Course Conventions and Content

to measure your skills and expertise. It measures your ability to interpret visual data and perform basic arithmetic calculations. Thirty four investor owned utility companies that are part of the EEI contributed to the creation of this exam. The test has become the industry standard for evaluating the skills of applicants.

Although CAST is not administered solely by the Edison Electric Institute, they still maintain the test. Each company that uses the exam to assess job applicants can administer, score, and use results in their own way. The intent is to assess an applicant’s aptitude and examine their ability to learn and understand key information required for success in their future roles.

As a new entrant into the construction industry, you may be required to take this test. It’s part of the recruitment process in many organizations. It affords you the opportunity to show a prospective employer what you are made of, so treat passing this test as a priority.

But what if you already have a job in the construction industry? You just want to move up the ladder, so to speak? The CAST exam is a great way to prove your value to your employer. Passing this test will help demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and ability to excel in a new role, with more responsibilities.

Thank you, again, for your interest in this course. I am sure it will prove valuable in your quest to begin or advance your career. So, if you are set to go, let’s get started.

COURSE CONVENTIONS AND CONTENT

In this section of the chapter, I'll focus on the conventions and content of this audio course. When I say course conventions, I’m talking about the methods and concepts that I will use to present the course material to you. The content has been divided into chapters. Each chapter is further divided into subsections. At the start of every new chapter and subsection, I will give its name to you.

There will be short quizzes near the end of every chapter. They are based on the content you heard in that particular lecture. Use them to assess your progress and to direct extra study time you might need. There is also a Follow Along PDF Manual. Later in this

introduction, I'll explain how to use the manual and how it will help you get the most from this course.

The CAST exam is a challenging one. Quite often, talented individuals get turned away from jobs that they otherwise would have qualified for simply because they scored too low on the test. I will help you learn how to prepare for each section of CAST. You will also learn some tactics that will help you solve questions more quickly and within the exam's time constraints. This will help you save precious time and energy; it can be the difference between a passing score or a fail.

A bit earlier, I mentioned a Follow Along PDF Manual. Each AudioLearn course comes with a companion study guide, called a Follow Along PDF Manual. In this manual, you will find a summary of important information and links to valuable resources. The manual also contains the quizzes for each chapter and a practice final exam. You'll take this mock exam to put everything you learned together. It's a good indication of whether or not you are ready for the real test. Needless to say, this manual will prove invaluable to your success in this course. You can choose to read it in digital format, but I recommend that you print it out. Then you can use it to take notes or additional comments as you listen to the lectures. In any case, use the format that works best for you.

Repetition is an important part of learning. Throughout this course, I will repeat vital concepts several times. It is not because I have a lack of things to say; it’s just part of the learning process. Take note of repeated ideas, terms, and concepts as you go through the course. If I repeat things, then they are probably worth remembering.

I recommend that you listen to every chapter of this course as many times as you can; at least twice. It is unlikely that you will be able to retain enough information by listening only once. You should also pay attention to any supplemental study sources, suggestions, and learning techniques that I will mention. They can help to make your testing experience much easier. Again, taking notes as you listen is another good way to retain information.