Praxis II Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101) Exam Secrets Study Guide: Praxis II Test Review for the Praxis II: Subject Assessments

165 Pages·2016·8.183 MB·English

by  Praxis II Exam Secrets Test Prep Team

Praxis |i
Business Education:
Content Knowledge (5101) Exam
SECRETS
Guide
Study
Your Key to Exam Success
Mometrix
TEST PREPARATION
Copyright © 2020 by Mometrix Media LLC
All rights reserved. This product, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording,
scanning, or other—exceptfor brief quotations in critical reviewsorarticles, withoutthe prior
written permission ofthe publisher.
Written and edited by the Mometrix Teacher Certification Test Team
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).
Mometrix offers volume discount pricing to institutions. For more information or a price quote,
at
please contact our sales department [email protected] or 888-248-1219.
Mometrix Media LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by any official testing organization. All
organizational and test names are trademarks oftheir respective owners.
Paperback
ISBN 13: 978-1-62733-153-1
ISBN 10: 1-62733-153-0
Ebook
ISBN 13: 978-1-5167-0275-6
ISBN 10: 1-5167-0275-1
Hardback
ISBN 13: 978-1-5167-0824-6
ISBN 10: 1-5167-0824-5
DEAR FUTURE EXAM SUCCESS STORY
First ofall, THANK YOU for purchasing Mometrix study materials!
Second,congratulations! You are one ofthe few determined test-takers who are committed to doing
whateverit takesto excel on your exam. You have come to the right place. We developed these
study materials with one goal in mind:to deliver you the information you need in a format that’s
concise and easy to use.
In addition to optimizing your guide for the content ofthe test, we've outlined our recommended
steps for breaking down the preparation process into small, attainable goals so you can make sure
you stay on track.
We've also analyzed the entire test-taking process, identifying the most common pitfalls and
showing how you can overcome them and be ready for any curveball the test throws you.
Standardized testing is one ofthe biggest obstacles on your road to success, which only increases
the importance of doing well in the high-pressure, high-stakes environment oftest day. Your results
a
on this test could have significant impact on your future, and this guide provides the information
and practical advice to help you achieve your full potential on test day.
is
Yoursuccess our success
if
We would love to hear from you! Ifyou would like to share the story ofyour exam success or
you have any questions or commentsin regard to our products, please contact us at 800-673-8175
or [email protected].
Thanks again for your business and we wish you continued success!
Sincerely,
The Mometrix Test Preparation Team
Need more hel eck out ourflashcards at:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
SECRET KEY #1 — PLAN BiG, STUDY SMALL 2
SECRET KEY #2 — MAKE YOUR STUDYING COUNT, 3
SECRET KEY #3 — PRACTICE THE RIGHT WAY 4
SECRET KEY #4 — PACE YOURSELF 6
SECRET KEY #5 — HAVE A PLAN FOR GUESSING 7
TEST-TAKING STRATEGIES 10
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE 15
COMMUNICATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT 59
ECONOMICS 65
ENTREPRENEURSHIP 76
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 82
LAW AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS 87
MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT 98
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS EDUCATION 117
PRAXIS PRACTICE TEST 123
ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATIONS 141
How To OVERCOME TEST ANXIETY 152
CAUSES OF TEST ANXIETY 152
ELEMENTS OF TESTANXIETY. 153
EFFECTS OF TEST ANXIETY 153
PHYSICAL STEPS FOR BEATING TEST ANXIETY 154
MENTAL STEPS FOR BEATING TEST ANXIETY 155
STUDY STRATEGY 156
TEST TIPS 158
IMPORTANT QUALIFICATION 159
THANK YOU 160
ADDITIONAL BONUS MATERIAL 161
iii
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing this resource! You have made the choice to prepare yourseiffora test
that could have a huge impact on your future, and this guide is designed to help you be fully ready
fortest day. Obviously,it’s important to have a solid understanding ofthe test material, butyou also
need to be prepared for the unique environment and stressors ofthe test, so that you can perform
to the best ofyourabilities.
For this purpose, the first section that appears in this guide is the Secret Keys. We've devoted
countless hours to meticulously researching what works and what doesn’t, and we've boiled down
ourfindings to the five most impactful steps you can take to improve your performance on the test.
