CRA Chronicles | Part 2: What Not to Wear
This is the second installment in a three-part series sharing one research administrator’s experiences taking the Certified Research Administrator Exam. Click here to read Part 1: Facing My Fears. You can learn more about becoming a CRA on the Research Administrators Certification Council website.
Among the many rules of the test center is the following: “Jewelry other than wedding and engagement rings is prohibited.” I ponder the jewelry I normally wear: two silver bands, stacked on my left middle finger; three silver hoops in my left ear and one in my right; and, on special occasions when I need extra external motivation, a silver bracelet with the words “You’ve Got This” etched inside.
While I suppose I could have engraved instead something like: “NICRA = Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement” on the bracelet and possibly the formula for calculating Total Federal Funds Awarded inside one of the bands, I cannot imagine a world in which I, a mere mortal, could smuggle any information on the thin hoops strung through my ears. I decided to leave the bracelet home just in case.
Figuring out what to wear was just the beginning of my test day preparations. I took off from work the afternoon before to pace around the library, stare at my note cards, and chant mnemonics about IRB. Then, that night, I packed my Go Bag: water bottle, nuts for a power boost, testing registration info, and wallet with current ID. (Be sure your ID is current! I witnessed a person turned away because their license was expired.) Finally, I performed my evening rituals early in an effort to get plenty of rest.
The next morning, I ate a delicious breakfast and hit the road an hour early “Just in Case.” Luckily there were no logging trucks or hay trailers or escaped cows in the road, so I arrived with plenty of time to spare. I spent that extra time in the testing center’s parking lot loading up on caffeine and going over the last dozen note cards that had been causing me trouble. Thirty minutes before show time, I slung my Go Bag over my shoulder and marched into the building.
After checking in and a brief wait, I was scanned with a metal detector wand and handed a basic calculator, a dry erase marker, and a few laminated pages of “scratch paper.” The monitor led me to a testing station, glared sternly as if to say, “Don’t mess around,” and left me to my work.
Flashback to a week before my test date when I took the RACC online sample test. I had used the sample test to familiarize myself with the testing interface, to figure out how I would use the flagging tool, and to gauge at what point I should be taking breaks. On exam day, the actual interface of the test was slightly different from the pre-test, but it was close enough that I felt comfortable with the system and there was a quick tutorial prior to starting the exam.
Based on my experiences with the sample test, I flagged all math questions, so I could go back and check my calculations. Any questions I was completely clueless about I took a wild stab at and then flagged. (No matter how much you study, there will be questions that confound you. It’s okay. Take a guess and move on.) I also flagged questions where I found myself taking a lot of time trying to decide in case I had time later to re-consider, but I still answered them in case I didn’t get back to them.
During the sample test, I also noticed that my thinking began to slow down after about 50 questions. On the day of the test, I left my cubicle at that interval for some water and a snack. About halfway through, I took a longer break and walked up and down the hallway outside the center for five minutes. Depending on your testing center rules, you may even be able to go outside for some fresh air.
Once I answered the final question, I took one last break and then hit the flagged questions. I felt like I should have spent more time reviewing my answers, but with about half an hour to spare, I started to drift off into space and realized I was done. In hindsight, I would have packed a Dr. Pepper in my Go Bag and maybe added some raisins to my snack. An extra caffeine and sugar boost midway would have been helpful to keep my brain alert through several hours of intense focusing.
After I’d turned in my calculator and laminated scratch paper, I stumbled dazedly to my car and drove to Bojangles for a power up before tackling the hour drive back home. While I was relieved to be finished and felt that I had done well, all my self-doubts were creeping back and I knew I would have no peace until I got my results. The Waiting had begun
Resources:
- Virginia Tech CRA Study Team – I highly recommend Virginia Tech’s CRA study sessions. Virginia Tech, and several collaborating institutions, have been providing this service to the research administration community for a number of years, and the materials are very thorough. In conjunction with the weekly seminars, the University of Michigan also emails a “CRA-A-Day” study sheet. There is no fee for this program.
- RACC: How Do I Prepare For An Examination? – The Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) offers study sessions and an online practice exam. There are fees for both the study sessions and exams, but your institution may cover the cost as part of your professional development.
- SRAI Training Programs – SRAI offers a number of educational programs. These may be a good option if you are newer to the profession or if you want a more in-depth review. There are fees for the programs, but your institution may cover the cost as part of your professional development.
- Quizlet – Search on “CRA Exam Practice Questions” on the search option. A number of fellow test takers have created Quizlets that you can use, and you may find this tool useful for creating study tools of your own. You can use Quizlet for free or choose to upgrade for more advanced features for a fee.
Check back next month for Part II: What Not to Wear.
Authored by Carol Volker, Pre-Award Associate
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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