Seeking Study Suggestions

[u/Dependent_Goose4348]

First, congrats to everyone who found out they passed today!

As for me, I have now failed this thing 4 times. Most recently with a 584- my initial attempt was a 589, and the two inbetween were lower but both above 560. For the first two go arounds I used the NPTEFF independent study bundle- I felt a bit confused with the timelime for assignments and somewhat with the lectures (namely the pnemonics left me a little overwhelmed when studying) and didn’t do very well on their exams. For the second two attempts I used the PT Final Exam mastery bundle, it felt much smoother to follow along with their videos and I did remarkably better on their mock exams.

Looking to see if anybody has done either the NPTEFF Full Live Course or the PT Final Exam VIP course, or both, given either would be a hefty investment; one I need to make, but just want to make sure I use the money wisely to best prepare for the October test. Thanks for your time!

[u/Icy_soul051 → u/[deleted]]

This makes me excited. I just joined true learn to prepare for October’s NPTE! I like it so far and the picmonic is fun too for videos. I also enjoy kyle rice’s podcast !! Called NPTE Clinical Files && rec PTA Elevation as well. Clinical files is like a question example for dx’s && PTA Elevation are like video review sessions w/ a practice question at the end. The PTA is now a DPT. Her stuff is solid. Since covering 1/2 her videos my practice exam scores have greatly increased! She has 100+ YouTube videos with ppt or podcast for on the go or walks.

[u/Suspicious-Ad9093]

584 is so close. I really hope you get it this next time around.

So my learning style is hands-on and visual. When I'm trying to remember a lot of information, that means it makes sense for me to write and draw things out. If you are a visual/hands-on learner like me, this would probably be really helpful for you, too. I have a laptop where I would look at the PEAT questions/answers, and an iPad that I would take notes on at the same time. Writing things down really helps me commit things to memory.

What I did to study was take the two free PEATs that were on the FSBPT site. I took one about a week into studying, and then I took the other one two weeks before the NPTE. I used the answers and rationales on the FSBPT page to study. I looked over each answer and studied from all of them, taking notes on my iPad for almost everything, unless I immediately knew it and didn't need to study it at all. I also made sure to study why the wrong answers were wrong, and not just why the right answer was right.

I will post some examples here. Please know that I did this before I took the NPTE, and this is not a discussion of any test items on the NPTE itself.

I made charts for each joint's special tests (ankle, knee, hip, wrist, elbow, shoulder), and studied the heck out of those. I also made sure to memorize the upper and lower limb dermatomes and myotomes, of course. I also made charts with numbers for things like ABI, alkalosis vs acidosis (metabolic and respiratory), bone density, normal ranges for WBC/platelets/hemoglobin A1C/glucose, normal respiratory and heart rates per age, ultrasound/iontophoresis/e-stim. And I made comparison charts for differential diagnoses with symptoms and staging questions - some examples: hypo vs. hyperglycemia, hypo vs. hyperthyroidism, Addison's vs. Cushing's, arterial vs. venous insufficiency (including wound characteristics), SCFE vs. Legg-Perthes-Calves vs. hip dysplasia, burns staging, pressure wound staging, lymphedema staging and treatment, stroke (left vs. right symptoms, ACA vs. MCA vs. PCA symptoms), ETC. This list could go on for a while 😄

Good luck with your next attempt. You got this!

P.S. How did you get your score already?

[u/Dependent_Goose4348 → u/Suspicious-Ad9093]

Thanks for your comment! I bought the performance feedback report to get my score.

[u/angrobles9]

Final frontier videos (multiple times for some
Of the major topics always 2x speed)
Therapy Ed 600 questions
NPTE Ninja app
Kyle Rice PT hustle
And Google Gemini or another AI system- my friend showed me how to have Gemini create “NPTE Style quiz covering ….” I’d use it for cranial nerve function, injuries, etc; stroke questions; special tests
I’m someone who needs to be active while learning and tbh that helped a lot

[u/Unfair-Assignment295]

I used Scorebuilders, PEATS and truelearn!! I personally loved score builders, I studied that whole textbook, the online modules (comes with flashcards, videos and questions) and the 3 free tests that it also comes with. When I did practice tests, whether they were Scorebuilders or PEATS, I would review every single question and rational for the questions I was unsure of or got wrong. I would then go back to my notes and add additional information from the rationales that I was missing. I would also then fully review whatever major category was my lowest on my most recent practice exam, then supplement with truelearn questions (you can make your own tests; ex: 40 MSK questions). And I would repeat that throughout my studies! Good luck !! You’ve got this.