Top 10 APR Tips
-
Actively participate in class.
-
Read the study guide and the Cutlip book “Effective Public Relations” 11th edition.
-
Join the informal Study Cohort with classmates. Use the time discussing a case studies and quizzing each other leveraging the study questions at the end of each chapter of the book.
-
Review the KSAs and highlight areas you feel you need to focus on for your individual study sessions.
-
Focus on studying RPIE: research, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Review Silver Anvil case studies and critique goals, strategies, objectives, etc. -
Focus on the ethics section helps with answering the scenario-based questions.
• Review Ethics Case Studies: PRSA ethics case studies.
• Ethics Webinar: Check out “Ethical Public Relations: Everyday Expectations”: Available On Demand free to PRSA and PRSSA members
• Ethics Quiz: Test your PR ethics knowledge by taking the PRSA Ethics Quotient (EQ) Quiz. -
Study the history and theory questions even though they are smallest percentage of the test, they have the most objectively correct answers. You can ace this part easily.
-
Set up study goals and rewards:
• Commit to 1-hour of study before you watch a favorite show.
• Reward yourself for getting through the study guide with spa day or whatever!
• Allow yourself a glass of wine or another treat while you study. -
Sneak in studying:
• Use flashcards: Quizlet app or Brainscape (electronic flashcards) and/or index cards – flip through them whenever you can (waiting on kids or colleagues, on treadmill, in line at store, etc.)
• Use Post-Its: Post key terms, dates or concepts you are struggling with surfaces you look at every day – use a quick glance to help you remember (bathroom mirror, refrigerator, around computer screen, etc.) -
Get familiar with the online test and take it within 30 days of the end of the study sessions:
• Demo of Examination for Accreditation in Public Relations
• Some sample questions for the computer-based Examination
