Slaying the Beast

[NYpsychdoc]

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Hello,

Let me start off by saying I have failed the EPPP four times in the last three years. I graduated in 2013 and have taken it about once a year since then. The first time, I prepared for six months, studying seriously (4 hours per day) for the last two months and I was lucky that I had more time to study in between internship and before post doc. I focused on listening to the audio, reading content books, flash cards and workshop. I did not take all of the practice exams before my subscription ran out so when I failed (scaled 65) I attributed it to not having enough experience with the test questions.

The second time, I had began working and had significantly less time to study, I studied on average about 10 hours a week, after work and sometimes on weekends. I took the four day workshop again just before taking the exam in order to refresh my memory. When I failed the second time (scaled 71) I started to question myself and waited a while before starting the study process. In that time I spent more time with family and friends (something I had put off in the years prior), I got engaged and pregnant and had some complications during my pregnancy, many things changed in my life. I didn't have much time to focus back on content so I took practice tests, as often as I could and in marathon fashion before the actual exam, right up until the day before. Yet, the position I had at work at the time pushed me to take the exam again soon (before I was ready) so I failed (scaled 70)yet again.

With it being the third time I became acutely more aware of the shame I carried with failing. I spoke with my partner about it and some close friends and family but outside of that I stopped talking about my experience and in particular I avoided those in my cohort who had passed. I have been sent offers for work and collaboration with others but I don't respond because I would have to explain why I am not licensed yet. I took some time to get out of that and this time I decided to take my own time with it. It was one more year before I took it again and at that point I had lost many of the gains made in studying previously. With a toddler at home I have less time to study and so I studied about 4 hours per week and took off ten days before the exam to focus more intently. I practice yoga to relax and be physically fit so I practiced as much as I could during that ten days and scheduled my exam in the afternoon so I could practice the morning of. I just took it on the 1st of May and failed again and worse than before (scaled 67). In discussing it with my supervisor (who passed one the first try with cramming), I experience others as feeling helpless when it seems like I have done every logical thing to pass. I have also experienced my bosses boss questioning my desire to become a psychologist in a very rude and insulting way. At this point I am questioning if I will ever pass, I don't feel much support from my work to pass (not that I should expect that) and I want to try again but this emotional turmoil get more difficult to rise from each time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ollie123]

Sorry to hear all this. I think it would be helpful if you posted a little more detail about your approach, study method, etc. What materials are you using? If you are taking practice exams, what kind of scores are you getting on them? Are there particular topics/sections you are tanking on?

When I hear stories like this, my initial assumptions are to wonder about test anxiety or general test-taking skills. If you pass practice exams with flying colors, I would suspect the first - if not I would suspect the second. It could also be a combination.

 

[foreverbull]

Beyond frustrating. I'm also interested to hear about your practice test scores, whose study materials you used, and problem areas. One thing particularly unfair about the EPPP process is that you get zero feedback regarding content area scores when you pass or fail, so you have to be particularly attuned to what areas you struggle with on your own.

Other EPPP threads in here have explored test anxiety negatively affecting some people despite high achieving histories because of the weight that the test carries professionally. I wonder if your past negative EPPP experiences could be setting you up for even higher anxiety each time you take it?

 

[WisNeuro]

Beyond frustrating. I'm also interested to hear about your practice test scores, whose study materials you used, and problem areas. One thing particularly unfair about the EPPP process is that you get zero feedback regarding content area scores when you pass or fail, so you have to be particularly attuned to what areas you struggle with on your own.

Other EPPP threads in here have explored test anxiety negatively affecting some people despite high achieving histories because of the weight that the test carries professionally. I wonder if your past negative EPPP experiences could be setting you up for even higher anxiety each time you take it?

I thought in the last version of the handbook after the procedure change, people who failed got a feedback report at the outset of the exam?