What is the BEST way to prepare to take the Exams

Discover expert tools and tips crafted to help interior designers succeed in their NCIDQ certification journey.

Work Experience

Besides your education, very little prepares you better than real life, work, on the job experience.
The exams try to reflect day-to-day scenarios. What can you do?

  • Ask your boss or supervisor for help in areas that you have no experience with. Perhaps you haven’t reviewed shop drawings. Ask to be included in the process.
  • Have you been to job sites with the Project manager? or done a site visit report? If the answer is no, try to tag along, even if it means a few extra hours a few days a month.
  • How about attending meetings? Have you tried taking notes? There is a wealth of information to be learned by just doing that, even if only a few times.
  • Anything above and beyond your job description is VALUABLE experience and a treasure trove of information.

Studying

Regardless of how long you have been a practicing Interior Designer, there is always something new to learn! There is a good chance that we do not have experience in every aspect of the exam.
If you are in this situation, you are not alone. Most of us are and need to either learn new concepts or refresh old ones. The best way to do this is by:

  • Joining a study group or class.
  • Find a tutor or mentor to help you with the few areas that have gap in knowledge or practice.
  • Finding a ‘study buddy’. A soundboard to make learning easier. Learning together is better than going it at alone.
  • The key to success is to find a program that fits your needs and is a good match

Study Material

Going alone? We got you! There is plenty of study material to review and prepare for the exams.
The Interior Design Reference Manual by K. Ballast (7th Edition currently) is a great source of all things NCIDQ exams. It covers most topics in great detail.
In addition:

  • Use the Mock Exam companion books to test your own knowledge
  • Check resources such as CIDQ quizzes for IDFX & IDPX available Here
  • Check out the RESOURCES pages on our website. It’s full of links to Free Resources
  • Download the list of other books from CIDQ.org
  • Don’t miss the Blueprints. Use them as a guide to study

Study Tips

Need some help getting started? Start by:

  • Making time -start early. Find blocks of time and stick to the schedule
  • Working on the topics you need most help with. This will give you time to reach out for help later if you still can’t grasp a concept or two.
  • Setting study goals. Do you need to finish a progress test? a quiz or a chapter of the book?
  • Setting deadlines. Schedule the exams and this will be your greatest motivator.

Most of all, start studying early. Stick to the plan. Be consistent

NCIDQ Exam Success with IDQSimplified

Discover essential tools and strategies we offer.

Comprehensive Study Guides

Enroll in a class and follow the schedule. We cover the material from the blueprints

Interactive Practice Tests

Engage with realistic quizzes to enhance your exam readiness.

Expert Coaching & Tutoring Services

Get personalized guidance from the instructor by scheduling 1:1 session. However, even in a group setting, you will receive individual attention.

Community Support Forums

Connect with peers for advice and motivation throughout your journey.

Up-to-Date Exam Resources

Stay informed with the latest NCIDQ exam changes and news. All of the material is constantly updated to reflect changes in blueprints and Codes.

Don’t miss our Success Stories and Testimonials Here

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