Walter & Group........
Michael Jones asked when a candidate should feel ready to take the MCCI exam. My answer to him, below:
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Michael...
NOT a good idea to take your MCCI exam until:
1.) You have at the very least a full year of teaching under your belt after you have passed your CCI exam. Even better to have this experience of a lot of hands-on teaching for several years. Better, yet, to have worked under a Master in doing this. No matter how well the candidate performs with casting or how much he or she knows, there is no substitute for this actual teaching experience. Lack of it ALWAYS shows up on the exam and is a prime reason for failure.
3.) You must obtain and carefully study the Master Study Guide from the FFF Office.
4.) It's important that you have done most of the recommended reading from that Guide. (This will take several months.)
5.) As Jim Valle stated in his article in the LOOP, it is of really great value to have a, "mentor".... Either a Master or CBOG with whom you have actually worked on casting and teaching problems. (Be sure to read this article.)
6.) I'd recommend attending the FFF Conclaves and in doing so take the workshops which teach some of the things you need to know. Rubbing elbows and casting with others at these conclaves and sitting in on discussions helps with your preparations.
7.) Having a, "study buddy" helps a lot. It really helps to have someone like that for casting practice and to bounce casting and teaching questions about. Back when I studied for my MCCI exam, Rick Whorwood and I did that (at least the question and answer stuff) even though I was in South Florida and he lives in Ontario, Canada.
We would challenge one-another with questions. Each question would require two answers: a.) A short one (maybe just one word.) and, b.) A detailed answer. Rick and I did that for a good two years or longer.
8.) Practice the various tasks such as the many ways of making change of direction casts, the ways of handling wind in different directions, the various curve casts and mends, etc. so that you can smoothly deliver this as a true combination of simultaneous, "EXPLAIN AND DEMONSTRATE" events crystal clear to all who observe, experts and new casters alike.
9.) For a significant segment of your life, you need to practice many times each week. It's best to devote the most practice time to the things which you do least well.
10.) When you THINK you are ready, try to arrange a complete practice exam with one of the CBOG's. Do not waste their time or yours until you have arrived at that point.
11.) Lastly, I'll quote Ken Cole, again: "Don't take the exam when you THINK you are ready... Take it when you KNOW you are ready !"
Gordy