AATBS Opinions

[Hxj]

Hi everyone, I am looking for some support/guidance/reassurance/virtual hugs haha. My school "gave" (aka charged us in our tuition lol) us the 2018 AATBS materials last year. I haven't read every domain yet, but I took my second practice test and got 65%. I was feeling pretty good. Then I checked out some free tests from other companies, and there was stuff that was inconsistent with AATBS or not on there at all. I can't afford any other testing materials.

Will I be ok only using AATBS? I want to make sure I'm studying the right stuff. For those of you who only used AATBS to study, how did you do on the exam? Is the exam easier or harder than the practice tests? I am certain I can do well on these practice tests, but only the actual EPPP matters, you know? No one from my cohort is studying yet so I feel very scared and alone. If anyone can share their experiences or opinions, I'd really appreciate it! Thank you all for your time.

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[elpsych]

I primarily used AATBS (because it was what I had access to) and found the practice exams to be more complicated/wordy than the actual EPPP. Also the study materials felt almost overly comprehensive...I spent the most time with practice exams. I studied regularly for about 3 months.
I started consistently scoring around passing right before taking the EPPP and passed it first time.

 

[Hxj]

I primarily used AATBS (because it was what I had access to) and found the practice exams to be more complicated/wordy than the actual EPPP. Also the study materials felt almost overly comprehensive...I spent the most time with practice exams. I studied regularly for about 3 months.
I started consistently scoring around passing right before taking the EPPP and passed it first time.

They are very long and thorough for sure! I learn best by reading though so I don't really mind. I read a section, take the section quiz, repeat. Then I listen to the audio stuff on my commute to work. I plan on taking another practice exam this week. I'm hoping if I continue to do well, it's a sign that I'll pass. My big fear is that I'll get used to answering questions based on the wording on AATBS and be lost on the exam. But if the questions are less wordy, that gives me hope!

 

[AbnormalPsych]

I used AATBS materials that were several years old (hand me downs). I found them helpful. Aside from a few things like I/O questions, I think the biggest factor by far in my EPPP success was the quality of my grad training and learning the concepts I needed to know along the way.

The most helpful part of the AATBS materials were the books IMO. Just read them through (especially your weaker areas) cover to cover a few times.

 

[pediatric_psydoc]

I used only the AATABs books and scored a 580. I also was given them by my school and couldn’t afford to spend a bunch of money on extra material.

I was scoring low 60 to low 70s on most AATABs tests, but sometimes lower. I spent four months studying for the EPPP. I would estimate 5-10 hours a week for the first two months, then 20 hours a week for the third month, and up to 30-40 hours a week the last month.

My method was first reading through everything and then reading a second time while note taking. Honestly I never read through the physio/psychopharmacology section because I was scoring 95% having read nothing. I needed to spend time focusing on areas that weren’t my strengths.

I did the practice online EPPP and passed that the week before taking the real EPPP. The AATAB questions were much harder IMO because I was guessing what they were asking half the time. On the EPPP I was able to know what they were asking (at least I think I did...enough to pass and get licensed subsequently).

 

[Hxj]

I used AATBS materials that were several years old (hand me downs). I found them helpful. Aside from a few things like I/O questions, I think the biggest factor by far in my EPPP success was the quality of my grad training and learning the concepts I needed to know along the way.

The most helpful part of the AATBS materials were the books IMO. Just read them through (especially your weaker areas) cover to cover a few times.

That's good! That's what I'm planning to do as well. My school also did not teach I/O stuff haha. I don't know anyone personally whose school did!

 

[Hxj]

I used only the AATABs books and scored a 580. I also was given them by my school and couldn’t afford to spend a bunch of money on extra material.

I was scoring low 60 to low 70s on most AATABs tests, but sometimes lower. I spent four months studying for the EPPP. I would estimate 5-10 hours a week for the first two months, then 20 hours a week for the third month, and up to 30-40 hours a week the last month.

My method was first reading through everything and then reading a second time while note taking. Honestly I never read through the physio/psychopharmacology section because I was scoring 95% having read nothing. I needed to spend time focusing on areas that weren’t my strengths.

I did the practice online EPPP and passed that the week before taking the real EPPP. The AATAB questions were much harder IMO because I was guessing what they were asking half the time. On the EPPP I was able to know what they were asking (at least I think I did...enough to pass and get licensed subsequently).

That makes me feel better, thank you! 95% is awesome! I scored 86% on abnormal on one test but I think 71% on another. I guess it depends on the questions you get. Do you think the questions on the real exam were more straightforward? I've noticed some practice ones are tricky. Like they'll give you tons of info about a boy but the question will actually be asking about his mom, for example.

 

[SportsNeuroPsych]

I used AATBS books/online materials exclusively for 2-3 months (other than taking PEPPP and PEPPPO), with the last month being the most intense. Read all the books cover to cover and took quizzes accordingly. Passed the EPPP on my first attempt with a score of 575 in July. Study hours per day fluctuated as I was in post-doc during the time. Found the recordings to be a nice supplement during downtimes and when I was sick of reading or looking at the books. My practice exam scores were: 53, 55, 61, 57, 57, 62, 64, 70. So, as you can see, my scores were clearly an underestimate. I did not find the EPPP questions to be too similar in any respect to the AATBS practice questions but I was able to draw upon the concepts from reading the books and prior training/education to eliminate choices and choose the "best" answer.

