EPPP success story

Just wanted to provide a little hope for those of you that are preparing to take the EPPP. I studied long and hard for the exam (approximately 2 months as my full time job) using AATBS materials and found out today that I passed the exam. After never scoring above a 69% on the 8 AATBS practice tests I took I was somewhat worried going into the exam. However, I took my time (every second of the 4 hours 15 minutes to be exact), did not change any of my answers from my initial gut feeling and came out with a great score in the end. One note, I've read from others about how many questions they were "sure" on coming out of the exam - one person said 65 questions another said over 100 questions. Well, I was "sure" about what felt like maybe 10-15 of the questions on the test and the rest I was able to narrow down to 2 at which point I used educated guessing. As I said it turned out well in the end and I wish all others who have yet to take the test the best success - you too will get through this hurdle and will be able to use the skills you've worked so hard to earn.

Thanks for the encouraging words! I plan to take it in May and am gathering all my study materials this month. Hopefully I can pass my first time too!

Cool! That must be such a relief to have it taken care of.

Thanks for posting your success story. I am using academic review and also am scoring in the 60s and 70s and am a little nervous as I will take the test in three weeks. Congratulations on your HUGE accomplishment

Thanks for the encouragement and congrats on passing! I plan to take the exam in 2 weeks and am stuck right at 69% on my practice tests (psych prep and aatbs). I plan to take the retired test questions soon and everyone tells me to expect a much higher score on those.

Good luck O Gurl! We are in the same place!!

Originally Posted by QClinician

Good luck O Gurl! We are in the same place!!

Thanks!

Update: I took the retired test questions and my score improved by 12 points. I got 82% correct. Now I am a bit puzzled and peeved as to why the practice tests from the prep companies are so dang hard! What the heck are they trying to do? Inspire learned helplessness?

What the heck are they trying to do? Inspire learned helplessness?

convince you of the effectiveness of their training program

Originally Posted by O Gurl

Thanks for the encouragement and congrats on passing! I plan to take the exam in 2 weeks and am stuck right at 69% on my practice tests (psych prep and aatbs). I plan to take the retired test questions soon and everyone tells me to expect a much higher score on those.

I was planning to take it in March but I have been procrastinating. I am only using PsyPrep and have only completed the first 3 practice tests so far. I still haven't finished reading the study material once. I am in the mid-70's range the first time I take each of the practice tests and when I redo the first two I got to the high-80's range. Part of me feels like I am ready but part of me feels that I MUST read everything at least once and complete all the practice tests first. I have an irrational fear that I'll do much worse in the real exam...Hmmmm...

Originally Posted by SingingCow

I was planning to take it in March but I have been procrastinating. I am only using PsyPrep and have only completed the first 3 practice tests so far. I still haven't finished reading the study material once. I am in the mid-70's range the first time I take each of the practice tests and when I redo the first two I got to the high-80's range. Part of me feels like I am ready but part of me feels that I MUST read everything at least once and complete all the practice tests first. I have an irrational fear that I'll do much worse in the real exam...Hmmmm...

SingingCow, did you take the retired questions exam? that may give you a better idea of how you will do.

Originally Posted by QClinician

SingingCow, did you take the retired questions exam? that may give you a better idea of how you will do.

I haven't. Good idea. I will check them out.

Originally Posted by SingingCow

I was planning to take it in March but I have been procrastinating. I am only using PsyPrep and have only completed the first 3 practice tests so far. I still haven't finished reading the study material once. I am in the mid-70's range the first time I take each of the practice tests and when I redo the first two I got to the high-80's range. Part of me feels like I am ready but part of me feels that I MUST read everything at least once and complete all the practice tests first. I have an irrational fear that I'll do much worse in the real exam...Hmmmm...

I would second the retired test questions. Also, ASPPB offers an online practice test that simulates the real exam. You can purchase it for $55 any time after your jurisdiction approves you to test. I scored much higher on both of those than on the practice tests from PsychPrep (max score on 1st pass was 71%) and AATBS (max score on first pass was 73%). I imagine you will also see a boost to your (already very high) scores.

I just took the real exam today and can honestly say that the retired questions and online ASPBB practice test were truer to the items on the real test. I walked out of the test a few hours ago feeling far better than I did after any of the test company versions.

Maybe that is false confidence... I will let you all know in a few weeks when I get my scores.

CONGRATS! Hope you passed!!

How did you do on the EPPP?

Well if it encourages anyone.... I studied for about a week and a half intensely and didn't do much else to prepare....took the test two weeks ago. I have also been out of school for a LONG time...graduated in 2008. Got the email that online score was available so of course went and checked it... online it give no information but you name, date taken (for me March 5th 2012) and your scaled score. They say anything over 500 scaled score is passing.....I was well over 500. I have not got the letter in the mail yet...so am hoping that info in accurate (please tell me if its not!). Also....I was NOT passing any of the practice tests...took four...got in the low 60s on all of them. So I for one can say... the practice tests are not really the best indicator for if you are going to pass the actual exam...and don't be discrouaged if you are failing them (I know I was but took it anyway and I am glad I did). Also, don't be discouraged if you have not studied the insane amount of hours and MONTHS so many people claim they have. I can honestly say... I don't know that it would have made a bit of difference if I had studied for months.....or a week very intensely. I'm confused why people prepare for so long or put so much into the practice tests results. Don't get me wrong, its good to run through a few practice tests to get an idea of the questions...especially the ethics ones...but some people say they did 8 or even 10 of them and are passing them in the 80s....that seems a bit OVER KILL... so I wouldn't be intimadated if you are not near that level of OVER preparation. Just extra stress that is unecessary trying to achieve that.

^ Agreed. I think if someone is scoring in the 80s, it is time to take it.

Passed!

I also took the exam March 5, nichvasq. I agree with your assessment. Trying to get to 80s on the practice tests is probably overkill. I already spoke about my experience with those. I only made one pass through, but never scored above 72. I certainly did much better on the real one.

Originally Posted by O Gurl

Passed!

I also took the exam March 5, nichvasq. I agree with your assessment. Trying to get to 80s on the practice tests is probably overkill. I already spoke about my experience with those. I only made one pass through, but never scored above 72. I certainly did much better on the real one.

Great news, congratulations to ya

Originally Posted by AcronymAllergy

Great news, congratulations to ya

Thanks! This news couldn't be timed better. Birthday weekend (this weekend) will be EPIC

Would anybody recommend any particular program for just the online practice tests? I understand that the practice exams typically underestimate the score...but I bought 2011 EPPP study materials from a friend and she used the online tests it came with so I need to add some for me.

The cheapest I found after a quick search was $400 from Academic Review - that's 8 full practice tests but each test can only be taken once and the whole thing can only be accessed for 3 months (compared to their other test packages where you can take the tests multiple times and have longer access to it to spread out the tests more).

Also - any notecard recommendations from all the sets available out there? I absolutely love studying with notecards and would like to add them to the set as well

Originally Posted by O Gurl

Passed!

I also took the exam March 5, nichvasq. I agree with your assessment. Trying to get to 80s on the practice tests is probably overkill. I already spoke about my experience with those. I only made one pass through, but never scored above 72. I certainly did much better on the real one.

Congrats!