Introduction

This introductory chapter distinguishes this book from the typical test prep manuals that readers might expect and outlines ways that readers can use this book during preparation for their licensure exam. I establish that readers will not find this book filled with sample test questions or some of the more simplistic tactics that are guaranteed to improve test scores. Instead, they will come to understand some of the deeper processes and ideas at work during preparation for licensure exams and what to do differently in light of these ideas. I also introduce some of the essential threads that run throughout chapters and that will be reinforced throughout the book. These threads included thinking about the exam as a collective rather than individual endeavor, paying attention to both the cognitive and affective aspects of the exam experience, developing a critical filter based upon their specific needs, and attending to how social identities play into licensure exam experiences. This chapter ends with a short overview of the book’s contents and some different entry points available to readers based upon their needs.