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ICS TESTING TIPS
Here are
some directions to taking the ICS tests online, and to provide some
tips on how to successfully complete the test. The computer skills
of our flotilla members vary widely, so those of you who are well
versed in navigating around the Web – just go to it. The course
work and the test are NOT difficult, the hardest part is the
differences in nomenclature from what Auxiliarists normally use. You
probably already have a pretty good grasp of the "concepts"
involved.
The tests for
ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700 and ICS 800 all operate in the same way,
and if you take the tests online you will be notified of successful
completion on the following day – and receive your actual
certification by U.S. Mail within about a week.
To access the
test documents, go to
HTTP://WWW.TRAINING.FEMA.GOV/EMIWEB/IS/CRSLIST.ASP
Scroll
down the page to find the test you want to study for and/or
complete. They are:
Click
on the name of the test. This will take you to the introductory page
for that particular test.
Scroll down
to the bottom of the page.
Click on
“Download Final Exam Questions.”
Print it.
Go back
(using your browser’s back button), and click on “Take Final Exam.”
This will open
a “bubble sheet.”
Print it.
Go back
(using your browser’s back button), and click on “Summary” to
download it. (You also have the option of taking “the course,” or
printing out the entire manual, but the answers to all the
questions are contained in the “Summary” and usually in the same
exact language as the question.
You should
now read through the Summary on your screen – familiarizing yourself
with the content.
All questions
are multiple choice (A-D). Keep in mind that there is no expectation
that you will become an “ICS Expert” by completing the coursework
and taking the test. Essentially the Coast Guard wants Auxiliarists
to become familiar with a new vocabulary to approach tasks you have
already been performing.
Answer each
question, referring to the Summary for the answers. Most people are
used to this method of “scanning” the Summary to quickly find the
answers which, as said, generally use the same language as the
questions. If you are not familiar with this method, or if you don’t
think you’re “good at it,” then having the Summary open on your
computer can provide additional help in finding the answer: Simply
hit cntl-F, then type in a key word or phrase likely to be used in
the answer, and hit return. In other words, let the computer do the
scanning.
When you find
the correct answer, mark it (pen or pencil) on the bubble sheet you
printed out, or on the answer sheet you printed out. Then use the
back button again to go back to the previous page, and click on
“Take Final Test.” Enter your answers by clicking on the bubble
sheet on the screen, fill out all the personal information (name,
address, etc.) then click on “Submit.”
And you’re
done! That should have taken about an hour – maybe a bit longer –
and you’re ready to go through the same exercise for each of the ICS
tests you’re required to take.
They will
notify you of completion by email on the following day, and you
should receive your certificate in about a week (actually, several
weeks).
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Once you get the
e-mail,
forward it to DIRAUX for entry into AUXDATA.
Either forward the email you receive to:
James.D.Hamilton@uscg.mil
Or send it via US
Mail to:
Director of
Auxiliary -- ATTN: ICS
Commander (dpa-n)
Eleventh Coast
Guard District
Coast Guard
Island, Bldg. 21
Alameda, CA
94501-5100
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