Hey everyone,
I am in need of advice and/or counsel. I am a recent 2014 graduate and have now taken and failed the NAVLE 4 different times. I had to give up my private practice internship now twice since I failed last year and now this year in April. It is truly devastating and am in need of some advice or at least talk to someone that has possibly been in the same boat and found something that worked for them. The first time I admit I was not as prepared and failed the NAVLE after using VetPrep and maybe only completing about 50% of the material. The second time I was more prepared and completed Zuku to about 65% along with using a friends VetPrep account to complete about 30% studying from January until April. I felt a lot better about the test but still failed (399 and passing score needed to be 425). After being disappointed by failing the second time I truly focused in on the things that I was weak at: large animal medicine, my test anxiety, and putting in more time and effort into studying. I worked at a small animal private practice and studied when I was working there. Most days I would put in over 6-8 hours of studying a day every day, 5-6 on weekends. I took the test for the 3rd time in December of 2014 and found out in January that I didn't pass. I was so utterly confused and was not sure what happened this time around. I did Zuku again and made it through about 75%, reviewed old notes, vet prep power pages, zuku power pages, and really tried to work on my test anxiety. I am by nature a very slow test taker so this time around I wanted to make sure that I had focused on that aspect since I struggled completing each section on time each time I took the NAVLE. My score for the 3rd NAVLE was the worst of all which was very alarming for me. I signed up to take the NAVLE again in April and unfortunately didn't pass that time either. This was the most shocking of all since I really honestly felt good about this test this time around. I completed about 95% of Zuku, studied for at least 8-9 hours a day and worked at the small animal practice getting lots of experience working on things I still struggled with like thoracic radiographs, reproductive physio, bloodwork, ultrasound and oncology. I worked on my test anxiety and throughout the whole testing process I was never nervous, rushed, and didn't panic. I finished every single section on time with about 4-5 minutes to spare. I am waiting on my score report now but I am at a loss for words. Now I must wait until November/December to take the test again, putting my life on hold again another 6 months.
I am curious as to if someone has been in my shoes before and if so what strategies did they implement to help them pass. I am considering doing one of the test prep materials again but trying to attack this from many other angles like: buying different books, locating a NAVLE tutor (if that is even a thing), and anything else that might possibly help. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated. This is the most frustrating thing because this one test is limiting me to be the great clinician I know that I can be.
- Nate
I am in need of advice and/or counsel. I am a recent 2014 graduate and have now taken and failed the NAVLE 4 different times. I had to give up my private practice internship now twice since I failed last year and now this year in April. It is truly devastating and am in need of some advice or at least talk to someone that has possibly been in the same boat and found something that worked for them. The first time I admit I was not as prepared and failed the NAVLE after using VetPrep and maybe only completing about 50% of the material. The second time I was more prepared and completed Zuku to about 65% along with using a friends VetPrep account to complete about 30% studying from January until April. I felt a lot better about the test but still failed (399 and passing score needed to be 425). After being disappointed by failing the second time I truly focused in on the things that I was weak at: large animal medicine, my test anxiety, and putting in more time and effort into studying. I worked at a small animal private practice and studied when I was working there. Most days I would put in over 6-8 hours of studying a day every day, 5-6 on weekends. I took the test for the 3rd time in December of 2014 and found out in January that I didn't pass. I was so utterly confused and was not sure what happened this time around. I did Zuku again and made it through about 75%, reviewed old notes, vet prep power pages, zuku power pages, and really tried to work on my test anxiety. I am by nature a very slow test taker so this time around I wanted to make sure that I had focused on that aspect since I struggled completing each section on time each time I took the NAVLE. My score for the 3rd NAVLE was the worst of all which was very alarming for me. I signed up to take the NAVLE again in April and unfortunately didn't pass that time either. This was the most shocking of all since I really honestly felt good about this test this time around. I completed about 95% of Zuku, studied for at least 8-9 hours a day and worked at the small animal practice getting lots of experience working on things I still struggled with like thoracic radiographs, reproductive physio, bloodwork, ultrasound and oncology. I worked on my test anxiety and throughout the whole testing process I was never nervous, rushed, and didn't panic. I finished every single section on time with about 4-5 minutes to spare. I am waiting on my score report now but I am at a loss for words. Now I must wait until November/December to take the test again, putting my life on hold again another 6 months.
I am curious as to if someone has been in my shoes before and if so what strategies did they implement to help them pass. I am considering doing one of the test prep materials again but trying to attack this from many other angles like: buying different books, locating a NAVLE tutor (if that is even a thing), and anything else that might possibly help. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated. This is the most frustrating thing because this one test is limiting me to be the great clinician I know that I can be.
- Nate