Road to the RPR: Testimony Practice Routine

Practicing to Pass the Testimony Portion the RPR

My goal is to get my RPR this November. In order to get myself in the testing mindset, I am only practicing testimony at 225 wpm.  Every day I practice only one 225 take. I play that same take over and over again, sometimes for more than an hour. Currently, I am using dictation from speedbuilders.com.

Click for My Review of Speedbuilders.com. 

My Routine 

1. I listen to the take the first time as if I were taking the RPR. 
2. As soon as the take is completed, I think of all the words that either caused me to hesitate or words that I wanted to write another way (most likely to brief). I write those words in my Hesitation Notebook.
3. I figure out how I am going to stroke out each word that I listed and write it down.
4. I practice writing those words. IF I am hooked up to CAT, I will add the words to my dictionary at this time.
5. I play the take again, this time stopping at every word that I would like to add to the list created in Step 2.
6. Repeat Steps 3 to 6.

So I do this over and over again until I feel I have mastered the take or if I am out of time. Many times I will find new words I want to add to my list after listening to a take for the fifth time. By the time I feel I have mastered it, I can write smooth and clear and most words will be less than two strokes.

I will go over the list of words for several days after. I will also play the take it came form as a warm-up before I begin the new take of the day.

This routine works great for me, because I can learn a lot in a short period of time.

I DO NOT recommend this routine for students AT ALL. I don't think I would have gotten through school as fast I did (or if ever) had I practiced like what I mentioned above. However, at this stage in my stenolife, this is a good routine for me so I can pass the 225 Testimony portion of the RPR.

Seven Reasons

Why This Works for Me

1. Practicing is more of a pleasant time.
2. Progress can be viewed immediately, thereby building confidence.
3. I am adding more briefs.
4. I am reducing conflicts.
5. I am shaping up my dictionary.
6. I can master the words on my list in a short period of time.
7. I can track what I am learning.