Best resource for TFE?

[TheDanger]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hey guys, I'm having trouble with TFE problems. I've been using Bootcamp and getting scores between 7-12 out of 15 correct, which isn't terrible but it takes me 20 minutes and to be honest, I end up guessing most of the time and just getting lucky. Even when I pick the right answer, I don't understand why it's correct and why the others are incorrect. The Bootcamp explanations aren't really helping me because it just shows the 3D shape and I'd benefit much more from step-by-step explanations like the ones for keyholes/pattern folding.

Should I get CDP or Achiever for this section alone? I've heard that these are slightly easier than the real DAT and that Bootcamp prepares students better, but if these services have thorough explanations that have helped you, I may give it a try. Any advice?

 

[discensdentibus]

CDP explanations are more geared towards line counting, but some are helpful. Achiever was amazing in that it gave you incorrect models, correct models, and all of the different respective views (this comes out to 20 images per TFE question). However, I could not justify spending money on software just to look at 15 questions out of a 90 question test, or in achiever's case, a 280 question test. I think for CDP, you can greatly benefit from their angles (achiever angles are easier than this and Bootcamp) and pattern folding; I also think their CC was better than achiever and that their TFE was great to practice on days I did not take full length tests. CDP allows you to practice individual sections with however much time you want per section. Achiever goes nuts with its keyholes making CDP's look like yajirobe. Its pattern folding exposes you to different problem types as well. If you had to go with one, I would get achiever for PAT; it forces you to get quicker at problems. I did the same test two days in a row because I ended up having to guess on like 9 problems due to time constraints. On the plus side, there is the option, once again, to increase the time allowed for a specific section to a test. Angles and maybe cubes were the only thing I would say are easier than the real DAT with achiever. Keyholes are the only thing I would definitely label easier than the real DAT for CDP. While CDP is like running a mile after training for a mile, going with achiever is like running a mile after training for a marathon.

 

[TheDanger]

Thanks for the thorough advice! I just checked out your breakdown as well and I'm heavily leaning towards Achiever. I would definitely take advantage of their other sections if I ended up buying it. The only thing I'm hesitant about is the fact that Achiever will only have 45 TFE questions total (for the 3 test version), whereas CDP has much more. I'm hoping the explanations for Achiever will really be worth it!

 

[discensdentibus]

A last heads up, there is no audio explanation. The explanations are purely visual, but for 45 TFE questions you are really being given 45 TFE x 4 responses x (1 model + 3 views) per problem. Its hard to describe their explanations, but they definitely trumped the audio explanations for TFE in CDP imo. If you end up getting achiever, you'll really benefit if you try to understand all of the dashed/solid lines and try to imagine (even a little bit) what the model should look like in 3D. Best of luck, things will click for you; it just takes some rewiring of the brain while you sleep.

 

[justin7w2011]

I know this isn't the best advice but just keep practicing and eventually it will click. I was in the same boat as you and then bam I hit 100% on tfe for a cdp test and have been doing pretty well ever since. One thing that helps me is writing down abcde a bunch of times on my scratch paper and crossing out the letter when I eliminate it. Also try to pick out unique lines, holes, structures and use them to eliminate answers. Also for finding front and end realize that the right side of the front should line up with the left side of the end view and just focus on the horizontal lines at first to see how many you can eliminate. Dashed or hidden lines are usually easy ways to eliminate answers.