to every question especially in math. Do not round off in your calculator until the end of the problem. For example, if you divide $1,000 by 360 days = $2.78, and if you leave that number in your calculator and multiply by 25 days =$69.44. If you take the $2.78 out of your calculator and multiply by 25 the answer will be $69.50.
If math is a problem area for you, skip all of the math questions the first time around when taking the state insurance examination. This actually is the best way to approach all of the questions on the exam. If youâ€™re not sure that the answer you have chosen to a particular question is correct, than just skip it. You will have an opportunity at the end of the test to go back, and re-think these questions.
Many state insurance license exams consist of only 10% math questions. Do not spend all of your time worrying about math if it is not your strong suit. If you learn all of the other CONCEPTS and DEFINITIONS presented in your insurance license course, you can miss all of the math questions and still pass the state exam.