POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

     When I began my quest to be a Registered Physical Therapist, I started like everyone else. I have a dream so I made some plans and have taken lots of contingency measures on how to attain it. Allow me to share with you my GOAL and what I did to obtain it.
      It was stated in a book by Napoleon Hill,  The Law of Success: The Master Wealth-Builder's Complete and Original Lesson Plan forAchieving Your Dreams that the main cause of failure is having no definitive chief aim in life or failure to set clear attainable goals and plans to accomplish this goals. The keynote of this lesson is having no definite objective towards which to strive. You should not drift aimlessly. Having this definite chief aim will affect the subconscious mind, thus leading towards the attainment of the objective. Hill also emphasizes the importance of writing down your definite chief aim and goals to achieve it in a clear concise way.
     What I did was that I make my goal clear and I verbalize it to the world every waking day during the span of my review and that is "I will pass the NPTE and have that License!" I wrote these words in bold letters inside my room and in my notes. I remind myself of these words each time I encounter problems during the processing of my credentials and especially during the final months before the NPTE. Yes, I encountered the delays that all us foreign graduates have endured yet still my eyes was set on my goal. I know the Lord and the universe hears what my heart has been shouting and yearning about.
     I devise things that will help remind me of my goal like what I did at the forum wherein I initiated the NPTE-i countdown. Some don't like it but others also get the feel of the nearing challenge. It was not posted to scare someone but it was made to counter check one's preparedness.A sort of a constant notice to myself that THE DAY is getting near so I need to stay focused and attuned with my program. Having a Definite Chief Aim enables and urges me to discover, organize, coordinate and put into use all the acquired knowledge gained from experience and my review.
     I strengthened my Self Confidence. "YOU CAN DO IT IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN." According to the The Law of Success In Sixteen Lessons by Napoleon Hill, he states that Fear is the chief reason for poverty and failure. Therefore, the person who masters fear will SUCCEED. The development of self confidence begins with the elimination of fear. Hill discusses the origins of fear and lists the six basic fears: Poverty, Old Age, Criticism, Loss of Love, Ill Health, and Death. Hill teaches that the most effective way to fight these fears is organized knowledge. Ignorance and fear are twins that are found together. To eliminate fear, eliminate ignorance. Hill provides a formula for developing self-confidence, using autosuggestion, along with persistence, the development of a good habits and having a clearly stated definite purpose.
     " BELIEVE IN YOURSELF BUT DO NOT TELL THE WORLD. SHOW IT!
     You can eliminate fear through diligent study and continuous effort. Initiate a relationship with your books. Consider them as friends and partners. Studying should not be viewed as a labor because you will need all these knowledge once you are alone facing the patient. These knowledge will empower us to decide competently as a clinician.
     There are times during the course of ones review that you would deviate from the intended program but always make it a point not to lose focus. Once you have that goal and have set your eyes and mind stubbornly on it I know and I believe that as the days counts down to that judgement day you will have that confidence.

THE NPTE PRACTICE TESTS

     The first time I took a practice test was way before I started my review last April 2010. The reason I did this is that I wanted to have a baseline knowledge and to assess how much I have retained. As expected, I got a low score but that didn't budge me from my goal of passing the NPTE. Using the baseline score I formulated my review and it delivered results.
     I used my baseline score as a reflection of my weak and strong points then I created and structured my review based on my performance analysis. I know that I won't be able to read all the references but I have to get the most out of the books that I have. I have known my shortcomings, so I have to devise an effective strategy to overcome my dilemma of low scores. 
     By January and February of this year, I started taking practice exams again and there was an improvement but not that remarkable. I read the rationale and did some research on particular topics that I find difficult. Using the exam analysis results I restructured my review again and made contingency plans and formulated new objectives to reach that acceptable and secured practice exam result.
     I suggest that if you are using 2011 NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) Review & Study Guide as your main reviewer it is better that you take the practice test of other reviewers such as McGraw-Hill's NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) (Lange), McGraw-Hill's NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) (Lange) etc. in order to expose yourself to a variety of question structures and styles. It is recommended that you take these practice exams at full to have a better feel of the exam which is 5 long hours. NPTE is a test of endurance so you have to train yourself to sit in front of a computer with your full attention at least once or twice a week 5-6 weeks before THE DAY. You need to practice pacing and budgeting your time so that on the actual examination you would know if you have allotted so much time in a particular item or you if you have behaved yourself like a speed demon. Beware also of frequently changing your answers.
     You need to use these practice tests to your full advantage. Don't just go over the hard copies to read the correct answers and memorize it. It is better and more helpful if you take these test and fully enjoy its purpose. Memorizing the answers of the practice test will not guarantee passing the NPTE it will only guarantee passing that particular practice test.
     For re-takers, I recommend that you avail Performance Feedback Report. You can request this at FSBPT for a fee and it is a good investment. This way you can better understand how you perform in the past exam, it will also enable you to create concrete and effective changes with your review. For first timers, if you want to have an in-depth analysis of your score you can try Scorebuilders Online Advantage. I have availed it and it was very useful.


