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Sounds like you're doing everything right. Keep working and your scores will probably pick up. Good luck!
I just started studying so thought I'd commiserate with everyone. I got in the 50s percentile-wise on my first Psych Prep practice test, which I took before studying anything. Everyone is telling me that if you're reliably scoring within 65-70% on practice tests, you should be good to go. My concern is I'm not quite sure how to approach studying. I'm reading all of the chapters/study guides but I feel like I'm not retaining anything and it's just hurting my head. Some people have told me that going over practice tests is actually the best way to study. Any thoughts?
Starting my prep too, so we can commiserate via PM throughout the process. Getting my licensure paperwork together so I may not end up taking it til late this year though, just figured the last exam I will ever take is a good time to try and break my lifelong pattern of procrastination and frantic binge studying
I'd heard the same thing RE: tests, but I'll probably review the guides too just because I learn better that way based on historical data I have audio too, though I'm fortunate to only have about a 5 minute commute, so its really only useful for me on road trips. Haven't taken a practice test yet, but just from glancing through the materials I can tell I will VERY clearly have strengths and weaknesses.
I'm confused as to why you feel that there are domains that you still need to cover and you are taking so many practice tests. For example, study a bit of I/O and you could get 5 or 6 more questions right fairly easily. Domain specific studying was what I did primarily and tried to get an 80% in each domain. Some domains that was easy and in others it took a bit more work.Hi All,
I have been lurking in the shadows of this forum and have found it to be helpful, so I decided to throw out a question myself. I have been studying (using the Academic Review online method) for a little more than 2 months. I have been able to dedicate between three to five days per week solely to studying anywhere between 3-5 hours of studying. I still feel like I have a lot of material to cover I/O, review Learning & Behavior Theory, Stats and Test Construction; however, here is my question. I am feeling like I can't really cram anymore material in my head (probably running out of steam), and have taken about 10 academic review (AR) practice tests with highest being 65% (once). My last 4 practice exams on AR have been solidly just over 60% and I can't seem to score higher. I also realized that AR grades the practice exams out of 225 instead of the 175 needed to pass the actual EPPP. I am wondering if I am well enough prepared and with a little more cramming could be ready to take the actual Exam in 2 weeks or so, or would I wait to take it in about 6 weeks so. My AR indicates I have dedicated 150+hours to studying, although I initially used AATBS hand-me down books for a month prior to starting the AR. Any input would be helpful for those who have taken the EPPP already. I don't really know where I stand, but based on the amount of questions I consistently get correct, it seems its to be 138-140, if its out of 175, I imagine I can pass with a slight margin?
I'm confused as to why you feel that there are domains that you still need to cover and you are taking so many practice tests. For example, study a bit of I/O and you could get 5 or 6 more questions right fairly easily. Domain specific studying was what I did primarily and tried to get an 80% in each domain. Some domains that was easy and in others it took a bit more work.
Practice exams are good, but to me they were markers of what I was learning or memorizing, not the actual learning itself. Besides, if you are not passing them, then aren't you practicing getting the wrong answers?
I have also heard that AR is a little harder and that is what I used. I was a bit worried about how close I was to the 70 mark for awhile and since I am used to high scores on test it was disconcerting. It sounds like you are on track since you went from the 65 to the 69. I overstudied myself and those who say just enough studying is fine are always the people who have already passed it. My goal was to be consistently over 70. Would over 65 been enough? Don't know, but I am sure that you will continue to work hard up until the day you take and pass it. No matter what anyone says. Like what else would you do, coast to the end? None of us do that. Keep up the good work and good luck on the test.Yes I agree with you. I have studied the content and then taken a practice exam (1-2 exams per week) as markers of what I am learning. The study modes on AR exams give feedback and rationale for each answer, so in a way it has helped learn the material as well. I just completed another exam and got 69% which is 155 correct out of 225, so I am trying to decide if AR exams are somewhat harder as others have commented here earlier and whether my actual performance may be somewhat higher if I take the EPPP.
Oh God, I wish I could go back in time to my undergraduate self and tell her to take an I/O Psych class. Learning it without any prior exposure is BRUTAL. And I'm infuriated by all of the practice test questions that have answers like "the research on this is mixed, but here's the right answer!"
Plus some of the ethical questions have just really dumb answers. It might be the best answer, but that doesn't make it a good answer or what I would actually do in real life. Arghh.
