Putting It All Together

1. Putting It All Together MASS/POSS Test Preparation

2. Putting It All Together This simple presentation will assist you in preparing to take the Power Plant Maintenance Selection System (MASS) and Power Plant Operator Selection (POSS) Test given by the Edison Electric Institute. These tests are used by most utilities and many other companies to test the abilities of potential employees.

3. Putting It All Together The remainder of this presentation will help you to prepare by following tried and tested methods of training. We will cover the sections on the MASS/POSS tests as well as some additional preparation techniques.

4. Mass vs. Poss The EEI Practice Tests are presented for each of the following: • Assembly • Mechanical Concepts • Tables and Graphs • Reading Comprehension • Mathematical Usage The differences in the Mass and the Poss practice tests are, on the Poss test: Tables and Graphs is included, and the Math test is slightly more in depth. The remainder of the practice tests are identical.

5. The Sections: Assembly - you are to assemble the parts so that the places having the same letter are put together. 20 MC questions – 10 min. Mechanical Concepts - a test of your ability to understand mechanical concepts. 44 MC questions – 20 min. Tables & Graphs – two parts measure speed and accuracy in reading tables(60 MC – 5 min) and in reading graphs(24 MC – 4 min). Reading Comprehension - measures your ability to read and understand written materials. 32 MC – 30 min. Mathematical Usage - a test of your skill in working with mathematical formulas. 18 MC question – 7 minutes. • Why is touching a door knob with a key considered a simple way to avoid static electricity? • The key will discharge your body without pain • The key will prevent your body from getting charged • The static electric sparks will blast the key and not your hand • The key charges you with negative electricity If half a pint of paint covers a triangle with a base of 30 inches and a height of 20 inches, how much paint is required to paint a triangle with a base of 15 inches and height of 80 inches ? Actual test questions numbers and times according to Mometrix.

6. The tests The sum of the tests should be less than 2 hours. You must complete the sections in order and may not go back to a previous section. You may wish to bring a good pencil. You will be given 5 test scores based on the number of questions you answered correctly. Un answered questions are wrong answers. The scores are combined and indexed from 1 – 10. Most scores fall from 3 to 8. Very low or very high scores are rare.

7. 80%95% 88% 55% 100% PFM 7 A normalized score is a relative score that is set in relation to the rest of the population that undertook the test. This score is not linear, so if you answered correctly to 5 out of 10 questions your normalized score may not necessarily be 5 or 50%. For example, if a test you did was quite challenging and you managed to answer correctly to 5 out of 10 questions while most other test takers managed to answer only 3 out of 10 questions, then your normalized score may even be 8 or 9. However, if most test takers managed to answer 8 questions correctly then your score in relation to them (i.e. your normalized score) may even be as low as 2 or 3. Normalized scores are used in selection processes since during the process you are almost always competing with other candidates and therefore your achievements are compared in relation to theirs'.

8. Content Each of these sections will be discussed and may have practice questions. In addition sections on how to take tests, how to study, and how to manage your study time will be covered. So, let’s review some basics!

9. How Should I Study? A study place does you little good if you cannot use it when you need it. If you are using a study place that you must share with others, work out a schedule so that you know when you can use it. Plan for aplace and time to study everyday. You will soon be regulated to a schedule that includes your study time.

10. How Should I Study? Research shows that most people study best in a quiet environment. If you find that playing a stereo or TV improves your mood, keep the volume low. Don’t put yourself to sleep!

11. How Should I Study? While studying your material or studying for a test, use a desk or table that is large enough to hold everything you need. Allow enough room for writing and try to avoid clutter.

12. How Should I Study? A chair that is not comfortable can cause discomfort or pain that will interfere with your studying. A chair that is too comfortable might make you sleepy. Select a chair in which you can sit for long periods while maintaining your attention.

13. How Should I Study? The amount of light you need depends on what you are doing. The important thing is that you can clearly see what you need to see without any strain or discomfort.

14. How Should I Study? If your study area is too warm, you might become sleepy. If it is too cold, your thinking may slow down and become unclear. Select a temperature at which your mind and body function best.

15. How Should I Study? • It is important to have uninterrupted study time. You may have to hang a DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door or turn off the phone. • Always overbook your study time. If you plan more time than you need and you finish early you have extra time for a fun activity. • After a good study period, reward yourself. You will soon begin to look forward to your study time.

16. Classroom Behaviors It is important for you to be a good listener in class. Much of what you will have to learn will be presented verbally by your instructors. Just hearing what your instructors say is not the same as listening to what they say. Listening is a mental act that requires you to pay attention, think about, and process what you hear.

17. Classroom Behaviors Be ready to listen when you go to class. Your attitude is important. Make a conscious choice to find the topic useful and interesting. Be committed to learning all that you can. Be receptive to what your instructor says. It is good to question what is said as long as you remain open to points of view other than your own. Focus on what your instructor is saying. Try not to daydream and let your mind wander to other things. It MAY help to sit in the front and center of the class, and to maintain eye contact with your instructor.

18. Classroom Behaviors Don't give up and stop listening when you find the information being presented difficult to understand. Listen even more carefully at these times and work hard to understand what is being said. Don't be reluctant to ask questions. The classroom may be too noisy, too hot, too cold, too bright, or too dark. Don't give in to these inconveniences. Stay focused on the big picture - LEARNING.