    

Cross Examining the NPTE Questions

     The National Physical Therapy Examination questions are from a pool of fine-tuned questions. This means that each questions have undergone vigorous analysis in order for it to be an effective reflection of an applicant's qualification to be licensed as a physical therapist. These exam questions are coined not from a single textbook but from the interrelation and integration of these references in order to better assess the clinical competence of an applicant. So, it is not acceptable if one would say that most of the questions that came out during the last NPTE was taken solely from Differential Diagnosis for Physical Therapists: Screening for Referral (Differential Diagnosis In Physical Therapy) or the Physical Rehabilitation (O'Sullivan, Physical Rehabilitation) yet it will be right if someone would say that a question was so made that it combines Manual Muscle Testing, Goniometry and Therapeutic Exercise. I have encountered questions like that last May 25 and I'm all praises to the Test Item Writer.
     I have mentioned in one of my posts in the Physical Therapy Forum that it would be helpful to write test questions. Writing test questions is a good form of mental exercise and it will improve your understanding on how a test item is developed and you can assess why does the test item writer use the other tricky choices which were almost correct most of the time. Incorrect choices were so damn made to confuse us and its usual target are those PTs who are poor in reading comprehension. Most examinees who have failed to grasp what was being asked by the question always end up choosing the wrong and always beautiful to the eyes choice. It is advisable to refer back to the stem question and ask yourself if this answer choice is the best answer to what is being asked.
     I have encountered pictures in my last exam and what I did was I first assess the picture and have a mental prediction of what will be the answer; then I read the question and answer choices. Always accept the information in a question at face value don't over analyze because you will end up adding information and this will increase the clutters of information in your mind. Practice serenity by answering practice questions with a clear mind. You will be surprised by the outcome. I once indulged myself to do a simulated exam right after reading and guess what I flanked. Then I decided to take a day off and assess myself again with another exam I got a far better result. This is a clear presentation that our minds are sharper when it has rested and have processed and absorbed all the information we have bombarded it with. We have to be kind to our brains. We need to feed and reward our minds with day offs and enough sleep.
     Some say that doing a process of elimination will be helpful but you have to be sure that you have not eliminated the right one. Also, we encounter conflicting choices like hyper and hypo, decrease and increase, usually you have to assess these two choices because one of them is the answer then confirm it by reading the stem question again. Watch out for hedge phrases such as likely, often, mostly, usually, generally, rarely, sometimes because the test writer want to cover all the possibilities so you need to avoid choices that leave no room for exception. You need to stay alert for switch back words or phrases like the word but and however for these frequently alerts you to shift thoughts.
      Don't choose an answer for its familiarity. NPTE is crafted to be tricky and if you find yourself stuck in a difficult, unfamiliar type of case, try milking it and if still not effective DO THE PICK AND GO for this might be a pretest question. Make it a point to abstain yourself from being a speed demon and frequent answer changer. These two dangerous habits will cost you havoc. Trusting your guts is not that bad because the first answer that comes to mind is almost always correct. This is just a thought.  
     Signs that you are in trouble :
        > You have not answered confidently the last 10 question of a set.
        > You have answered refer back to MD for more than 3 times
        > Right after the exam, you can't remember how many sets were there in the exam
        > You cannot recall any items for your own self analysis

     The last two symptoms were a clear description of a test taker who was so overwhelmed. His mind is so full and confused due to cramming a day before THE BIG DAY.
     Please, don't let yourself fall into this category and if once you were then it's time for the big change and it's not yet too late. Remember FOCUS, DETERMINATION and DISCIPLINE is the key and a lot of review books have also mentioned these.
                    










