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The EPPP is the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.  How To Pass The EPPP Exam Without Even Trying! will teach you every...

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

When To Begin Studying For The EPPP Exam: Part 4

Top Ten Tips For Beginning EPPP Exam Preparation Now

  1. The best approach to taking and passing the crucial EPPP examination is to start studying early. This is so important that I'm going to say it again. Start studying early! Be an early preparer. Leave the gate early, and get out in front of the pack.
  2. Educate yourself about the EPPP examination. Visit the ASPPB's site to read about the test. Take particular notice of the psychology content areas covered on the EPPP exam that you are expected to know and understand.
  3. Get your hands on some of the major study programs available for the EPPP examination. Borrow them from a friend that no longer needs them. Buy used materials online. Send for free study materials that test preparation sites offer. If you can afford it, buy your own copy of a test preparation program.
  4. Buy some of the less expensive EPPP exam study guides, test preparation software, flashcards, flashcard software that are available. Read through the materials. Test yourself. See how you do. Identify the content areas in which you need to improve. 
  5. Visit the discussion groups available online to get a first person idea of what preparing for the EPPP exam is really like. Start forming supportive relationships with those who are already studying. One helpful group is the Preparing To Take The EPPP Discussion List.
  6. Take advantage of the wealth of free information and advice available online at EPPP preparation sites such as How To Pass The EPPP Exam Without Even Trying!
  7. Use a software program to optimize your learning and to maintain your memory of what you have learned. One of the best is the SuperMemo program. This program will keep the material that you learn fresh in your mind indefinitely. Such programs help with memorizing flashcards, as well as complete topics.
  8. Learn everything you can about test-taking strategies. Particularly learn test-taking strategies for multiple choice exams. There are quite a few strategies that can help you become a better performing test taker. This knowledge will also help you in your graduate school classes.
  9. Learn and practice good study strategies and habits. Sure, you may be able to cram for tests and pass them for some of your classes, but that will never work in passing the EPPP exam. The EPPP examination is a marathon, not a sprint. There is way too much material to cover in a short time. You need to learn how to study consistently, and how to retain the material. This knowledge, also will benefit your graduate studies. There are general study strategy sites, and sites specific to the EPPP exam. Both offer helpful advice on study strategies. There are many books available on this topic that are well worth buying.
  10. Learn to control your mental state as regards studying. This includes: learning how to control your stress levels, how to talk positively to yourself about your preparation, maintaining concentration and attention, and how to stick with studying for the long term without becoming discouraged. It means learning to keep your anxiety levels reasonable while studying, and during the actual EPPP examination. It means doing what you can physically to maximize your performance: eating properly, getting sufficient sleep, taking rest breaks, breathing deeply, stretching, and exercising. Look to online resources on general study strategy sites and sites specifically on preparing for the EPPP exam.
I hope that you have found this article helpful and informative. Most of all, I hope that if you are planning to sit for the EPPP examination that you will start preparing now!

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References

1. The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) in the era of evidence-based practice. Sharpless, Brian A.; Barber, Jacques P.
Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Vol 40(4), Aug 2009, 333-340.