Training tips

On job training study takes commitment and discipline.  You will no doubt have conflicts between getting a listing or sale, and study - only you will decide which the top priority is at the time.  If you get sidetracked, try and get back into the swing of studying as soon as possible.  Like a new exercise habit, with time, it will become easier to focus on getting through the work.

Start new study habits

1.       Workplace study guide - Cover page

The cover page tells you information about the unit standard such as the name, the unique identifying number, the level in terms of the degree of ‘complexity’ of the expected outcome, the value of the unit standard in terms of credits, and the version.

2.       Workplace study guide - Page 2 Purpose

Read the purpose statement carefully.  This tells you what you must be able to do.  Highlight these with a marker pen.

Note the verb at the beginning of the each point - ‘develop’ or ‘explain’ or ‘demonstrate’.  This is a clue to what you need to do.  For example ‘demonstrate effective sales presentation techniques…’ means you will need to demonstrate presenting an agreement from a buyer to a seller, as observed by your assessor.

3.       Now read the assessment activity

This may sound strange, but put aside the workplace study guide for a minute, then read the assessment activity.  Each activity is sectioned into a series of tasks that tell you exactly what evidence you need to provide, and elements which state the learning outcomes.

Highlight and make short notes as a road map to guide you through the workplace study guide.

4.       Back to the workplace study guide

Now read the workplace study guide, and make notes which relate to the questions and instructions.

5.       Back to the assessment activity

Write a bullet point answer for each task and instruction and gather supportive evidence.

6.       Enlarge

Once you feel you have the correct answers, then expand your bullet points into a readable response.

The question, “How much do I need to write, and to what depth?” is a difficult one to answer.  Expand on your bullet points and if it meets the question, then that is enough.

You do not have to write an encyclopaedia, but you do need to show that you know the answer.  Type your answers, or if you handwrite, make sure it is legible.

7.       Prepare the assessment activity to submit to your assessor

It’s always hard to proof your own work.  Ask a colleague or partner to read your work and proof for accuracy, sense, and grammar.  Check again that you have really answered the questions and your response is accurate.

Check - make sure that you have all the information for your assessor:

• a written answer and samples of your work
• sign off and your agent/manager sign off declaration sheet included in the assessment activity.

Be accurate and complete otherwise this will cause delays.

It is important to keep a copy of each assessment activity you send in as a back up copy in case of loss.

8.       Achieved?

You will receive notification whether you have reached the standard needed or if you have further work to do within 30 days of sending your assessment activity.  You may be asked to redo one or more questions.

Understand the words

Here are some words that may be used in your assessment activity, and their meaning.

Define	Give the exact meaning.
Compare and contrast	Explain the similarities and the differences.
Illustrate	Explain the ideas with the help of examples.
Trace	Give a step-by-step account.
Analyse	Show the relationships between ideas.  Many relationships have a cause and effect, so many sentences will have phrases such as ‘because’, ‘as a result’, and ‘One leads to two because three...’
Outline/summarise	Give the main points only.
Explain/described/examine	Explain the main points in detail.  It will often be helpful to define, compare, contrast, summarise, and - especially - to illustrate and analyse ideas.
Examine the reasons for... Describe and account for... Explain the results of...	Questions like these require you to explain causes and effects, often with the help of examples, reasons, results, and other supporting evidence.  (Your answer will have phrases such as ‘because’, ‘as a result’, ‘this is shown by’, and ‘One leads to two because of three’.)
Discuss	Discuss means to come to a conclusion about an issue, giving reasons for your view.  For example, a task might say: ‘Selling real estate can help economic growth.  Discuss.’

Be prepared

Each assessment activity may take approximately ten hours to complete, depending on your sales experience, knowledge, learning style, and working speed.

A reasonable target is one assessment activity every two weeks.

Increase your chances of completing the programme

Block out study time in your diary on a weekly basis - other things will always compete for priority.  Get into good study habits early.

Week 1

• Read the workplace study guide.
• Discover what you know, make notes, gather material and examples of documents you will need to submit.
• List what you don’t know, who to ask.
• Commence answering questions, make bullet point notes.

Week 2

• You should have all the information at hand now to complete the unit standard.
• Keep writing, and enlarge on your bullet points.
• Review, change and check answers, spelling, etc.
• Check and collate all the documents to send away.

Focus when you are fresh and effective - mornings, evening, midday, whenever is your best concentration time.  Do not be tempted to take calls as this will add to the length of time it’ll take you to restart your thought processes.

Don’t procrastinate - it is not hard once you’ve started.  Shut that office or study room door to eliminate distractions.

Don’t engage in avoidance tactics by chatting to colleagues, making coffee, etc.

Feeling stuck?  Don’t waste time.  Ask your agent/manager or a colleague, or call your REAL ITO Qualifications Training Adviser.

Study getting you down and feeling unmotivated?  Join the club - we all get into a hole.  Call someone and talk - guess what, the world has not come to an end.  Get stuck in and do it!

On conclusion

Everybody has life and real estate experience so you know more than you think.  You may not be used to learning or have a hidden fears from school days because you may not feel you were a success at that.  Remember, keep motivated and if you work at it ‘one bite at a time’, then it is quite achievable.  Have no doubt you can do this.

Think of the rewards - extra income, extra confidence, your point of difference, helping clients with your professional knowledge and skills, and avoiding courts and fines!

Keep at it, ask for help when you need to, and you will do well.  Good luck!