Dagnabbit. So I took it today for the first time and missed passing by one freakin' question. (So, yeah, I missed 6 total.)

With the new EPQs and new tests, there aren't any updated "study guides" over at bm.net. But, I thought I'd start something up here for just general info - let's help each other out. I'm sure an old salt or two will come in and tell us to read the d@mn book and study, but after having done that once already...

What advice do others have? Without quoting test questions and leading to UCMJ violations, but in the vein of being shipmates - who's got help?

I'll start with this: as a cutter BM, I knew the training portion cold (or so I felt, and still feel). The maintenace portion - well, I thought I knew it, but then the questions hit. My downfall was that, although I'd done plenty of boat inspections, because it's part of the machinery history, I didn't know the intricacies of the file. As in, for how many years different records are kept. And waivers - I always just get a verbal one from the CO. Didn't know about timeliness of getting written ones.

What help/advice/hints and tricks do others have? Let's all share with each other. Get on that supp list while it's hot.

GromitCU,
When I was studying for the test, I just went through the course material and made flash cards. That way I could quiz myself whenever I had a free moment. I let my buddy use my flash cards, I will see if I can get a hold of them and pass them along to you somehow. Maybe on the flashcard sharing website.

I just passed this test last month. All i did was study the books for a couple hours especially the Quizzes in the books and took the test and got an %88 so i would recommend just read the books cover to cover.

quote:

As in, for how many years different records are kept. And waivers - I always just get a verbal one from the CO. Didn't know about timeliness of getting written ones.

I haven't taken the new BM1 EOCT but based upon the questions you asked BOAT manual vol 1 and the Naval Engineering manual are good places to start if you're looking for additional study material. BM1

GromitCU-

Since you just took the test, you've probably got a better idea of how to study now!! You know what they'll ask, just how they'll ask it. Although it's been a couple of months, I do recall that they did not ask any form numbers. In questions, they provided the form number with the title of the form. If I'm correct, then you dont have to worry about form numbers! One less thing to fill your brain with.

Seriously, I'm not trying to sound condescending in anyway, but I also spent a couple of hours alone with the study material. Went through each and every page. Read every line and recited it to myself. Made highlights and flashcards. I'll bring my study guide home tomorrow and see exactly what I highlighted and let you know. Apparently, I knew what to look for, as I only missed one question on the test first and only time I took it. The question I missed had to do with in which section of tthe training record do you file the pistol score sheet (dont even remember that form number!). Seems redundant now, considering that were not even required to keep a hard copy training record. Anyway. From what I remember, know the 6 sections of a boat record book. know the sections of the training record. know all the timelines for anyting mentioned (crewmember certs, casreps, anything to do with specific hours, days, or months!). Know who can waive a restrictive discrepancy. Hmmm....cant really think right now.

Tomorrow, I'll bring home my book. As I dont really remember exact questions on the test, it'll be easy for me not to go against regs and give those out directly. However, whatever I had highlited worked great. So I can help you out with that.

Have you passed the EPME test yet? I passed that first try as well. It's not as overwhelming as you might think (if you ahvent taken it yet, that is). I can help you A LOT with that. Just let me know.

BM2 (soon to be BM1!!!)

4843521 has already passed some good study tips, but don't forget to take the time to look through the references listed in the End-of-Course materials. There's plenty of good information in the study books. Just be careful. Some of the answer keys and questions asked in the pamphlet review quizzes are completely bogus and the only way you'll find the right answer sometimes is to look beyond the EOC books.

If you approach your study preparation for EOCTs as you would for a SWE, then you shouldn't have any problems. However, you don't want to overdo it.

Good luck!

I agree with GASKET. BOAT Manual, CG REGS, and NEM are great manuals to be familiar with.

BM2

Thanks. I think the trick is to not get overwhelmed when you step back and look at all the stuff we have to know as Boatswain's Mates. Lots of information.

Thanks again and congrats on your upcoming promotion. People will be looking to you even more after that...Boats.

Quartergasket sends...BT...AR

quote:

Originally posted by Gasket:If you approach your study preparation for EOCTs as you would for a SWE, then you shouldn't have any problems. However, you don't want to overdo it.

What's a SWE?

Thanks to all for the advice. The point I'm trying to make is, , honestly, somewhat contradictory to what 4843521 said:

quote:

I agree with GASKET. BOAT Manual, CG REGS, and NEM are great manuals to be familiar with.

What I'm saying is, I've read the course book cover-to-cover too many times to count; I'm VERY familiar with certain aspects of each of the manuals listed above. But knowing the regs and studying for a test are two different things. I'm familiar with those manuals as they relate to my job. What I'm trying to do is foster discussion on helps, hints, and tips slightly more specific than "read the following manuals:" to help everyone. Like I said, I missed passing the test by one question, the first time I took it. I feel confident I'll pass it next time. I'm not trying to get hints for just me - let's help everyone out.

