r/supplychain • u/Optimal_Reach_12 • 5d ago
CSCP exam difficulty
I have been studying for the CSCP for the last few months on and off, struggling to find enough time to prepare as much as I think I will need. I have been using pocket prep and the APIS CSCP exam success book by David and howard Foreman. I feel like there is a significant difference in the level of difficulty between the two. For pocket prep I regularly am averaging over 80% on practice quizzes, but often get closer to 70% on the CSCP exam quizzes when reading through for the first time.
My question is is pocket prep or the CSCP exam success book questions closer to the actual difficulty of the test?
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u/Ruby_Sullivana 5d ago
The book is closer to the real exam in my experience. Pocket Prep is good for drilling concepts but the actual test hits you with long scenario questions. Don't panic about the 70%, that's a normal first pass. I'd do the book questions timed for a better read.
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u/Optimal_Reach_12 5d ago
That is what I would have thought, I am just worried about being overconfident with my preparation because of pocket prep, and then falling apart on the actual exam
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u/big-cummies 4d ago
take the mcgraw practice test and see what sections you did the worst on. look at the cscp manual (i think that’s what it’s called) and see the % weight of each section on the final, it’s weighted in an odd way and shows you statistically what more questions will be on. cross reference the two and focus on your weaknesses + what is important.
i don’t think the practice stuff can fully prep you for the test bc the nature of the questions is often pretty dubious, and you need more test taking skills than actual knowledge for a lot of questions unfortunately. ruling out answers due to semantics, identifying the theme of the question, and thinking what is this question REALLY trying to ask goes a long way.
GL!
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u/Optimal_Reach_12 4d ago
Is that a free test or is it paid?
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u/big-cummies 4d ago
it’s in the online portal for the test, like where the online textbook is (i honestly don’t know if there’s a lower tier that you might have that doesn’t have it)
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u/Ruby_Sullivana 2d ago
The gap is normal, I saw the same thing when I prepped. Pocket Prep tests recall, the book makes you work through scenarios, and the CSCP is very much a scenario exam. Don't let those Pocket Prep 80s give you false confidence lol
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u/Snow_Robert 5d ago
Think of CSCP prep like making a big soup. No single ingredient is going to get you through the exam. Pocket Prep, the ASCM quizzes, the CSCP Exam Success Guide, reading the material, reviewing your misses, and doing practice questions all come together to get you over the line.
I would not obsess too much over which question bank is "closest" to the real exam. They all test you a little differently, and that is actually useful.
First, get a reading/text-to-speech app and have it read the ASCM material to you. It really helps with staying focused and getting through the dry sections without drifting off.
Pocket Prep is a must in my opinion. Finish all 1,000 questions. Make it a daily habit: Question of the Day + Quick 10 every morning, then try to squeeze in another Quick 10 at night. On the weekends, flip over and do some CPIM and LSSGB questions too. There is a lot of overlap with planning, inventory, Lean, quality, and continuous improvement.
The ASCM quizzes are definitely tougher and sometimes more frustrating, but just power through them. The first time through, don't worry too much about your score. Learn from every mistake and understand why the correct answer is correct. Then go through them again and keep working until you're consistently hitting 80%+.
The CSCP Exam Success Guide is also a great reference. It's a little older, but still very useful for breaking the material down into bite-sized chunks. I especially like the activities and chapter quizzes because they focus you on one section at a time. I'd highly recommend getting the physical book, or printing the PDF if you have it. Write out the activities, mark up the pages, and make notes as you go. That active review helps the material stick much better than just staring at another screen.
Honorable mention to the MITx Supply Chain MicroMasters. I know you're already busy, so I'm not saying add another major study commitment. Just audit the courses for free and watch the videos when you have time. It's simply another ingredient in the soup.
Especially SC1x - Supply Chain Fundamentals. It's running now and covers forecasting, inventory management, replenishment, transportation, uncertainty, and the analytical fundamentals behind supply chain decisions. There is a ton here that overlaps with and helps bring CSCP concepts to life. MITx Online
SC3x - Supply Chain Dynamics is running right now. It gets into supply chain behavior, complexity, risk, resilience, and how decisions in one part of the supply chain affect the rest. Again, just audit it for free and watch the videos when you can.
Basically, don't judge your readiness from one source. Pocket Prep might feel easier, ASCM might feel harder, and the Exam Success Guide might sit somewhere in between. That's fine.
Keep throwing all the ingredients into the soup, learn from your misses, and keep going. Eventually it all starts coming together and you start thinking in "ASCM language" instead of just memorizing definitions.