Passing the LEED v4 exam be a difficult enterprise. There are several important skills that one must master before taking the LEED v4 exam. Preparing for the exam will help you successfully navigate content areas and exam questions.

In a previous blog, What Building Product Reps Don’t Know About LEED v4, we discussed how obtaining a LEED credential can help a building product manufacturer open more specification opportunities. Nearly every building product manufacturer needs a sustainability champion or LEED expert. It is critical for building product reps who work on sustainable design projects to have a working knowledge of LEED and how their products contribute to LEED certification.

1. Free LEED v4 Exam Resources

Product reps wanting to pass the LEED v4 exam the first time should enroll in a free LEED Exam Prep course. There are several free resources available in the marketplace. GreenCE offers a free 10 video module LEED Exam Prep course. In addition, they offer a free LEED v4 study guide, free LEED exam practice questions, and tips on how to pass the exam.

2. LEED v4 Reference Guide

Building product reps may want to consider reviewing the LEED reference guide. Depending on what ratings system exam you are studying for, there are reference guides for LEED BD+C, LEED O+M, and LEED ID+C. Students are encouraged to review LEED credit categories and referenced standards.

3. Arrive Early For The LEED Exam

Always arrive early for an exam. This will reduce your anxiety and calm your nerves. Use your spare time to focus your thoughts on the exam. When you begin the exam, estimate how many minutes you need for each exam section and set a reasonable pace. Don’t spend too much time on one question. The answer that comes to mind first is often the correct answer.

4. Solving Multiple Choice Questions

LEED Exam participants must be careful when answering multiple choice questions. Formulate an answer before looking at the options. Eliminate all unlikely answers before choosing an answer. Examine factors that make an answer false. Most trick questions are only tricky because students don’t take them at face value.

5. Maintain A Positive Attitude

Don’t let the difficulty of the LEED exam overwhelm you. If you fail the exam, you can always take it again. Students who believe they are bad at math often do poorly because of their attitude. Whenever you catch yourself thinking negatively before the exam or even during the LEED exam, stop yourself! When taking the exam, breathe deeply, relax, and maintain a positive attitude.

What suggestions do you have for product reps taking the LEED v4 exam? How do you prepare your employees to take credentialed exams? What resources does your company offer?