I was contacted shortly after the October National Physical Therapy Exam results came out from Preeti Kaur. She was down and out from another unsuccessful PT exam attempt. My conversations of commending her to reach out for help, went over her head at first; however, as I shared my own story, it encouraged and raised her spirits to prepare for the NPTE again. This time Preeti approached the exam with a fresh start and no judgments about the past. Just a clear break with a different physical therapy exam preparation approach than what she was used before. Here’s what Preeti wanted to share with others about her NPTE journey to success:
Prior to TEP, I had enrolled in an exam prep in December 2013 as part of my recommendation. I felt like TEP was the most beneficial by far for the National Physical Therapy Exam as it focuses not only HOW you’re taking the test, but also what you are studying. I found that it wasn’t my knowledge that was lacking per se, but more that I was getting a lot of one type of NPTE questions wrong. I have realized that most of the knowledge I have is in my brain already rather understanding the exam process and techniques to conquer the exam. TEP provided me with the direction and guidance I needed to approach all the material tested on this exam in the physical therapy exam review course.
As a result of my multiple failed attempts, I enveloped myself in the negative cycle of feelings, which reflected in my low test scores at the beginning of the program. Not only was Miye extremely helpful and “kept tabs” on my participation and performance but also all the licensed physical therapist assisting us with assignment feedback, exam score analysis and review specific information. Everyone at TEP goes above and beyond answering emails and doubts.
TEP provided me with the resources to appropriately interpret the information given at the conclusion of the practice exams and a way to improve my next test scores based on the previous one by developing study focus topics. In addition to the in-depth practice exam and questions analysis, the positive thinking, affirmations, & techniques I learned to utilize during the NPTE practice exams helped me become a better test taker. I tended to overanalyze and had a lot of anxiety; however, the tips I learned from TEP helped me overcome these obstacles and I scored higher with each subsequent physical therapy exam practice exams I took.
In the last three months, TEP really helped me create individualized daily and weekly organized study plans that I could follow without burning myself out in the NPTE online review courses. I actively participated in the forum discussions, live webinars and completed all the homework assignments, which helped me to stay on track every day and avoid procrastinating. I realized that sometimes less is more when it comes to studying and learned how to focus my study topics to be more efficient with my time.
As a Physical Therapist, I strongly believe in objective and measurable data to assess performance. The Strengths and Weaknesses assignment correlated with my test scores and helped me analyze topics and content sections I had to focus more on as part of my study plan.
Overall, it is important to realize the National Physical Therapy Exam is more than just another “academic” exam. It is a test of your mental stability, professional judgment and critical thinking as to “What is most important for your patient.” One of the biggest differences I made after enrolling in TEP’s NPTE prep course was to start considering a practice question as a potential patient that I was treating. This helped me gather my thoughts and look at all the information provided in the question clearly and answer it without assuming and adding information.
Lastly, you got through PT school don’t let the licensure exam bring you down. PERSEVERANCE and COURAGE are key. You can and you will pass this physical therapist examination.
A prior National Physical Therapy Exam attempt shouldn’t bring anyone down; however, learn from the past and then understand that the NPTE is an exam that can be beaten with a clinical thinking approach. There’s more than meets the eye for the exam and the first step towards success is acknowledging you are more than what this multiple choice question exam defines you as.