Day 15: Clinical Practice Exam Results
After a two runs through the AATBS Clinical Psychology audio CD, and a cursory endeavor through the incomplete sentences review for each section in the AATBS Clinical written materials (courtesy of my fiance), I took my first run at the Clinical TestMASTER questions with Exam 2. I produced a score of 75%—head and shoulders above the initial baseline from Starbucks:
iStudy: EPPP Neuropsychology iPhone App
Ronald Bell has an iPhone (and iPod Touch/iPad) application covering the Neuropsychology domain of the exam:
iStudy: EPPP Neuropsychology is a neuropsychology study tool designed to help you study for the EPPP exam.You can get the iStudy: EPPP Neuropsychology App for US$2.99 in the iTunes Store.
iStudy: EPPP Neuropsychology offers the following:
- "Test mode" which includes flash cards for common neuropsychology terms and concepts.
- "Study mode" which lets you review specific questions of your choice.
- "Report card" to help you keep track of your learning progress.
- Modes to help you review and study questions that you're struggling with most.
This app requires no network connection, allowing you to study neuropsychology anywhere.
Day 11: Ethics and Abnormal Practice Exam Scores
Yesterday, I listened to the Abnormal CD for a third time, and still found "new" information in the content, but significantly less than the previous listening. Consequently, I chose, today, to complete two AATBS TestMASTER Practice Exams for the Abnormal domain, in addition to the Exam 3 Ethics and Professional Issues content.
Passing both the Abnormal and Ethics domains today, the result was demonstrable gains in my EPPP performance in just over one week:
In assessing my progress, it is noteworthy that the content areas introduced are personal strengths historically, and hence the learning curve is not as steep as I anticipate, say, I/O will be. Still, I am performing more in line with how I had performed on the paper-and-pencil exams and, toward this end, I would also like point out that I took the online exams today in a library rather than a Starbucks.
My plan, now, is to introduce the Clinical domain by listening to the Clinical Audio CD on the commute to work tomorrow. Progress!
Passing both the Abnormal and Ethics domains today, the result was demonstrable gains in my EPPP performance in just over one week:
In assessing my progress, it is noteworthy that the content areas introduced are personal strengths historically, and hence the learning curve is not as steep as I anticipate, say, I/O will be. Still, I am performing more in line with how I had performed on the paper-and-pencil exams and, toward this end, I would also like point out that I took the online exams today in a library rather than a Starbucks.
My plan, now, is to introduce the Clinical domain by listening to the Clinical Audio CD on the commute to work tomorrow. Progress!
Day 7: Work Intrusions
It may seem like an excuse, but my commute/carpool situation with work is interfering with my studying. I may need to change my work schedule to eliminate the intrusions that break my momentum during the week.
Today, I listened to the Ethics CD on the way to, and the Abnormal CD on the back from, work. I'm finding the Ethics CD less helpful at this point, but the Abnormal CD continues to provide various points to memorize. I would like to point out the unusual pronunciations of "acetylcholine" and "somatoform" on this CD.
Today, I listened to the Ethics CD on the way to, and the Abnormal CD on the back from, work. I'm finding the Ethics CD less helpful at this point, but the Abnormal CD continues to provide various points to memorize. I would like to point out the unusual pronunciations of "acetylcholine" and "somatoform" on this CD.
Day 4: Abnormal Content Introduced
Woke up, showered, shaved, got in the car, and listened to the entirety of the AATBS Abnormal Psychology audio CD on the way to work. Worked 10 hours. Listened to the entirety of the Abnormal CD on the commute home. Uncertain if I will be up to practice exam questions tonight, but may try to complete TestMASTER Exam 3's Ethics content before bed.
Days 2 & 3: Ethics & Professional Issues Progress
Yesterday, I listened to the AATBS Ethics Audio CD twice -- approximately three hours apart --- while driving out of town and back. I commute 1.50 hours each way to work everyday. I wish that there was a way to make better use of the audio materials, but I feel as though I cannot listen to the Ethics CD again without throwing my iPhone out the window. Perhaps, I will stray from my original study plan to begin approaching the Abnormal content in the car tomorrow. For, today, I answered the 29 ethics questions from AATBS TestMASTER Exam 2 with a result of 72% (versus 66% two days ago). I feel a little better about the overall situation after such a score, because it is more in line with my prior performances on the paper-and-pencil practice tests.
Day 1: AATBS TestMASTER Practice Exam #1 Results
I initiated AATBS's TestMASTER this afternoon. I have 90 days now, to take the exam. I hope that this time restriction will provide for increased motivation and focus. To orient myself to the process, I completed Exam #1 in the Exam Mode, and with the following disappointing results:
Unsurprisingly and surprisingly, my areas of optimal performance were in the Social Psychology and Statistics domains, respectively. Unfortunately, these areas are of limited weight in the overall score.
In comparison to my performance on the paper-and-pencil practice exams, I severely under-performed. Aside from outright poor performance, I can identify a number of potential factors detrimental to my score, including differential environmental and state-dependent aspects of my test-taking situations. In the past, I took the exams in quiet, distraction-free, office environments while under the influence of significant quantities of caffeine. Today, I took the TestMASTER Exam #1 at a Starbucks, and in a severely under-caffeinated state.
Further, and likely accounting for a greater proportion of the variance in my performance, the paper-and-pencil practice exams that I took had the correct answer immediately below the options, and which I covered with a piece of paper while answering the questions. Nevertheless, I was undoubtedly exposed to the correct answers at some level while working my way through the exams.
Finally, it is noteworthy that my last paper-and-pencil practice exam did not include the answers during administration, and yet I passed the exam in approximately two hours. I used the "timed" mode to take the TestMASTER Exam #1 today, but the ticking timer was so distracting that I disabled it partway through the testing session. Hence, I have no idea how long it took me to produce today's sub-par practice exam results.
In comparison to my performance on the paper-and-pencil practice exams, I severely under-performed. Aside from outright poor performance, I can identify a number of potential factors detrimental to my score, including differential environmental and state-dependent aspects of my test-taking situations. In the past, I took the exams in quiet, distraction-free, office environments while under the influence of significant quantities of caffeine. Today, I took the TestMASTER Exam #1 at a Starbucks, and in a severely under-caffeinated state.
Further, and likely accounting for a greater proportion of the variance in my performance, the paper-and-pencil practice exams that I took had the correct answer immediately below the options, and which I covered with a piece of paper while answering the questions. Nevertheless, I was undoubtedly exposed to the correct answers at some level while working my way through the exams.
Finally, it is noteworthy that my last paper-and-pencil practice exam did not include the answers during administration, and yet I passed the exam in approximately two hours. I used the "timed" mode to take the TestMASTER Exam #1 today, but the ticking timer was so distracting that I disabled it partway through the testing session. Hence, I have no idea how long it took me to produce today's sub-par practice exam results.
EPPP Approval
Months... months it has taken, but today, I received approval from the Board of Psychology to sit for the exam.
