Soon after an exam either NPTE or NPTAE, I get emails about what to do next or what shall I do to be successful on my next exam. First, I want to say that getting the dreaded F-word on the screen doesn’t mean it’s the end. As hard as it may seem, take a deep breath and know that this exam doesn’t define you. This exam is more than a standardized exam and that not passing the NPTE doesn’t mean you won’t be a great physical therapist. It just means you, you need just a bit more work in possibly a few aspects: 1) test-taking skills, 2) understanding the NPTE content and 3) being able to think clinically towards the exam questions. All of these are addressed while in Therapy Exam Prep’s (TEP) course.
As I have guided thousands on the NPTE, I have consoled many hundreds after not having a successful attempt. My advice tends to vary depending on those in TEP’s program and those that are not. A question I get from those, not in TEP’s program is “How can I be successful after x number of times?” And my answer will vary based on the individual’s situation but for the most part, anyone that is determined to PASS can be successful. I’ve seen and helped many participants with second attempts to more than 15 times with the NPTE as well as first timers all to be successful.
One of the first step and tip to recovery is to avoid talking and commiserating with others about the physical therapy board exam. Remember, you want to avoid discussing anything with others so not to implicate yourself for your next exam. Acknowledge your attempt but don’t dwell on the experience with negative emotions as that will keep you in a down and gloomy place. It can be depressing and even embarrassing but you’ll want to be sure you are not too down to carry on. Being down for too long can lead to depression but also the lack of confidence and an increase in doubt when ready to face studying again.
Although this is exam may have knocked you down a bit, you don’t want to stay down for very long. Just like a video game, if you died, would you give up? I would suspect no and you’ll want to bounce back up and be more determined to be successful. So, to avoid being down too long is to be sure you let the range of emotions out but don’t replay everything. What I have mentioned to some is complain for a day but then the very next day think about how to move on and learn from this experience. Being able to self-assess and understand areas to improve on will only help to make sure you don’t repeat the same mistakes again. Some questions to ask are:
- Did I fully prepare for this exam?
- Are there areas that I needed to better understand for this exam?
- Were my practice exam scores achieving 90% or higher?
- Did I rely on academic study habits (ie memorizing, cramming and reading)?
- Did I find myself guessing too much?
- Was I distracted or unfocused on the exam?
Depending on the answers, you’ll then be able to think about what to do next. For help and guidance, you can learn more about how TEP can help you take a step towards being successful on your next NPTE.
