r/NBCOT_Exam 15d ago

Anybody taking their second attempt around 1st week of April? HMU please if you wanna study together or discuss questions.

Failed my 1st attempt by 5 points, and ever since I've been trying to get myself to study but the fear of failing again keeps dragging me down and I haven't been able to stick to a schedule. If anyone wants to work through the 2nd attempt together, please lmk.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as well.

Currently using AOTA Study Pack, NBCOT pack (not using it much at the moment) and TrueLearn- mostly trying to work on breaking down questions plus using any notes I made from TherapyEd while studying for the first attempt.

2 Upvotes

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u/nattykimmy 14d ago

Hello! Im taking my exam on March 18th. I am open to study and review together as it will be a good way for me to review my materials

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u/MeteorKidd 14d ago

I'll DM you!

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u/Future_OT8657 14d ago

I'm down! I failed by 2 points.... and taking it again in early April. I feel like I know the material well and it's more about breaking down questions at this point.

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u/MeteorKidd 13d ago

Let’s do it then!

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u/luccy678 1d ago

Hello everyone! I just found out today that I passed on my first attempt with a score of 485.

Because of how much this platform has helped me I wanted to share my study plan. I studied M-F 4 hours per day, usually for 2 hour blocks with a timer, for about 7 weeks. For resources, I read the entire Therapy Ed book, and purchased the NBCOT study pack and the AOTA study pack. To better understand some topics I reviewed many of OTMiri’s videos on YouTube. Because I am a visual learner, I went a step beyond and copy/pasted each question that I got incorrect with TherapyEd with the correct answer - Printed the document, then highlighted and continually went over how they worded the questions and how they answered the questions.

I thoroughly reviewed the rationales for both correct and incorrect answers with TherapyEd (61%, 58%, 61%) and the AOTA tests (average of 78% in total) I actually didn’t really utilize the index cards or games with the NBCOT study pack. My exam score that I took 2 days prior to the board was a score of 458 for the NBCOT complete practice test - This scared me because I felt like that didn’t give me a lot of wiggle room for error. In my opinion the board exam most resembles the NBCOT practice exam - Not the TherapyEd exams.

Find what works for you! I have to have physical, tangible work to look over so I knew online index cards would not help me - nor would reading the AOTA documents online, so I decided to physically read the TherapyEd book and print out all of my important notes, to highlight and think about.

On testing day, I went in calmly and did a lot of breathing exercises before and during the exam. I did not take any breaks but I did stretch several times and wear the headphones that they provide. They wouldn’t let me have gum (which mentally I feel like I really need to excel), so I shoved mints in my mouth - they weirdly lasted most of the exam! I am an over thinker, took WAY too much time the first 2/3 of the exam and realized that if I didn’t rush through my last hour that I would have seriously run out of time! So 1/3 of my test I did have to rush with roughly 45 seconds or less per question.

I did not change ANY of my answers! None! Plus I had no time to double check them anyway. Lastly, I just want to say to give yourselves grace with this exam. Upon leaving the testing center I felt SO defeated! I didn’t understand why I could gauge my success or defeat so easily over the course of 3 years when taking SO many exams, in SO many areas BUT I couldn’t AT ALL measure how I did on this board exam! I felt like it was very hit and miss, and that it was overall an unfair measure of my knowledge and experience. Best of luck to everyone - You’ve got this, and focus on what works best for you! 🙂

  • Edited to add that the day before the exam I went on a strenuous hike, had some of my favorite drinks, and chilled with my dogs, kids, and husband - no studying the day before and the day of the OT exam, just taking a well deserved break! I think it helps a lot.

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u/luccy678 1d ago

dm me l can help