19. Classroom Behaviors You can think faster than your instructor can speak. Use this to your advantage by evaluating what is being said and trying to anticipate what will be said next. Take good written notes about what your instructor says. While you can think faster than your instructor can speak, you cannot write faster than your instructor can speak. Taking notes requires you to make decisions about what to write, and you have to be an active listener to do this.

20. Classroom Behaviors Remember the job is not over until the paperwork is done! Do you have any Job Performance paperwork to get completed? DO IT NOW! While the instructor or supervisor is available.

21. Types of Learning Auditory learners learn best when information is presented in a language format. Do you seem to learn best in classes that emphasize instructor lectures and class discussions? Do you find yourself reading aloud or talking things out to gain better understanding? If YES, you are probably an auditory learner.

22. Types of Learning Visual learners learn best when information is presented in a written language format or in another visual format such as pictures or diagrams. Do you do best in classes in which instructors do a lot of writing at the chalkboard, provide clear handouts, and make extensive use of an overhead projector? Do you try to remember information by creating pictures in your mind? Do you take detailed written notes from your textbooks and in class? If YES, you are probably a visual learner.

23. Types of Learning Physical learners learn best in hands-on learning settings in which they can physically manipulate something in order to learn about it. Do you learn best when you can move about and handle things? Do you do well in classes in which there is a lab component? Do you learn better when you have an actual object in your hands rather than a picture of the object or a verbal or written description of it? If YES, you are probably a physical learner.

24. The Learning Cycle Tell me Show me Help me Let me TRY TO FIT INTO THIS CYCLE

25. Taking Tests Be well rested • Get plenty of sleep the night before • When rested you think and recall better

26. Taking Tests Don’t cram 15 minutes before the test • It is too late!

27. Taking Tests Read the whole test first • Some questions will refresh your mind about others • Some may answer others

28. Taking Tests • Don’t linger too long on any one question. • Answer the questions that you are certain know. • If unsure, put a dot in the margin next to the question, so that you can find it easily when you want to come back to it later.

29. Taking Tests • Unless instructed not to write on the test paper always circle or underline the key words in the question that direct your search for the answer • Start by eliminating the answers that are not correct. • Choose between what is left. • Example • The primary responsibility of the office manager is to • get the CEO’s coffee promptly • oversee the general operation of the office • hire and fire other office staff • plan the Christmas party • Which can you eliminate?

30. Taking Tests • The primary responsibility of the office manager is to • get the CEO’s coffee promptly • oversee the general operation of the office • hire and fire other office staff • plan the Christmas party • After eliminating what you can, then try to look at the remaining options in a true, false context: • The primary responsibility of the office manager is to oversee the general operation of the office . True or false? • The primary responsibility of the office manger is to hire and fire other staff. True or false? • Between these two, it seems clearer that the truer of the statements is that the manager oversees general operations. Notice the key word primary.

31. Taking Tests Always read all answers before deciding on the correct answer. Test questions may contain look-alike options, they may be easily confused. Watch for tricky wordings such as “all of the following are true except”

32. Taking Tests • Before you begin a math calculation, estimate roughly in your head, then do the calculation. • Ask : Does the answer I have selected make sense (is it in the ballpark of my estimation)? • Watchfor: • Decimal place errors 2.0 vs. 20 • Transposing numbers (251 vs. 215) • Mistaking a percent with a number

33. Taking Tests Answer the questions • Answer the easy questions – the ones you KNOW! • Answer the harder questions that you think you know. • If multiple choice throw out the obvious wrong answers • Reread the question and the remaining answers • Do not change answers unless …… • Guess at the answers you do not know.

34. Taking Tests • Take a guess when: • There is no penalty for doing so • You are absolutely sure you know nothing about the question (you can’t eliminate any of the possible answers) • You are unsure about a choice between two plausible (reasonable, believable) answers D A B C

35. Taking Tests • When you have time left: • Make sure you have not skipped any questions. • Go back and look for the questions you were uncertain about. • Double check your answers, but don’t change unless you are absolutely sure. • Generally speaking, your first choice is the best answer.

36. Putting it All Together ASSEMBLY

37. Putting it All Together ASSEMBLY 20 Questions – 10 Minutes Assembly - you are to assemble the parts so that the places having the same letter are put together. Which two pictures on the right will make the object on the left?

38. Putting it All Together ASSEMBLY

39. Putting it All Together ASSEMBLY

40. Putting it All Together ASSEMBLY

41. Putting it All Together ASSEMBLY

42. ASSEMBLY

43. Putting it All Together ASSEMBLY

44. Putting it All Together ASSEMBLY

45. Putting it All TogetherMechanical Concepts

46. Putting it All TogetherMechanical ConceptsNewton! An object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. Force may be thought of as any influence which tends to change the motion of an object

47. Putting it All TogetherMechanical ConceptsThings to know MASS vs. WEIGHT

48. Putting it All TogetherMechanical ConceptsThings to know

49. Putting it All TogetherMechanical ConceptsThings to know MOMENTUM!

50. Formula Triangles FORCE = PRESSURE x AREA PRESURE = FORCE ÷ AREA AREA = FORCE ÷ PRESSURE