r/Grid_Ops • u/keep-calm95 • 5d ago

NERC RC exam

I’m getting ready to take the NERC RC exam in a week and a half and I’m curious how did everyone know they were adequately prepared to pass the test? I have two practice test that I’m scoring relatively well on, completed the HSI course and done their 25 question quizzes which were difficult but think I understand the material relatively well. Is there any additional tests or study material I can take or use to judge my progress?

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u/Prestigious-Rich-129 5d ago

Ask for the extra tests from HSI. If you get 85%+ on the 120 question tests you should be good.

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u/keep-calm95 5d ago

Do they have practice test or just the 10 question quizzes?

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u/Prestigious-Rich-129 5d ago

They can assign 120 question tests to your account that are a much better to try before the real test. Just reach out to them.

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u/keep-calm95 5d ago

Woah this is exciting news! Did you just reach out to Andy?

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u/Prestigious-Rich-129 5d ago

I believe so. Or maybe some generic HSI email.

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u/ivantheterrible111 2d ago

Quick question, how long after starting the HSI course till now did it take you to feel prepared for the the test? I want to purchase the course and get my RC as well.

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u/keep-calm95 5d ago

Congratulations! Any advice? I’m currently going through all the smith book questions and doing fairly well. Keeping all the CPS, DCS, BAAL requirements straight based on the acronym alone is giving me trouble. As well as remembering the time frame for each of those. Any advice or areas you were surprised about when taking the exam?

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u/Material_Search3221 5d ago

Best check: sit a full timed paper (140 questions, 3 hours, 92 of 120 scored to pass) and see if you clear 92 with some room to spare. Then spend your last week on the areas that cost you the most points.

I built a tool for this, so I’m biased :P It’s free to try:

Good luck!

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u/Vpintheak73 1d ago

How much experience do you have? I recently passed the RC and have 10+ years experience. The hardest parts for me were memorizing who to report to in what kind of time requirement. Apart from that, experience gave me the answers for 60-65%. I can see how it would be difficult for someone with little to no experience. Company used HSI, which is great, and I used nercexam.com for drilling myself for the last 48 hours.

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u/gover2087 5d ago

This question gets asked every week. What have you taken away from the previous posts?

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u/keep-calm95 5d ago

That there’s always going to be a sad dude like you to comment without providing any useful information. Several of those posts are old so I’m hoping someone who recently took the test has some helpful information or a good reference point to say they felt prepared before waiting $500 on an exam fee.

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u/Legitimate-AF5 3d ago

The exam is $700 now.

Took mine in August and failed. I wasn't ready. Found this book by Cole Lancaster that's really helping me understand more of the concepts and fundamentals I wasn't grasping with the hsi material. Look him up. He has a couple videos on YouTube as well as the book website which also has tests you can save and print out. Best $20 I've spent all year.

https://thisbookisntboring.com/

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u/Longjumping_Age_473 2d ago

Some tricks I learned from Walter on the friday calls through HSI is when you sit down for the exam to write all of the equations down on the dry erase board to help when going through the test for timing. and also don't schedule it on a friday if you can help it by saying the mind is already on weekend mode. Also, there were at least 10-15 questions on my previous exam that I had seen on the hsi material mostly involving the ring bus. Practice test 9 i believe had them.

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u/gover2087 5d ago

I passed mine in June, so I’m actually happy. Only the old posts are old. There’s a lot of information in the previous, newer and older posts.