Also, does anyone know which practice tests have 200 questions? My colleague gave me some and doesn't know where they're from. I think that they're harder than Psych Prep so it'd be nice to know which company they are (since I've heard that some are harder than others).
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent, SDNers.
Hi Ashley- I posted above about my similar concerns...scoring low on the first run on my practice tests (psych prep and AR) and wasn't sure how to supplement, whether I was ready, etc etc. I utilized psych prep feedback initially. However, I found that it increased my anxiety as I was not meeting their expectations and, due to that, it began to decrease my self esteem. I was bummed out when I received feedback such as "you didn't quite make the mark," when I had literally missed a few questions below their recommended cutoff. So, I stopped emailing my test results, and I began supplementing with some AR tests to broaden my question base. I basically used practice tests to study from, and I really haven't scored above high 60's at this point (on a first pass--retakes have been much higher). I honestly stressed out so much about not making progress on the psych prep materials. If you feel confident in knowing the material, I wouldn't worry too much. One thing I have been doing is really going over the questions I answered wrong on the psych prep tests. There are a lot of hard questions on the tests that trip you up but that helped me learn the material (in my opinion) to get me ready for the test. I took the PEPPP at the testing site this weekend and passed it (583). I am taking the EPPP in a couple weeks and feel much more confident that my initial practice test scores were not a reflection that I needed to postpone my test. In fact, I am learning the material and am confident in my ability to pass. I suggest taking the PEPPP at the testing site if you can. It definitely helped my confidence and self-esteem. It also gave me a good idea of what the environment would be like on test day. I hope this helps and good luck on the test!Hi all, I am set to take this thing in 3 weeks. I have been using PsychPrep materials and online tests. I am beginning to worry as I have not been making their "expected progress" to the T. For example, I have missed 10 to 20 questions more than what they recommend missing in "Test Mode" for scores in the 85% range. My question is, did those of you who followed the PsychPrep program of taking each practice test 3 times meet the expected progress (ie only missing 5 to 10 questions in Test Mode)? Or did some of you pass the EPPP without achieving PsychPrep's expectations? My first time test scores have been between 62 and 64%. I am obviously improving with each retake of a test but i'm worried since i'm not reaching PsychPrep's standard that it means that i'm not learning/retaining enough and won't pass the actual test in a few weeks. Anyway, any info or insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks Docs.
I took the EPPP today and failed by 6 points. Here is my advice... The EPPP Fundamentals book by Anne S. Klee and Bret A. Moore won't get you too far. It is a good place to start, but the questions inside it are not on the level of those on the EPPP. The pocket prep app is aligned with that book. I can make 100% on those questions. The med preps app was helpful, but it won't make you pass. I would study it to 100% as there are things on it that helps you figure out questions on the test. The AATBS TestMaster Mobile app is helpful, and I highly recommend (like others) that you study the EPPP flashcard app is something else to study to 100%. I would also download the practice test from Modern Psychologist Association (free online) and contact them for the other exam they have. The EPPP is very similar to their second exam that is not available free online. I knew many answers due to topics on that practice test.
I plan to go back and study the EPPP flashcard a to 100 and see if I can find some more practice exams. If anyone has any to sell me, please let me know!
I am not really sure. I have studied on and off since January, but my schedule has been so busy. I taught 6 college courses since then, completed a book review, a journal article, an instructor manual, and dealt with all my child's activities. My plate has been full. I would get only a few hours a week in. Then in the past two weeks, I was able to get in about an hour a day. I really feel like "time studying" will be different for each person depending on situational factors in life. I would not start thinking that since so and so studied X hours, so should I. Remember that fundamental attribution error!80mdab, do you have an estimate on how much time you spent studying? I am planning to take the exam soon and your experience has made me wonder if I am prepared enough.......sounds like you weren't too far off that you're likely going to pass on the next try......good luck!
Thanks, but a friend is loaning me hers tomorrow. I need some more practice exams.I've got the AATBS flash card pack I'd be happy to ship for $50.
Cara- I never scored higher than 63% on any of the five AATBS practice tests and did fine on the real thing.
You got this!!!!!!