As others have said, I would agree that the written materials are quite cumbersome, intimidating, and overly detailed. Not necessarily a bad thing in my case because I would rather have too much than to think I am missing something. While I read everything in the books, I did glance over the sections/topics that I had a good background in from grad school. The others I wasn't too familiar with, I read multiple times.

 

[Ollie123]

I studied off older hand-me-down materials. These were primarily AATBS books, but also some from PsychPrep and AR (primarily practice exams). I would say 90% of my time/effort was spent just reading the AATBS sporadically for about a month and then intensely for about a month.

I forgot what I got on it (I probably posted so you can track it down) but it was comically high above passing. I think mid-700's somewhere. Which means I should have spent less time studying. Practice exam scores started in the 60's and ended in the 80's, though there is enough repetition across them I feel like its not particularly meaningful.

Any of the materials should be fine. You will see things that aren't in any of them, but you just need a decent base knowledge to build off for answering questions. Personally, I thought AATBS was the most thorough, at least of what I saw. Personal preference whether that will be overwhelming/intimidating or helpful, but I liked it. It also helps to remember that you aren't in school anymore, you don't <need> an A and thus you can answer a crapload of questions wrong and still be absolutely fine. So having ~10-20 questions on the exam that you have no idea about isn't a big deal - some may be "test" questions that don't count anyways, if you choose randomly you'll still get a handful right and even if you got all of them wrong you still have room to very very easily pass it.

 

[pediatric_psydoc]

That makes me feel better, thank you! 95% is awesome! I scored 86% on abnormal on one test but I think 71% on another. I guess it depends on the questions you get. Do you think the questions on the real exam were more straightforward? I've noticed some practice ones are tricky. Like they'll give you tons of info about a boy but the question will actually be asking about his mom, for example.

Yes, I found the questions on the real EPPP to be more straightforward. It seemed, at least in my recollection, that the EPPP writers wanted you to at least understand the question. In AATAB, I think the writers wanted you to be confused so you could see how horrible the questions could be and be prepared for the real EPPP in case. I would rather be prepared for the worst way the questions could be phrased than be thrown off and unprepared when it’s time to take the $600+ test.

Of course I am just guessing the mindset of the authors. Maybe the authors of AATABs are just masochists but either way it worked for me. Best of luck to you and let me know if I can help further.

 

[Hxj]

Yes, I found the questions on the real EPPP to be more straightforward. It seemed, at least in my recollection, that the EPPP writers wanted you to at least understand the question. In AATAB, I think the writers wanted you to be confused so you could see how horrible the questions could be and be prepared for the real EPPP in case. I would rather be prepared for the worst way the questions could be phrased than be thrown off and unprepared when it’s time to take the $600+ test.

Of course I am just guessing the mindset of the authors. Maybe the authors of AATABs are just masochists but either way it worked for me. Best of luck to you and let me know if I can help further.

Hahaha I think there are definitely some masochistic tendencies there! But I agree, I'd absolutely rather be over-prepared. The test is ridiculously expensive, and if I fail, I will be demoted at my job to a bachelor's level position until I pass it. Absolutely cannot afford that! Thank you for help!

 

[Hxj]

I studied off older hand-me-down materials. These were primarily AATBS books, but also some from PsychPrep and AR (primarily practice exams). I would say 90% of my time/effort was spent just reading the AATBS sporadically for about a month and then intensely for about a month.

I forgot what I got on it (I probably posted so you can track it down) but it was comically high above passing. I think mid-700's somewhere. Which means I should have spent less time studying. Practice exam scores started in the 60's and ended in the 80's, though there is enough repetition across them I feel like its not particularly meaningful.

Any of the materials should be fine. You will see things that aren't in any of them, but you just need a decent base knowledge to build off for answering questions. Personally, I thought AATBS was the most thorough, at least of what I saw. Personal preference whether that will be overwhelming/intimidating or helpful, but I liked it. It also helps to remember that you aren't in school anymore, you don't <need> an A and thus you can answer a crapload of questions wrong and still be absolutely fine. So having ~10-20 questions on the exam that you have no idea about isn't a big deal - some may be "test" questions that don't count anyways, if you choose randomly you'll still get a handful right and even if you got all of them wrong you still have room to very very easily pass it.

Oh God I'm going intensely right now too hahaha. I sporadically started studying in like September, but I'm trying to pass the exam before January so I can get grandfathered in if they end up using the new version. That whole thing is adding even more pressure. I'm hoping it ends up being a good thing because that means I'll be done and over it.

 

[Justanothergrad]

Regardless of the test materials (I've seen a few different ones and did some side by sides on them; some are more in depth than others but I didn't see that translating to meaningful differences in test content honest [either practice test or actual]), the bigger issue that I found useful was thinking about/studying how to respond to tests and to approach it in the way of a test designer. I honestly didn't find studying to be that useful in terms of building the base of knowledge I needed to answer questions beyond my program training. I made sure to know the basics of stuff not within my area (I/O) enough so that I could guess. I probably did a month of consistent studying (10-15 hours a week, most of which was just practice tests) and 2 months of casual reading about 2-3 hours a week. I passed easily the first time. My goal was to pass at about 5 points above the highest national cut score and did so without any problems.

 

[foreverbull]

Instead of creating a new EPPP related thread, you might want to peruse this ongoing thread for your answers:

EPPP practice test scores for those who passed

Hey guys, long term lurker first time poster. I am feeling very depressed today. I took the exam yesterday and failed. This was my second attempt and I am feeling defeated. I’m currently in a post doctoral program and one of my requirements for finishing the post doc is to pass the eppp. I...

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