The advice I offered to you does apply to everyone. You can't get away with being just another jack of all trades, master of none these days. You also have to master many. To do that you do need to be intimate with your references. Those are the people that will rise as far as talent can take them...to the top!

Study tips has to be more involved than reading End-of-Course material and looking at other people's study guides. I wouldn't expect much from somebody who is only willing to go that far to prepare for advancement. Think of the end result. It's not passing the test. It's assuming the duties and responsibilities of the next pay grade. Of course experience carries a lot of weight, but we also need to understand where the information comes from so that we can be effective as Boatswain's Mates.

quote:

4843521 has already passed some good study tips, but don't forget to take the time to look through the references listed in the End-of-Course materials

When Gasket said this, I think the "references" he spoke of are the pertaining manual mentioned in the course material. So, was'nt he contradictory as well?

I was moreso mentioning manuals directed towards people who may read this, but have not even opened the course material yet. If you read something in your course material, which you've previously come across in a manual somewhere, you're probably going to retain it better. As a BM3 wanting to make BM2, I started getting myself very familiar with the manauls . Once I made BM2, even MORE familiar with them. Even though, up to this point, it may not have been expected of you to be familiar with many manuals, it will be HIGHLY expected of you as a BM1.

Once again, the above is more directed towards others. For you, however, you should probably just focus right now the course material, until you pass the test, as this is your current goal. As I've said before, I'm pretty sure youre gonna pass it this time. You only missed it by one question, and now you have a very good idea on how they will test. In addition to what I mentioned yesterday, I would seriously (if you havent already) open up your training record and repeatedly flip from section to section. Each section should have a cover page which tells what's in that section. If you're doesnt, then type them up yourself and place them in there. If you're flipping through and visualing getting a better idea (versus just memorizing it from the course material) you have a better chance of retention.

Same with the Boat Record. Start flipping though your own unit's boat record to become more visually and hands-on familiar with it. If youre assigned to a cutter, perhaps you have a shore unit nearby with boats. If so, just let them know youre trying to pass this test and wouuld like to look through their Boat Record. Do you really think they'd tell you "no"?

If there are any subjects which youre just not 100% clear about, then ask someone who is! I'm sure they'd be more than happy to explain it to ya. Once explained, it'll be far easier to remember, rather than trying to remember straight from the course material. Or, perhaps you have a question I could help you out with.

BM2

When i took the BM1 EOCT i was not aware of new study material. If you go to this link on cgcentral you will find the stsudy material for the EOCT http://cgcentral.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/programView.do...programId=1618775492

If the link does not work go to learning in cgcentral and then to non resident on the left hand side which then brings you to the rating study material. And if you can't figure it out from there good luck on your test.

good evening to all, I will be taking the BM1 EOCT 2moro and will write about it after I am finished. I have read the test material cover to cover and made some flash cards so with a quick cram session I believe I will pass.

i didnt pass but i figured out that it is mostly geared to stations about boat records, lesson plans, and unit training plans. the only thing that i could relate to cutter life is the training records. a question came up about comptency codes and that wasnt anywhere in the bm1 training material. 20 days to go it should be plenty of time and this time i will look more into the references as stated earlier.

PASSED!!!! 84% 2nd try. Training part alot more difficult than the maintence

quote:

Originally posted by samsamBM:
PASSED!!!! 84% 2nd try. Training part alot more difficult than the maintence

Congrats man. Me: First time, 76%. Second time, 76%. Third time, 96%.

I've got an Excel spreadsheet at work tracking all the numbers: total people on BM1 list, how many are left from Nov SWE before the supplemental list kicks in, number of advancements made to BM1 by month for the last 6 months... Just another way of obsessing over it.

Took me 3 times on the BM1 EOCT also. Going on the 4th time for the EPME-6. I never seem to do well on EPME's. I have every question from the EPME website memorized and I missed passing by 1 question. I'll be trying again in the next week or so.

I haven't tried the EPME-6 yet, but I'll probably re-try DWO next week, made an 82% without studying, so I hope with a few days dedication I can pass. Here's the weird thing though. Every EOCT I've taken I tought I failed I passed, and vcie versa.

Good luck on the EPME

Anybody facing the issue of most of the course material not really applying to your unit anymore? Paper training records no longer apply, paper boat records been gone for over a year here (modernized unit), aops/tmt no longer used due to ALMIS. Studied and had no problem with the test, but damn I hate studying stuff that either doesn't apply, or wont soon.
Also anyone else about ready for a servicewide? Just got on the list but im pretty sure I could probably advance faster off a servicewide then sitting at number 3something on a supplemental.

I guess that is one of the nice things about being in a while. All of this stuff that you have said has gone away we used all the time. But I got the test and the epme-6 the first time it was DWO that got me. I toke that one 5 times.