 

    

Scientific Approach in Passing the NPTE

     The moment I have heard that USA is an open market for us Physical Therapist that's when I decided to pursue my dream of coming to America and practice my profession. I have undergone the a lot of holes in the processing of my credentials at FCCPT. Yes, you're right TOEFL_ibt was also a big time culprit in the delay not to mention the CWT5. It seems like the jokes never stopped to tease me and then came the suspension just days before my embassy interview. Isn't that great?
     Then came my first visitor's visa interview and that was just a day before the Georgia Order against FSBPT came out. Even before Georgia's decision there were already denials at the embassy stating the new ruling that our employers can file the H1b visa even without license. I was thankful that I was given a visa that day but also sad because some were not granted. But then I guess it's not yet their time.
     I was plainly on self review. I based my review strategy back when I was in college, which was a long time ago, on reading textbooks before exposing oneself to reviewers. As for me REVIEWER BOOKS are meant to be read after you have studied all the basic concepts in textbooks. In order to grasp the whole concept that is being discussed in these concise and trimmed down reviewers one should have a strong foundation of basic knowledge. Building this strong foundation does not happen in two to three months. I once heard some of my colleagues saying that they will review seriously two months before the exam and guess what they failed. What's the common denominator? They have failed to recognize the gravity of NPTE, and they are positive of the traits of being a CRAMMER!
     URGENCY IS THE EARLY SIGN OF UNPREPAREDNESS, NEXT IS CRAMMING... You will only get a positive result for cramming if it's a short quiz but NPTE is a test of endurance because you will sit there for more that five hours. How can the mind of crammer handle that?
     For those aiming to ace this ever challenging puzzle of NPTE you must condition yourself to total commitment to your goal. Assess your strengths and weaknesses. What do you consider a threat to your review or attainment of your goal? For re-takers, once you have received your scores why not request for Performance Feedback Report. You can use this tool to better assess how you did in the exam. Now, you make a contingency plan.
      I know most of you are familiar with the coverage and breakdown of NPTE and I find it very helpful. Try getting yourself acquainted to it because basing your review on the weight of each of these topics will help you focus on what subjects really matter. For example:
     >Equipment, Devices, and Modalities (Pedia & Adult) 22 questions... while
     >Foundations for Evaluation, Differential Diagnosis. & Prognosis (Pedia & Adult) 47 questions
     The point I am driving here is that you need to construct your review and study based on what is covered by NPTE and what topics needs your most attention. You must differentiate the must know from good to know during the course of your study. You will be taking an entry-level licensure examination so you have to think as an entry-level Physical Therapist who have graduated as a Doctor of Physical Therapy in the USA because that's the entry-level now.
     During the course of my review which was over one year, I used these references:

          
    
   
 
    

     Practice Test:
     > 2011 NPTE (National Physical Therapy Examination) Review & Study Guide 2009, 2010, 2011 sets A,B, and C
     > PTEXAM: The Complete Study Guide Sets A, B, and C
     > Dutton
     > Scorebuilders Online Advantage 3 sets
     > PEAT  

     I was done reading the four textbooks three months before the exam. I have read IER RSG three times and have done my final scan of it two weeks before May 25. I used the flashcards and my notes a week before THE DAY and have refused to see any books or attend any group discussions 2-3 days before May 25.
     It is best to study during the hours of the exam and afford yourself of a good night sleep of at least 6-8 hours because a well rested mind is sharper than a drowsy and overworked brain. If you're a night owl it is suggested that you change your sleeping habits at least two weeks before the exam not 3 days to avoid episodes of confused body clock. Please afford yourself  a day off. Studying long hours and seven days a week will swell your brain and all that you've read will all go to waste. I have seen this happen and you won't like it.
     One more thing, It's quite obvious that I prefer the TherapyEd RSG because it is more informative, exact and complete as compared to others. I came across Dutton but I never allowed myself to indulge much on it not because I'm satisfied with RSG and Scott Giles but because we have found some inconsistencies of information. I like its Practice Test though. So, if you really want to read it, better make it the last one.