Re-testing for the ABGC Certification Examination? Here’s 5 Pieces of Advice
As someone who had to take the ABGC Certification Examination, a.k.a. the “board exam,” a second time, I can understand the feelings of guilt and defeat that can come with this experience. It can be hard to find motivation to study again and figure out how to study differently than before. While this may feel like a daunting task to begin after already spending months studying, I hope to share some tools that can be helpful as some are considering starting to study for the exam again.
To the exam candidates facing similar challenges that I did, I encourage you to embrace the opportunity to refine your study techniques; also, know you are not alone and that the journey to certification is not always a linear one. Each challenge we encounter enhances our capacity to contribute meaningfully to our field. I hope these tools can be helpful for those continuing to prepare!
5 Tips for Re-testers for the ABGC Certification Exam
-
Analyze Your Previous Performance
While it can be easier said than done to review areas of improvement from the previous exam, this step is important to understanding where focus can be emphasized. If there are specific areas that you struggled with, and others you exceeded in, this can help guide how you spend your time regarding which particular areas may need or less more attention.
-
Utilize Different Study Resources
Incorporate study resources you may have not used the first time. For example, reading the “Green Book” in more depth if you had only read outlines before was something I found useful. There are a multitude of textbooks, online courses, flashcards, and videos out there. You may find a different way to study something that sticks in your brain better!
-
Join Study Groups
Discussing material with others is a great way to reinforce information and memorization. It can be especially helpful to try and find others who may also be re-testers, and working on areas that you may need clarification on. Every person has different strengths and weaknesses, and studying with others gives you the opportunity to help others, and for them to help you. It is also a great way to feel more supported in this process.
-
Studying Will Look Different This Time — and That’s Okay
I found myself constantly trying to compare my study schedule and topics to the first time I studied, which ended up causing me nothing but more anxiety. This is not your first time studying — you may not need to “start from scratch” for every single component. Trust the sections you did well on; you know that information well and may have to study it less. Your topic focuses and study schedule is meant to look different. You have the benefit of experience with you now as you study again, and trusting what you know is important.
-
Spend Time on Test-Taking Strategies & Practice Questions
As simple as it may sound, practicing exam-style questions is the best way to simulate the test-taking environment. Familiarity with the style of questions and wording that is seen on exam questions is essential to being able to reason through harder questions that may pop up. Doing more practice exams and questions gives you time to learn the best way to approach answering more complex topics. This was one area I found incredibly useful; having the experience of more practice questions under my belt gave me the confidence to know what exactly the questions were asking.
While not a point I made above, it is imperative to remind you that self-care is essential throughout this process, especially when reviewing material for re-testing. The knowledge and insight you have gained from taking the exam before is invaluable. You now have a clearer understanding of the exam format, types of questions asked, and the areas where you need to focus your efforts. View this as an advantage, not a hindrance. Believe in yourself and keep pushing forward!