Westart atthe beginning with study planning and move throughthe preparation process,all the
way to the testing strategies that will help you get the most out ofwhat you know when you're
finally sitting in front ofthe test.
We recommend that you start preparing foryourtest as far in advance as possible. However,if
you've boughtthis guide as a last-minute study resource and only have a few days before yourtest,
we recommend that you skip over the first two Secret Keyssince they address a long-term study
plan.
Ifyou struggle with test anxiety, we strongly encourage you to check out our recommendations for
how you can overcomeit. Test anxiety is a formidable foe, but it can be beaten, and we wantto
make sure you have the tools you need to defeatit.
1
Copyright© Momeirix Media.Youhave been licensed onecopyofthis document for personal useonly.Anyother reproduction arredistribution1sstrictly prohibited. All rights reserved.
Secret Key #1 - Plan Big, Study Small
There's a lot riding on your performance.Ifyou wantto ace this test, you're going to need to keep
your skills sharp and the material fresh in your mind. You need a plan thatlets you review
everything you need to know while still fitting in your schedule. We'll break this strategy down into
three categories.
Information Organization
Start with the information you already have: theofficial test outline. From this, you can make a
complete list ofall the concepts you need to cover before the test. Organize these concepts into
groupsthat can be studied together, and create a list ofany related vocabulary you need to learn so
you can brush up on anydifficult terms. You'll wantto keep this vocabulary list handy once you
actually start studying since you may need to add to it alongthe way.
Time Management
Once you have your set ofstudy concepts, decide how to spread them out overthe time you have
left before the test. Break your study plan into small, clear goals so you have a manageable task for
each day and know exactly what you're doing. Then just focus on one small step ata time. When
you manage your timethis way, you don’t need to spend hours at a time studying. Studying a small
block of contentfor a short period each day helps you retain information better and avoid stressing
over how much you have left to do. You can relax knowing that you have a plan to cover everything
in time. In orderforthis strategyto be effective though, you have to start studying early and stick to
your schedule. Avoid the exhaustion andfutility that comes from last-minute cramming!
Study Environment
The environment you study in has a big impact on your learning. Studying in a coffee shop, while
probably more enjoyable,is notlikely to be as fruitful as studying in a quiet room. It’s important to
keep distractions to a minimum. You're only planning to study for a short block oftime, so make the
of
most it. Don't pause to check your phone or get up to find a snack. It’s also important to avoid
multitasking. Research has consistently shown that multitasking will make your studying
dramatically less effective. Your study area should also be comfortable and well-lit so you don’t
have the distraction ofstraining youreyes orsitting on an uncomfortable chair.
Thetime ofday you studyis also important. You wantto be rested and alert. Don’t wait until just
before bedtime. Study when you'll be mostlikely to comprehend and remember. Even better, ifyou
know what time ofday your test will be,set that time aside for study. That way your brain will be
used to working on that subjectatthat specific time and you'll have a better chance of recalling
information.
it
Finally, can be helpful to team up with others who are studying for the same test. Your actual
in
studying should be done as isolated an environment as possible, but the work of organizing the
information and setting up the study plan can be divided up. In between studysessions, you can
discuss with your teammatesthe concepts that you're all studying and quiz each other on the
details. Just be sure that your teammates are as serious aboutthe test as you are. Ifyou find that
your studytime is being replaced with social time, you might need to find a new team.
2
Copyright © Mometrix Media.Youhavebeenlicensed onecopyofthisdocumentfor personal useonly.Anyother reproduction orredistributionisstrictly prohibited, Allrights reserved.
Secret Key #2 - Make Your Studying Count
You're devoting a lot oftime and effort to preparing forthis test, so you want to be absolutely
certain it will pay off. This means doing more than just reading the content and hoping you can
it
remember on test day. It's important to make every minute of study count. There are two main
areas you can focus on to make your studying count:
Retention
if
It doesn’t matter how much time you study you can’t rememberthe material. You need to make
sure you are retaining the concepts. To check your retention ofthe information you're learning, try
recalling itat later times with minimal prompting. Try carrying around flashcards and glance at one
to
or two from time time or ask a friend who's also studying for the test to quiz you.
