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 Post subject: GIA GGs - Tips for studying for GIA Gem 240 20 Stone Exam?
PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 9:42 am 
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Hello,

I am working on my stone sets 35 & 36 at the moment. These are the last two sets of the course, then I need to figure out how to take my 20 stone exam.

How I will do this is a separate issue, but I wanted to know how GIA GG's on this forum studies for their exam and if they had any tips.

The student workroom in Carlsbad is closed, so I am not able to access practice sets unless I travel to New York (unlikely considering the pandemic situation).

What are other ways I could study besides practicing with additional stones from GIA? What did you all find most helpful as you prepared for your 20 stone exam? Any tips/advice will be much appreciated.

Thank you!


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 Post subject: Re: GIA GGs - Tips for studying for GIA Gem 240 20 Stone Exa
PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 9:26 pm 
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am
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It is going to be difficult to get sets of GIA practice stones like you would in the student lab.

In reality, you are in the same situation that most distance learning students are. They never had access to the student learning lab.

The rules of the 20 stone test are that you will not see any stones that you didn't see in the 500 stone challenge. So, that is a limited set. By my count that is only 68 unique species/variety/treatments that you have a possibility of seeing in the test. Know these well.

During the 500 stone challenge you should have seen which instruments and procedures you are strong or weak on. Spend your time practicing with those that are more difficult for you. You don't need a large number of stones to develop your skills. Focus on the instruments.

The test is no more difficult that the last sets of stones you worked on. If you did well on those, you should be confident that you are ready for the test.

Good luck.


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 Post subject: Re: GIA GGs - Tips for studying for GIA Gem 240 20 Stone Exa
PostPosted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 10:24 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2020 8:40 am
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Thank you!

I should have said I am a distance education student. I moved to San Diego last year so I could be by the student workroom. Either way, I won't have access to a student workroom unless I travel to New York, which isn't looking super feasible at the moment.

I will follow your advice and try to study from my keycards and figure out which stones I saw and knoe them well.


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 Post subject: Re: GIA GGs - Tips for studying for GIA Gem 240 20 Stone Exa
PostPosted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 10:46 am 
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Joined: Thu May 12, 2016 2:18 am
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What would you say are the instruments, processes, or stone types (like OTL Colorless), that you have the most difficulty with.

Do you have a good set of instruments that match what you have available in the Student Lab to practice with?

I have mentored a number of people through the GIA courses. All passed the 20 stone final. I am in La Jolla, and always happy to help if needed.


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