University Offers Variety of Test Prep Opportunities in 2018

The University of Mississippi’s Office of Professional Development and Lifelong Learning is offering numerous test preparation options this spring for local students and community members who may be interested in applying for college, graduate school, professional programs, or looking to gain a professional certification.
“These classes are filling the need for convenient and affordable test prep options in our area,” UM Director of Professional Development and Lifelong Learning Mary Leach said. “These short workshops and courses are ideal for those who want to do well on their college and graduate school entry exams and for community members who are looking to advance in their careers with professional training and certification.”
Those who are interested in certification as a K-12 teacher can take advantage of a two-part Praxis exam preparation workshop taking place on the UM campus on Saturdays, Feb.3 and Feb.10 in Lamar Hall.
The Feb. 3 class will be held from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and will focus on mastering the reading and writing portion of the exam. The Feb. 10 class will take place 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and it will help participants prepare for the mathematics section.
“A lot of people are rusty when it comes to math,” Praxis core instructor Thomas Herrington said. “This course helps them to get the wheels turning again. We give them another way to look at the math problems and help them understand these concepts.”
Participants will receive an in-depth review of materials included on the exam and learn test-taking strategies to help with mastery of exam content. The cost for the reading and writing prep session will be $65 while the math session cost is $85. Participants who sign up for both sections will receive a $10 discount.
New this spring is an increased partnership with Cambridge Educational Services to offer online test preparation courses.
“We know that scholarship funds for college and graduate school tend to be tied into a student’s score on these standardized tests,” Leach said. “These programs are affordable and convenient for students to learn the material and prepare strategies that will help them to perform at their highest level.”
High school students hoping to display college readiness can prepare for the PSAT, ACT, and SAT exams through the online courses, as can college graduates looking to apply to graduate school, or law school.
Each course offers 30 units of self-directed study, practice tests, and quizzes where students are provided instruction for best strategies and guided practice in applying those strategies. The cost for five-months of access to a specific online course is $189.
Local human resource professionals can work toward advanced certification or obtain professional development with the Society of Human Resources certification course offered on Tuesday evenings, Feb. 6 through May 1, on the UM campus. The course not only prepares human resource professionals to take the SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP exams, but it also helps participants strengthen their understanding of core behavior and technical competencies in order to increase productivity in the workplace.
Local human resource manager and SHRM-certified instructor Christopher Byrd will share new ideas to drive success and contribute to the strategic direction of an organization.
The registration fee is $1,099 for non-SHRM members and $999 for SHRM members.
For more information or to register for any of these programs, visit https://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/prepare or contact Mary Leach at 662-915-7847.

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By Pam Starling
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