Look at the facts below carefully if you think the sales ploy of 'guaranteeing' exams sounds like a benefit to the student:

Everyone knows they're still paying for it - obviously it has been added into the overall figure from the training provider. It's definitely not free - and it's insulting that we're supposed to think it is! For those who want to pass first time, you must pay for each exam as you go, give it the necessary attention and be ready for the task.

Do your exams somewhere local and go for the best offer you can find when you're ready. What's the point in paying early for examinations when there was no need to? Huge profits are made by companies charging upfront for all their exams - and banking on the fact that many won't be taken. The majority of companies will require you to do mock exams and prohibit you from re-taking an exam until you've completely proven that you're likely to pass - which actually leaves you with no guarantee at all.

The cost of exams was around the 112 pounds mark twelve months or so ago via local VUE or Pro-metric centres throughout the country. So don't be talked into shelling out hundreds or thousands of pounds more for 'Exam Guarantees', when it's no secret that the most successful method is study, commitment and preparing with good quality mock and practice exams.

Most people don't even think to ask about something that can make a profound difference to their results - the way the company segments the courseware, and into what particular chunks. Most companies will sell you some sort of program spread over 1-3 years, and drop-ship the materials to you piecemeal as you complete each exam. This sounds reasonable until you consider the following: What would their reaction be if you find it difficult to do each and every module at the speed they required? And maybe you'll find their order of completion doesn't work as well as an alternative path could be.

To be honest, the perfect answer is to have their ideal 'order' of training laid out, but to receive all the materials up-front. Everything is then in your possession in case you don't finish at their required pace.

The right sort of training package will also include accredited exam preparation systems. Students regularly can get confused by going through practice questions that are not from authorised sources. Sometimes, the phraseology can be quite different and you need to be ready for this. Simulations and practice exams are invaluable as a tool for logging knowledge into your brain - so much so, that at your actual exams, you will be much more relaxed.

There is no way of over emphasising this: You have to get round-the-clock 24x7 instructor support. We can tell you that you'll strongly regret it if you don't follow this rule rigidly. Beware of institutions who use messaging services 'out-of-hours' - with the call-back coming in during normal office hours. It's no use when you're stuck on a problem and want support there and then.

As long as you look hard, you will find professional training packages that recommend and use direct-access support all the time - no matter what time of day it is. Unless you insist on support round-the-clock, you'll regret it very quickly. You may not need it during the night, but what about weekends, evenings and early mornings at some point.

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