u/Sierra1546

I just took a the NBCOT exam for the first time (OTA). I passed my practice NBCOT tests with 480’s and utilized aota, NBCOT, and true learn questions. None of them prepared me for how hard that exam is. I am currently crying in the parking lot wondering how i am going to take that exam in a month bc I am positive I failed. I usually test in 3 hours and I took almost the whole 4 hours but had 13 minutes left after I reviewed all my flagged questions. I feel like I failed and not in a cute way where I secretly think I passed I just don’t wanna get my hopes up but in a completely dead serious I failed sort of way. I am feeling like this is so incomparably hard to the practice exams and I have no idea how to even study for when I have to take it next time because I studied my ass off for this one. I’m not sure if I just memorized all the practice questions for the practice exams and these were all new so my scores were never accurate in the first place? I went in nervous but with a slight shred of confidence bc of my passing practice scores but those feel silly compared to how hard that exam was today.

I am taking my boards the 17th and want to keep studying. I have the NBCOT practice test and have taken all of the practice exams besides the full practice exam. I also have the AOTA study pack but I only have 1 full exam on that. So is it worth it for extra full length and scaled exams? I am the point where the NBCOT study pack questions just repeat themselves so I think I’ve memorized them instead of understanding content. Any advice helps!

NBCOT Pre test- date taken- 5/14- score - 467
NBCOT test 1- date taken 6/3- score - 443
NBCOT test 2 - date taken 7/19 - score - 488
NBCOT test 3 -date taken 8/5 - score - 450

AOTA retired OTA NBCOT questions - date taken 7/29- score 34/43 =0.79

Did you guys also do worse on the third practice exam for the NBCOT? I purchased it separately and the fact that my boards are in 2 weeks and it was 450 is scaring me. Please help, any advice, any of your scores you feel like compare old be great.

Heyo! I take my boards the 17th of August, the practice tests I’m using are via the AOTA and NBCOT study packs. My scores are starting from May so some are old and I still have more content I’m reviewing before my exam but I wanted to see how people’s practice scores measured up to the real exam. Mine will be specifically for a COTA exam but any advice for testing helps!

NBCOT Pre test- date taken- 5/14- score - 467
NBCOT test 1- date taken 6/3- score - 443
NBCOT test 2 - date taken 7/19 - score - 488

AOTA retired OTA NBCOT questions - date taken 7/29- score 34/43 =0.79

I’m gonna continue to study but I just wanna see how people typically pace with practice tests leading up to the exam and how they actually scored if they took the exam.

I keep seeing posts of people passing practice exams and not passing the actual NBCOT exam. Do you feel like it’s test anxiety or actual lack of knowledge. I also feel like I’m passing my practice exams but will that actually mean I’m likely to pass the actual one? I just don’t know where my gaps are if I’m doing well and gaining confidence. But then I see on here people passing practice exams like me but failing the real one. So is it the NBCOT and AOTA practice exams are too easy and inaccurate as a representation of what you know?? I’m just lost and need help!!

Hey, I don’t typically post on here but I need advice. I take my boards mid August so any advice there would be great too!! But I had an interview for a peds position split between two clinics with one being 40 minutes away. The offer letter disclosed a rate that was .50 lower than the starting wage offered during the interview. I countered the offer but feel weird about it. I’m not sure what to do or how to move forward. How are other COTAs handling interviews and job offers??