Five tips for perfect NBCOT® exam prep every time
How many times have you come across “practice tests for NBCOT®” during your NBCOT® exam preparation that were just too easy compared to the actual exam? Have you also come across useless NBCOT® study-guides on the web? Sadly, there are too many rip-off practice questions and guides that will misguide you during your NBCOT® exam preparation. You need responsible and trustworthy guidance to cover the material for the real exam. The NBCOT® certification is what you need to become a highly respected and well-paid professional therapist. Therefore, cutting corners while preparing for the test is not smart for any aspiring OT. Buying authentic study material, and practicing on standardized simulated tests might seem like an additional expense, but it is an investment in your career.
If you keep hearing how arduous and trying it is to study for the NBCOT® exam, you better believe it, that is unless you have reputed tutors giving you one-on-one classes or you have access to the latest mock NBCOT® test papers. It is evident that scheduling your NBCOT® exam right after you graduate is the best move since you already have the theories you have learned at OT school fresh in your mind, helping you make the most of your NBCOT® study prep. Additionally, you will also assign yourself a stipulated deadline for your preparations. It will help you progress with your preparation categorically. Apart from that, there are a few more things you must remember. Here are the five tips you should never forget while preparing for the NBCOT®.
- Come up with a study plan and a schedule – You may not have had to create a study plan before the NBCOT® exam, but making one now can help you get a solid 3-4 hours per day, six days a week till the exam day. Setting up a routine is very important to stimulate your concentration, logic and reasoning skills. We thrive on schedules, and it should be no different for you. Additionally, following a daily routine will give you an idea of how much you have accomplished in one day and how much you need to finish in the upcoming week. Research shows that when people sit down to study at a particular time of the day, they train their brains to concentrate and learn during that specific time of the day. Henceforth, having ample time for preparing for the NBCOT® exam will become quite easy.
- Don’t cram theories from OT school – After you graduate from your Occupational Therapy program, you will have an abundance of material you know and have already forgotten even before you ever begin your NBCOT® exam prep. However, stick to the question-answer patterns or quizzes with supplementary answers for preparing. Relearning every Occupational Therapy theory and topic rarely helps anyone during the NBCOT® exam. You need expert guidance in the form of online coaching, group classes or one-on-one tutoring. You can also try the gamified preparation material, puzzles or quiz to prepare for the exam. To this end, PasstheOT NBCOT® exam prep has a fun approach that relies on building on your existing success to continuously challenge you. Pass the OT will also have more ideas on creating a useful timetable before the big exam. Have some expert guidance to help you follow a routine that’ll ensure you succeed.
- Find a study partner or tutor – Studying alone for your exam can be a pain. You need to build a study support group. You can find other NBCOT® exam candidates on Facebook or Reddit. Typically, you can find a friend from school, if you are fresh out of grad school. Study with the friend for about three days per week. Take tests together and try to solve papers together for a maximum confidence boost. Having two pairs of eyes and two brains working on one problem is definitely better than one. You can also choose to study different material, but as long as you are studying together, it should help both of you. Moreover, working with a friend can curb the boredom people usually dread before their big exam.
- Schedule your NBCOT® exam smartly – As we have mentioned before, scheduling the NBCOT® exam soon after completing grad school is beneficial for the student since he or she has the lessons fresh in his or her mind. Nonetheless, you should remember to keep at least six to eight weeks of a gap between the two to allow room for preparation. Although you learn quite a bit at OT school, it does not begin to cover the NBCOT® exam questions. These questions can be tricky, and you need to be your sharpest best to answer them correctly. That is more of a reason to choose the time cautiously. If you are not a morning person, DO NOT select a time during which you will be sleepy and fuzzy. There is no room for brain fog and confusion once the clock begins its countdown. Some people find it easier to concentrate in the afternoons; if that is the case with you, you should start preparing in the afternoons and then schedule the test on an afternoon as well.
- Most importantly, take a break and have some fun – Once you have all the right resources on your laptop, an online tutor on the other end of the line and a discussion group to help you cruise through the NBCOT® exam prep material, you should think about taking a break. We are not talking about a vacation! Just a 1-2 hours break between studying and writing practice tests. Get something to eat during this time and get some exercise. Exercise should get your adrenaline pumping and oxygen rushing through your brain. A little workout right before exams can help you learn faster and perform better. Take time to get your endorphins gushing. It will help you reboot and refuel for the rest of the day.
Don’t give up on your friends and family while preparing for the NBCOT® exam. With the right resources from trustworthy sources, you should be able to make time for social engagements and hobbies. However, be sure to pick your resources carefully. Do not judge the mock test papers, quizzes and one-on-one online tutoring sessions by their costs. Always remember that spending on your NBCOT® exam preparation is nothing but a long-term investment in your OT career.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
