Exam Prep
Take an examination prep course. There are two major groups that give exam prep courses: TherapyEd and Score builders. In the prep course you will receive the full review textbook as well as the abbreviated book. I have personally taken both prep courses and thought that the TherapyEd course was much better. This could have just been because I connected better with the instructors style more but just my two cents. The books are similar in content, however, the major difference I notice is the layout. Score builders book is more colorful with more pictures and charts. TherapyEd is more of a cut and dry outline format. Depending on your learning style you may choose one over the other based on this information. That being said, you should know this: these courses or prep books will not teach you information or content that you don't already know. The prep books do a good job of concisely organizing and presenting all the information you have learned in PT school. The major asset you will gain from taking a prep course will be study/preparation and test taking skills.
Based solely on the percentages and numbers in the charts on the previous page, it becomes apparent how your study time should be broken down. The majority of studying should focus on musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiopulmonary systems, as well as examination, eval, diff diag., prognosis, and interventions. This the vast majority of content on the test.
Personally, this is how I chose to use my study time. In addition, I skewed my time towards sections in which I felt weaker, and spent less time on those sections in which I felt I already had a good grasp.
It is important to understand the process of registering for the exam. In order for any student to register for the exam you school has to send out verification that you are in the last semester of your program. As soon as this information is sent out book your seat at the Prometric Center where you would like to take the exam. Seats and test times fill up quickly.
Here's a more detailed play by play of my study schedule:
-I had 8 practice tests (3 from Score Builders, 3 from TherapyEd, and 2 from the PEAT). I started studying lightly about 12 weeks before the test (1-3 hours a day). I started studying heavily 8 weeks before the test (4-8 hours a day)
-12 weeks out I took my first practice test as a baseline to see where I stood before any structured studying. (This was one of the non-PEAT tests)
-Once I got to 8 weeks out I took one practice test each week. I wouldn't necessarily judge myself based on the final score, but use the breakdown provided of which sections I was testing weakest to help guide my studying for the following week.
-The last two tests I took were the PEAT as these are, in my opinion, the closest to the actual NPTE.
-After taking a practice exam I would go through all the questions I got wrong on the practice tests and writing out why the correct answer was right and why the incorrect answers were wrong.
Based solely on the percentages and numbers in the charts on the previous page, it becomes apparent how your study time should be broken down. The majority of studying should focus on musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, and cardiopulmonary systems, as well as examination, eval, diff diag., prognosis, and interventions. This the vast majority of content on the test.
Personally, this is how I chose to use my study time. In addition, I skewed my time towards sections in which I felt weaker, and spent less time on those sections in which I felt I already had a good grasp.
It is important to understand the process of registering for the exam. In order for any student to register for the exam you school has to send out verification that you are in the last semester of your program. As soon as this information is sent out book your seat at the Prometric Center where you would like to take the exam. Seats and test times fill up quickly.
Here's a more detailed play by play of my study schedule:
-I had 8 practice tests (3 from Score Builders, 3 from TherapyEd, and 2 from the PEAT). I started studying lightly about 12 weeks before the test (1-3 hours a day). I started studying heavily 8 weeks before the test (4-8 hours a day)
-12 weeks out I took my first practice test as a baseline to see where I stood before any structured studying. (This was one of the non-PEAT tests)
-Once I got to 8 weeks out I took one practice test each week. I wouldn't necessarily judge myself based on the final score, but use the breakdown provided of which sections I was testing weakest to help guide my studying for the following week.
-The last two tests I took were the PEAT as these are, in my opinion, the closest to the actual NPTE.
-After taking a practice exam I would go through all the questions I got wrong on the practice tests and writing out why the correct answer was right and why the incorrect answers were wrong.