Taking the National Board Dental Examination (NBDE Part I or II) is a big step, but there's no need to be nervous. Taking these testing tips to heart can help you stay calm and sit for the NBDE with confidence.
Calculate the time you have to spend per question - To ensure you have time to answer all questions, it’s helpful to do some quick math and understand 1) how many seconds you have per question, and 2) how many minutes you have for every 10 questions and then to pace yourself with this in mind.
Find the keywords – Important clues in the exam questions are presented as keywords. Focusing your attention on only what is important helps you to mute the background noise and link the clues to the answers. Remember that the questions are drafted by examiners who leave hints, whether intentionally or unintentionally, that can lead you to the correct answers.
Slow down - Often when someone goes into the NBDE, his or her anxiety level rises. It is a completely normal body mechanism because he or she is stepping into the unknown. The natural tendency is to rush through the exam and be concerned about not finishing in time. As a result, the mind skips words that could be critical clues leading to the correct answer. Rushing through questions in the exam is like trying to climb Mt. Everest without taking any supplies!
Play the true or false game - Have you ever made the mistake of not paying enough attention to the words “not,” “except,” or “false” in a question and then selected a “correct” statement when you were supposed to select an “incorrect” statement? This mistake is made commonly because the majority of the exam questions are about detecting the correct answer. Though your brain is trained to recognize and choose a correct statement, you may have to go against your natural instincts to increase your chances of passing a dental board exam.
Quickly skip questions you cannot answer - Do not waste time on questions you have trouble answering, as spending more time on them will not solve the problem. Instead, make an educated guess and move forward. Dental board exams can be very demanding and the clock is ticking. Since there are multiple answer choices for each question, your guess has a 20% to 25% chance of being correct—even greater if you can eliminate one or two potential answers. Save your precious time and tackle questions you can actually solve.
What other common dental board exam tips have you encountered that work for you?