Just took the EPPP and thought I'd share my experience. I must say I found majority of the questions to be completely out of left field and not consistent with any content I have studied in the AR materials. I probably felt confident with about 10-15 questions and another 5 or so that were similar to the types of AR questions in the practice materials. The rest of the content on the actual exam was completely foreign to me and I want to believe that it was maybe due to lack of preparation. However, I have spent the last three month diligently studying (started with handed down AATBS books and then switched to online AR program covering over 190 hours). I came away feeling completely lost and unsure if further review of AR material will be of much help but reluctant to spend several hundred on another program. My practice exam scores were consistently in the 65-75% range on the last 6 or 7 mock exams in AR and I felt relatively well prepared knowing and understanding the content, but found the real deal very different and substantially harder than all of my preparation. I am left feeling like the content I knew well from all of the content areas was nowhere near the material I was tested on. I walked away with scaled score of 454 and not really sure what to study further or where to find the content/preparation that would actually resemble the type of questions or content on the actual exam. I am fairly resilient and always bounce back and push through after losses, but am currently left a little she'll-shocked and dumbfounded. I want to believe it's a reflection of not enough preparation like all say, but at the same time I found that majority of the material on the actual exam was not similar to anything I studied.
Just passed a couple weeks ago with a 606. I got 440 on the official online practice exam. I studied casually for a few months and then intensely for 2 weeks. I didn't buy any of the big study programs. I just bought a cheap study guide online, an iphone app, and got a big collection of hand me down old practice tests. The old practice tests are what helped the most. I probably took 10-15 of them. At a certain point you start to recognize what the questions are pulling for and how they are trying to trick you before you even finish reading the question. I made flash cards of all missed items and also used youtube to bolster my knowledge for unfamiliar concepts. For instance, while playing videogames, I would just let youtube autoplay videos related to gestalt psychotherapy or structural family therapy in the background and that was surprisingly helpful in just being able to recognize key terms etc.
I got over a 500, which I believe means that I passed! I'm still convinced that I failed, despite having the number in front of me. What a terrible exam!
As I posted on here earlier, my practice scores during the few weeks before I took it were generally between 65% and 70%. I studied by using the $30 flashcard app, taking a bunch of practice tests, Modern Psychologist's study guide, and the I/O Psych Prep chapter. I'm pretty sure that I studied only about 40 hours total, if not less, but I also felt pretty familiar with most of the material before I started studying.
How much of that guide was just conspiracy theories and nonsensical ramblings?
I know this has been addressed in earlier posts, but I figured I would reintroduce it with updated responses hopefully. My question is related to the PEPPP or PEPPPO for those who have taken the EPPP and whether they felt their PEPPPO scores were predictive of their actual EPPP performance. I am trying to figure out if taking it will give me a good idea of where I stand in terms of preparation to take the actual EPPP. Any responses would be most appreciated!
Wow, congrats! I am sure that's a big weight off you! Were you using AR practice exams? I am in the low 70's on most AR practice Exams but not entirely sure if I am ready, thinking of trying the PEPPPO first......
Do you feel comfortable posting your final score? I'm curious as to what the correspondence between your AATBS 75% and the actual score obtained was. I am using a very similar study strategy to yours, so I'm curious.I read this thread the night before my exam and it provided me with some reassurance, so I thought I'd add my 2 cents.
I took 9 ATTBS practice exams and the bulk of my scores ranged between 65 and 76 (my first score was in the 40 range). Five of them were taken in exam mode. Taking the practice exams in exam mode mainly helped me become comfortable with having absolutely no idea how well I was doing (like on the actual exam) and to just trust my answer choices.
After every practice exam (i.e., the following day), I reviewed all correct and incorrect answers. I then focused on studying sections with scores below 70%. I gave up on devoting much time to better understanding stats because I kept bombing that section regardless of how much I studied. I just focused on memorizing my abbreviated version of the stats flashcards. In fact, I did the same for all the Domain C sections (test construction, assessment, social psych) and just hoped recognition would pull me through on exam day. My studying for the other domains consisted of reading the chapters 1 to 2 times and reviewing my typed notes.
I averaged about 2.5 to 3 hours when taking the practice exams, but 4 hours on the actual exam. I didn't review all of my flagged responses because after reviewing 2 questions I felt anxious and still didn't know the correct answers, so I just decided to trust my original responses and end the exam.
Although I felt confident about some of my answers, I felt doubtful about most. I was certain that I failed, but I passed with a higher score than what I received on my practice exams. Phew.