Taking the first step on your journey to secure your Illinois roofing license lays the foundation for a lucrative and successful career in the roofing industry. You must ideally prepare and tactically approach the test if you wish to do well on the 105 Illinois roofing exam.

Essential resources and strategies that help in studying are discussed below.

• Familiarize Yourself with the Exam Format

Familiarize yourself with the exam format and content areas. The Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act categorizes roofing contractors into two classes of licensees: Residential (limited) and Residential, Commercial, and Industrial (unlimited). Examination Content The Residential exam has 80 questions and covers the subject matter listed below: Safety & Employee Protection Roofing Preparation & Materials Steep-Slope Roofing Systems Low-Slope Roofing Systems Rules, Regulations & Business Practices.

• Utilize Suggested Study Materials
  Invest in authoritative resources to match the content of the exam:

1.  NRCA Roofing Manual: The manual provides a comprehensive overview of major roofing systems and best practices.
2.  Third edition, 2012 NRCA Safety Manual: Very much needed for training in safety protocols and regulations.
3.  Roofing Construction and Estimating by Daniel Atcheson: This book provides valuable insights into roofing construction techniques and cost estimating.

These can be ordered in sets through the National Roofing Contractors Association bookstore.

• Take a Class Structured Preparation Course
  Consider signing up for a good exam preparation course. Check out the following: The Contractors Network and Training Center - with special classes designed for your building education needs, plus a complete course package which covers study guides in summary form, PowerPoint notes, daily quizzes, and practice exams.
• Practice Sample Questions and Exams
  You need to practice regularly with sample questions and mock exams. Websites such as Quizlet have flashcards designed for the Illinois Roofing Exam, among other things, to help conduct practice tests so as to get the person used to question formats and any time constraints. 

• Develop Good Study Habits
   

1. Create a study schedule: Allow specific time to each topic area to help you balance your coverage
2.  Active Learning Pose: Summarize information in your own words, explain concepts to a friend, or try to apply knowledge to real situations.
3.  Join study groups: You learn from others and gain a new insight that perhaps you wouldn't have picked on your own.

• Stay Current with Roofing Laws and Regulations in the State of Illinois
  It is important to be exceptionally well-drilled in the state-specific laws. The Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act shall be gone through on repeated occasions and any changes accruing, if needs updated so as to prepare in case the related exam questions appear.
  
  
•  Manage Exam Day Effectively

1.  Rest: Come to the examination well-rested so that you may maintain focus and coherence.
2.  Arrive Early: Allow yourself plenty of time to get settled and composed to decrease pre examination anxiety.
3.  Read each question carefully: Take a sense of understanding from it rather than rushing to answer it.

These valuable resources and strategies put together will empower you to take on the Illinois roofing license exam with confidence, armed with the knowledge to successfully pass.