How to Smash the NBCOT OTR Exam

Take Simulated Practice Exams

Simulating the conditions of your actual exam day can help you recognize and prepare for any eventualities and get comfortable with the timed nature of the test. Several different timed and untimed practice tests can be found online, both free and for a fee. Taking a practice test after you finish studying for each exam subject area can help you seal that knowledge in, while taking a full, timed practice test at the end of each week can help you recognize what you know well and what still needs some work. To simulate testing day, make sure you follow all check-in protocol, leave the clock running during any breaks, and take the exam in a room with no distractions.

Utilize Practice Question Banks

Practice exams provide a good benchmark for seeing how your prep work is progressing, but everyday studying is best served by going through question banks. Several test prep companies provide these, as does the American Occupational Therapy Association. When first beginning your test prep, trying questions from each section of the exam can help you establish a baseline and figure out which areas need the most work. From there you can create a study schedule that provides ample time for your weakest areas. Practice question banks also help you develop a wider understanding of the types of questions to expect on the actual exam.

Join the NBCOT Facebook Support Group

The American Occupational Therapy Association provides the NBCOT Exam Prep Info Center on Facebook, which currently has more than 33,000 members. Here you can share your tips for studying and acing the exam, gain tips and insider tricks from those who’ve already taken the test, and ask questions along the way. The group has dozens of posts each day and offers the support you need to feel confident and prepared when testing day comes around. The group also provides a “Files” section for various study schedules, guides, and other helpful materials that can be easily accessed.

Meet OT Miri

OT Miri provides a comprehensive and regularly updated occupational therapy community and resource center for students, test takers, and occupational therapists/occupational therapy assistants. Miri offers test-taking strategies, videos, study notes, and stories from others on how they passed the exam. Once you take the test and pass it, you can also access guides on landing your first OT job, keeping up with continuing education, and thriving after you graduate. Miri works hard to keep the content free and accessible for all users and provides an inspirational story of going from missing the minimum score cutoff to passing the test with ease.

Plan for the Questions You Can’t Answer

Despite all your hard work and dedication to preparing for the NBCOT, inevitably there will be some questions that you simply don’t know the answer to. Planning ahead for this situation is the best strategy for success and can help you avoid wasting precious time that could go towards questions you feel more confident about. When studying, note which section you feel you understand the least. Try to prioritize that area in the weeks leading up to the test, but also know your limitations. When you encounter questions that you know you cannot answer, do your best to eliminate the obviously wrong answers and make an educated guess. After that, move on and focus on the future rather than the past.

Give Yourself Enough Time

To adequately prepare for the NBCOT OTR exam, you need at least 8-10 weeks of study time. This timeline doesn’t take into account additional responsibilities such as a full-time job, school, and any other personal responsibilities. Sure, you can try to cram for the test in a couple weeks, but examinees typically do far better on the test if they give themselves enough time to actually learn the material and develop sound strategies rather than trying to memorize everything. Start studying early and schedule your exam far enough out that you don’t feel stressed leading up to it.

Make a Schedule – And Stick to It

Speaking of timing, creating a study schedule is key to success. You can give yourself six months to study for the test, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t actually sit down to review material consistently. At the start of this process, take time to develop a comprehensive schedule based on how many weeks you have before the test, different sections of the exam, and the amount of time you can reasonably devote to studying each day. Post your schedule in a prominent location and check off each study session after you complete it. This will both remind you what’s left to cover and help you stay motivated through the final hurdle.

Work with a Tutor

If your budget allows, consider hiring a professional tutor who can walk through the materials with you, answer outlying questions, and help you address areas that need some work. These individuals typically possess both training and a high NBCOT score themselves, meaning they know how to get a good score and help others to do the same. If you struggle to stay motivated and focused, these professionals can help keep you on track and ensure you do the work needed to earn a score that meets your standards. Different tutoring packages exist, ranging from hourly to full-service.

Find Your Learning Style

Some students may do best by purchasing a massive test prep guide before slowly and methodically working through it. You might learn best via visual tools such as diagrams, videos, and charts. There is no once-size-fits-all approach to test-taking or test preparation, so don’t let yourself feel boxed in. Aside from making it a more enjoyable process, finding your learning style will also lead to better exam outcomes and ensure you’re as prepared as possible when test day rolls around.

Avoid Mistakes

One of the worst feelings is getting back an exam and noticing careless mistakes you’ve made that could have easily been avoided. With the stakes being so high on the NBCOT OTR, circumventing these mistakes is vital. Trying to memorize answers versus taking time to fully understand material never works, as any slight change in the question can make you question the correct answer. Similarly, failing to use the latest edition of a study resource may result in outdated questions or incorrect information.