Hi, Jerome, First of all...very best of luck and welcome to the profession!! I echo what Pat has said in making sure that you read the questions carefully. That is where many people get tripped up, even in the practice tests. Now, this was my personal style but it worked for the test I took (which was is 2002). I am certain the exact questions have changed, but the type has remained similar. I found that many of the questions were application questions. You are given a scenario and asked to give your best clinical judgment. You apply the facts that you learn, much as you would in a real life situation. Now, this sounds really simple for me (post test) to say...but if you study from this approach, you will do well on both the test and in your clinical practice. Big thing to remember...this is just another test. Don't psyche yourself out or you won't do well. You have made it this far because you know what you are doing. Remember that!! I had to remind myself, as I was studying, this very thing all of the time. And, the other thing that I realized was "if I didn't know it by the time it came to preparing for the big exam, chances were quite likely that 'crashing' before the boards was not going to sink it into my head". I reviewed what I knew, and spent time looking over (but not fretting) over the things I didn't. This helped to build my confidence as well as reduce anxiety about what I felt my weaknesses were. Plus, when it came to test time, it was clincial reasoning that won out, not the exacts of insertions of muscles. I studied my class notes, yes, but I mostly read through the Kathlyn Reed's Quick Reference for Occupational Therapy. Now, I don't recommend that you rely solely on this reference, but...after you have thoroughly reviewed class notes, use this to tie everything together. I did this and found it to be extremely beneficial. Why?? Well, if you look at the book, it is structured to go through the clinical reasoning process to treatment of most different conditions you may see as an OT. It goes through diagnosis, to behavioral expectations, to treatment strategies, etc. I found this put me in the right frame of mind for the test. I studied this book, only, for the last three days prior to the exam. I did VERY WELL on my test. I hope this helps a bit. I CANNOT reiterate enough...if you have made it this far, you made it for a reason. This is just one more test. Don't let it psyche you out. You can do it!! We all survived...you will, too! Best of luck! Tammy
pat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi Jerome, I used both the NBCOT study guide and the National Occupational Therapy Certification Exam Review & Study Guide (Fleming Cotrell) from International Educational Resources. The practice tests are invaluable only partly because they point out what areas you are weak in. More importantly, they teach you *how* to take the test. The format of the questions is the same as the real test, and the rational explains why the right answers are right and the wrong answers are wrong. Don't focus on memorizing the practice questions, you may see a few similar questions on the real thing, but mostly you won't. The most important thing I learned from the practice tests was to PAY ATTENTION to what the question is asking. Having graduated cum laude I was a bit disconcerted when I flunked the practice tests the first time (I skipped the rest of the guide and went straight to the tests first). The reason I flunked them was because I didn't read the question carefully, and missed questions that I *knew* the answers to! Don't let that happen to you on the real thing. Always ask yourself "What are they looking for?". Don't read too much into the questions, there are no "trick" questions. Good luck and let us know how you do! Pat At 04:57 PM 2/15/2005, you wrote: >Hi, >Im am taking the certification exam this march. I would like to ask for some >advice or tips in what topic to focus on or what reading materials to study. >Any advice or tips would greatly be appreciated. Btw, kudos to Ron for this >list. > >Jerome Satorre > > >-- >Unsubscribe? > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Change options? > www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com > >Archive? > www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com > >Help? > [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tammy Renaud, MA, OTR Jumpstart Animals helping kids with the job of living. -- Unsubscribe? [EMAIL PROTECTED] Change options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com Help? [EMAIL PROTECTED]