To enhance yourretention, look for ways to put the information into practice so that you can apply
it rather than simply recalling it. Ifyou're using the information in practical ways, itwill be much
easier to remember. Similarly,it helps to solidify a concept in your mind ifyou're not only reading it
to yourself but also explaining it to someone else. Ask a friend to let you teach them about a concept
you're a little shaky on (orspeak aloud to an imaginary audience if necessary). As you try to
summarize, define, give examples, and answeryourfriend’s questions, you'll understand the
concepts better and theywill stay with you longer.Finally, step back for a bigpicture view and ask
yourself how each piece of information fits with the whole subject. When you link the different
concepts together and see them working together as a whole,it's easier to rememberthe individual
components.
if
Finally, practice showing your work on any multi-step problems, even you're just studying.
Writing out each step you take to solve a problem will help solidify the process in your mind, and
it
you'll be morelikely to remember during the test.
Modality
Modality simply refers to the means or method by which you study. Choosing a study modality that
is
fits your own individual learning style crucial. No two people learn best in exactly the same way,
so it’s important to know yourstrengths and use them to your advantage.
For example,ifyou learn best by visualization, focus on visualizing a concept in your mind and
draw an image ora diagram. Try color-coding your notes, illustrating them, or creating symbols
that will trigger your mind to recall a learned concept. Ifyou learn best by hearing or discussing
information,find a study partner who learns the same way or read aloud to yourself. Think about
how to putthe information in your own words. Imagine that you are giving a lecture on the topic
and record yourself so you can listen to it later.
For any learning style, flashcards can be helpful. Organize the information so you can take
advantage of spare moments to review. Underline key words or phrases. Use different colors for
different categories. Mnemonic devices (such as creating a short list in which every item starts with
it
the same letter) can also help with retention. Find what works best for you and use to store the
information in your mind most effectively and easily.
3
Copyright ® Mometrix Media.Youhave been licensed ane copyofthisdocumentfor personal useonly.Anyother reproduction orredistributionis strictly prohibited. AILrights reserved
Secret Key #3 - Practice the Right Way
Your success on test day depends not onlyon how many hours you put into preparing, but also on
whether you prepared theright way. It's good to check along the wayto see ifyour studying is
paying off. One ofthe most effective ways to do this is by taking practice tests to evaluate your
progress. Practice tests are useful because they show exactly where you need to improve. Every
time you take a practice test, pay special attention to these three groups of questions:
e The questions you got wrong
* The questions you had to guess on, even ifyou guessed right
e The questions you found difficult orslow to work through
This will show you exactly what your weak areas are, and where you need to devote more study
it
time. Ask yourself why each ofthese questions gave you trouble. Was because you didn’t
it
understand the material? Was because you didn’t remember the vocabulary? Do you need more
repetitions on this type of question to build speed and confidence? Dig into those questions and
figure out how you can strengthen your weak areas as you go back to review the material.
Additionally, many practice tests have a section explaining the answer choices. It can be temptingto
read the explanation and think thatyou now have agood understanding ofthe concept. However,
an explanation likely only covers part ofthe question’s broader context. Even ifthe explanation
makes sense, go back and investigate every concept related to the question until you're positive
you have a thorough understanding.
As you go along, keep in mind that the practice testis just that: practice. Memorizing these
questions and answers will not be very helpful on the actual test because it is unlikely to have any
ofthe same exact questions.Ifyou only know the right answers to the sample questions, you won't
be prepared for the real thing. Study the concepts until you understand them fully, and then you'll
be able to answer any question that shows up on thetest.
It’s important to waiton the practice tests until you're ready. Ifyou take a test on yourfirst day of
study, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of material covered and how much you need to
learn. Work upto it gradually.
On testday, you'll need to be prepared for answering questions, managing your time, and using the
test-taking strategies you've learned. It’s a lotto balance, like a mental marathon thatwill have a big
impact on your future. Like training for a marathon, you'll need to start slowly and work your way
up. Whentest dayarrives, you'll be ready.
