DSC1 preparation

[crossy 666]

Hi everyone, I have booked to take my DSC1 later in the year and after recently received the training manual it’s suddenly come to me what I’ve let myself into.
I have always suffered with dyslexia since I was at school and always tried to avoid situations like this So I’m now asking why I’ve put myself up for it I’ve shot a number of deer over the years so that side of it is mostly common sense but the more I read the dates and fancy long words ect the more my brain changes all the numbers into a mush and all the information just starts to leave my mind.
I cant be the only person to have this problem can I ask what tips other people have used in the past to get through this course please

 

[Overlay]

Get on and learn every thing required then speak to your course provider and enquire if you can have someone that can place the wording correctly after you have given the answer to that person, whatever you do don't give up, providing you’ve put the time in studying and get the details right in your head - you will breeze it just by someone asking you the question and conveying back the answer he /she can put on the sheet
get the manual read and understood crystal clear so you can talk the answers to someone

get in contact with them as early as possible to get the ball rolling

good luck and lets see the pass certificate in due course.

 

[VSS]

You'll be fine. Do your best to learn the manual, but don't despair as the course teaching will involve a lot of visual aids and discussion.
For the test, you can have someone to read the questions and multi-choice answers for you.

 

[mathieson]

don’t worry just declare to the tutors/examiners that you will require assistance and one of them will be able to read out the questions and answer options for you I’ve done this in the past for candidates the examiners/tutors are allowed to provide assistance should it be needed

 

[Andrew Hubbard]

I am also dyslexic and used some tools that I have learnt in the past. I made a card up for each the deer species. Each card had titles such as Season, antler cycle and features and as I read about each one, would add to the card anything I thought was relevant that I might need to remember. I also included the weights and height of each sex and youngster in a column, like a spreadsheet format and did the same for the season dates. I only put down the In season dates and made the list seperate for England/Wales and Scotland. I then made another card, again in spreadsheet format and just put the In season dates for each species and by sex and again seperate for England/Wales and Scotland. I would then use these as a reminder. And if not sure about the details would re-read the manual and update my cards as I thought was necessary. On taking the DSC1, I found that it was not quite as daunting as I feared and that my homework really helped and by structuring it the way I was happy with made it an easier task. Good luck

 

[Suilven]

If you've already got stalking experience you're in a good place already. Would the online revision material be any good to you?

Ultimate Deer Data - British Deer Society

Enhance your deer knowledge with the Ultimate Deer Data (UDD) online training, exclusively offered by the British Deer Society. This comprehensive interactive training package is designed to help you prepare for the Deer Stalking Certificate 1, offering a robust platform to acquire and assess...

britishdeertraining.org.uk

DSCtraining.org | Online training for your DSC1

dsctraining.org

I used the dsctraining version and thought it was decent. Speak to the tutors as others have said and you'll be fine I'm sure.

 

[ACow]

I can recommend both of the above online training tools.

I read the manual a couple of times before my DSC1 but those two online resources really helped cement it all. They both have free tasters if I remember correctly so try them out

 

[Keith Edmunds]

I can recommend both of the above online training tools.

I read the manual a couple of times before my DSC1 but those two online resources really helped cement it all. They both have free tasters if I remember correctly so try them out

Totally agree - just done mine and DSCtraining.org was a great help.

 

[patrickstar]

The Dsc training was best thing i signed up for so glad i did once you start on the tests it really helps

 

[Wessex4291]

I was in a similar situation to the OP, but having not stalked before it was all new and quite overwhelming at first.

As has already been said, study cards to record the pertinent details followed by lots of time on DSC training to consolidate, with the actual course making sense of those bits that I was still uncertain of proved a successful approch for me.

In the end I found it fairly straightforward and just by having read the manual and made an effort to learn some you will be in a much better than some people. It was obvious who hadn't prepared on my course and they struggled. All in all, I found it a really interesting couple of days and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in deer, not just stalkers.

 

[sussexyeoman]

Another big vote of confidence in the Dsctraining.org materials, I had not done any kind of exam for many years and found spending time working through lots of questions very helpful for highlighting where more work required. Also very reasonable compared to other options out there.

 

[huntero956]

I’m dyslexic too and like you was concerned about the course. Like what has already been stated the instructors are mega on side and will help you out. Personally knowing what I know now I would learn the closed season off by heart and the food hygiene piece.

 

[Kiwi Tim]

Ultimate deer data help me a lot to practise the multiple choice, found it really helpful.