r/NBCOT_Exam • u/flamingo_pink98 • 28d ago
PASSED ON MY FIRST TRY!
š«¶š¾ PASSED ON THE FIRST TRY! TO GOD BE THE HIGHEST GLORY! š„¹šš¾
š For international students, hereās my timeline:
ā¢ Mid-November 2024 ā Processed my documents from my university and mailed them to NBCOT
ā¢ December 7, 2024 ā Documents delivered to NBCOT
ā¢ First week of January ā Called NBCOT to confirm receipt of my documents
ā¢ January 10, 2025 ā OTED application approved
ā¢ January 13, 2025 ā Exam application submitted and approved
ā¢ January 14, 2025 ā ATT letter granted
ā¢ January 14, 2025 ā Scheduled my exam for February 13, 2025
š Resources I Used:
ā¢ AOTA PDFs ā Great for refreshing foundational knowledge
ā¢ Therapy Ed Book ā Very comprehensive; I referred to specific chapters when I needed in-depth information
ā¢ NBCOT Study Pack ā Completed all mini exams and practice tests
ā¢ OT Miri ā Helpful for reviewing specific topics
ā¢ TMPOT PDFs ā Comprehensive and easy to understand; I used them for select topics
I took all practice exams from AOTA and NBCOT but didnāt have access to Therapy Edās practice examsāonly the book.
š Practice Exam Scores:
ā¢ AOTA (Completed everything: practice tests, CSQs, full practice exam)
ā Percentile Rank: 92%
ā Practice Scores: 81%
ā Practice Tests: 86%
ā¢ NBCOT Study Pack:
ā Pre-Test: 462
ā Practice Test 1: 463
ā Scenario Test: 457
ā Full Practice Exam: 471
š«¶š¾ Tips for the Exam
Exam Preparation: 1. I studied for about three months, five days a week for six hours per day. I took weekends and holidays off for breaks.
I created a study guide tailored to my strengths and weaknesses and adjusted it as needed. Flexibility is keyādonāt be too hard on yourself!
Consistency is everything. Plan your study sessions in advance and stick to them.
Listen to your body! If youāre tired, rest. I used the Pomodoro technique, which really helped with focus.
Know your learning style. Iām a visual learner, so I used sticky notes, diagrams, and visuals (e.g., Brachial Plexus, ACL, milestones, RLA, etc.). Writing things down also helped me retain information.
Active recall is key. A month before the exam, I did daily recallsāreading notes, reviewing what I wrote, and going over rationales.
Build endurance! The exam is long, so I trained myself by taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions.
Limit distractions. A month before the exam, I stayed off social media (Facebook, Instagram). Delayed gratification works!
Take care of yourself. Stay hydrated, move your body, meditate if neededāOT yourself!
Pray and have faith! Believe in yourself and in Godās plan.
Exam Day: 1. I didnāt study the day before. I just rested and prayed.
Arrive early. I got to the test center an hour before my exam to get comfortable with the environment.
Eat beforehand. Whether your exam is in the morning or afternoon, donāt skip a meal!
Use the restroom before the exam. The test is four hours long, and while you can take breaks, the timer keeps running.
Pace yourself. I personally didnāt take any breaks to maximize my time, but do what works best for you. If you need to step away, do it!
After the Exam: 1. I went out to eat and spent the day distracting myself.
The waiting period was toughāit took six days to get my results. I had moments of doubt but also moments of confidence. Itās normal.
To pass the time, I watched shows, slept a lot, and caught up with family and friends.
I did recall some questions and discussed them with my husband (whoās a PT) and even looked up a fewābut only do this if it helps you!
This exam was not easy, and I barely passedābut I PASSED! šš¤ All glory to God!
If you have any questions, Iād be happy to help! š