If you're just starting out phase 1, or you're almost done and you're getting ready for your phase 1 assessment, then I'm sure you are dreading it.
From the moment I started this program I was so scared of this assessment because I think we are naturally afraid of the unknown. So I will be sharing some tips on how to prepare yourself for this assessment.
Prepare Technically
If you're asynchronous, it is so important you pace yourself and take time to actually understand what you're reading and understanding the "why's" of the labs you're working on. It is also super important to study and touch up on topics you probably didn't even look twice at since completing. STUDY! Don't try to cram because I promise you will forget something. Take time each day to study a little bit and look back on previous topics.
Prepare Mentally
The first thing the instructor asked me was "How are you?" to which I replied, "Oh, I am so nervous". She then told me something that soothed my nerves a little bit and that was "This isn't like a normal school test, this is kind of like a mock interview."
Now, I am great at interview, but I still did not know what a technical interview would look like. So let me tell you what this one might look like:
Have your project already running. You don't want to waste time and take time away from your live coding.
You will want to also have your project GitHub repo open.
You will walk through your code, the instructor may ask any questions they like about your code and ask for you to name or point out certain things e.g(callback functions, "what does this code do", "what is this section called").
After this, you will do the live coding. The instructors are there to guide you, they don't just silently sit there and watch you code so don't make them sit and watch you silently code. It's not a who-can-talk-less contest. Talk through your code, talk through what you're doing. Your instructor might say little words of encouragement or even "okay try it" to guide you the right way. They want you to pass, they just have to know what you're thinking in order to help you pass.
Get help from your cohorts, we honestly are in this together, and once we realize that, the better. We all want to make it, and by working together you ensure each other's success and already made connections with people in the same field as you.
This assessment is nothing to cry about nor is it something to be afraid of, I know that now.
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