Start with the strategies you've read in the first two Secret Keys—plan your course and study inthe
way that works bestfor you.Ifyou have time, consider using multiple study resources to get
different approaches to the same concepts. It can be helpful to see difficult concepts from more than
one angle. Then find a good source for practice tests. Many times, the test website willsuggest
potential study resourcesor provide sample tests.
4
Copyright © Mometrix Media,Youhavebeen licensed onecopyofthisdocumentfor personal useonly.Anyotherreproduction orredistribution[sstrictly prohibited. Allrightsreserved
Practice Test Strategy
Ifyou're able to find at least three practice tests, we recommend this strategy:
UNTIMED AND OPEN-BOOK PRACTICE
Take the first test with no time constraints and with your notes and study guide handy. Take your
time and focus on applying the strategies you've learned.
TIMED AND OPEN-BOOK PRACTICE
Take the second practice test open-book as well, but set a timer and practice pacing yourselfto
finish in time.
TIMED AND CLOSED-BOOK PRACTICE
if
Take any other practice tests as it were test day. Set a timer and put away your study materials.
Sit at a table or desk in a quiet room, imagine yourself at the testing center, and answer questions as
quickly and accurately as possible.
Keep repeating timed and closed-booktests on a regular basis until you run out of practice tests or
it's time forthe actual test. Your mind will be readyfor the schedule and stressoftest day, and
you'll be able to focus on recalling the material you've learned.
5
Copyright © Mometrix Media.Youhavebeen licensed onecopyofthis document for personal useonly.Anyother reproduction orredistributionis strictly prohibited. Allrightsreserved.
Secret Key #4 Pace Yourself
—
Once you're fully prepared for the material on the test, your biggest challenge on test day will be
managing yourtime. Just knowing thatthe clock is ticking can make you panic even ifyou have
plenty oftime left. Work on pacing yourself so you can build confidence againstthe time constraints
ofthe exam. Pacing is a difficult skill to master, especially in a high-pressure environment, so
practice is vital.
if
Set time expectations for your pace based on how much time is available. For example, a section
has 60 questions and the time limit is 30 minutes, you know you have to average 30 seconds orless
perquestion in order to answer them all. Although 30 seconds is the hard limit, set 25 seconds per
question as your goal, so you reserve extra time to spend on harder questions. When you budget
extra time for the harder questions, you no longer have anyreason to stress when those questions
take longer to answer.
Don't let this time expectation distractyou from working throughthe test ata calm, steady pace,
but keep it in mind so you don't spend too much time on any one question. Recognize that taking
extra time on one question you don’t understand may keep you from answering two that you do
understand laterin the test. Ifyour time limit fora question is up and you're still not sure ofthe
answer, mark it and move on, and come backto it later ifthe time and the test formatallow. Ifthe
testing format doesn’t allow you to return to earlier questions, just make an educated guess; then
putit out ofyour mind and move on.
On the easier questions, be careful notto rush. it may seem wise to hurry through them so you have
more time for the challenging ones, but it's not worth missing one ifyou know the concept and just
didn’t take the time to read the question fully. Work efficiently but make sure you understand the
question and have looked at all ofthe answerchoices, since more than one may seem right atfirst.
a
Even ifyou're paying attention to the time, you may find yourself little behind at some point. You
should speed up to get back on track, butdo so wisely. Don’t panic; just take a few seconds less on
each question until you're caught up. Don’t guess without thinking, but do look through the answer
it
choices and eliminate anyyou know are wrong. Ifyou can get down to two choices, is often
worthwhile to guess from those. Once you've chosen an answer, move on and don’t dwell on any
thatyou skipped or had to hurry through. Ifa question was taking too long, chances are it was one
it
ofthe harder ones, so you weren't as likelyto get right anyway.
On the other hand, ifyou find yourself getting ahead ofschedule, it may be beneficial to slow down
a little. The more quickly you work, the more likelyyou are to make a careless mistake that will
affect your score. You've budgeted time for each question, so don’t be afraid to spend that time.
Practice an efficient but careful pace to get the most out ofthe time you have.
6
Copyright © Mometrix Media.Youhave been licensed onecopyofthis document forpersonal useonly.Anyother repreduction orredistributionisstrictly prohibited. Allrightsreserved.