Am I Ready to Take My NP Board Exam?

One of the biggest questions we get around here is “When do I know I’m ready to test?” 

It’s such a daunting question! You’ve put in so much work already: went through years of NP school, completed hundreds of hours of clinical, took countless exams, and then graduated. But there is still one more test to take. So, how do you really know when you are ready for your board exam?

Here at SMNP Reviews, we are experts on board preparation and will make sure you feel confident before taking that board exam. Let’s go over some main points to consider before scheduling your exam!

Prefer to listen rather than read? Check out this podcast episode from the Real Deal Nurse Practitioner Club (available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or RSS)!

1. Take a board prep course and go through some good Qbanks.

First, choose a board preparation course. You’ve acquired a breadth of knowledge on many topics related to your specialty. A board prep course will help you to narrow your focus for test prep. You’ll want a course that’s engaging, interesting, and offers different ways to prepare.

You’ll also want to be sure to do lots of NP practice questions. You were probably told about the importance of completing practice questions when it came to your RN certification. Well, the same is true in NP board prep. A well-stocked Qbank is invaluable for your test preparation!

At SMNP Reviews, we have board prep resources for every NP specialty! Pick your perfect prep from synchronous (self-paced) review courses, live study groups, intensive one-day preparation workshops, and one-on-one readiness sessions, which are all led by amazing and experienced NP instructors. Our instructors and content experts have also created thousands of specialized Qbank questions and full-length practice exams. Join the fun today!

2. Focus on what you don’t know. 

As you work through the preparation material and start planning for your upcoming test, what should you focus on?

Quite simply, study what you don’t know or understand. It’s human nature to spend time doing things that come easier to us. And it’s a way to avoid the discomfort that comes with spending time on things we find more difficult.

But you can’t walk into your board exam hoping you don’t get questions on COPD or heart failure or antibiotics or (insert your NP topic nemesis here). If you’re having these thoughts, then you’re not ready to take the board exam…yet!

Here’s how to fix the problem:

During self-paced review courses, pay attention to the subjects you’re struggling with and put the extra effort there. For example, maybe you can sail through diabetes management, but the biofeedback system of the thyroid trips you up every time. Once you’ve completed the course module, go back and listen to the parts on the thyroid again. Another option is to spend extra time in the question bank on topics you’re struggling with. If you’re taking an asynchronous course, you can always go back and review things as needed.

If you’re in a live session with instructors, don’t be afraid to ask questions! We have lots of tips, tricks, and memory tools to help you with tough topics, but if something still isn’t sticking for you, let us know! You can also connect with other learners on our Facebook support group which can help with a sense of camaraderie. You’re not on this journey alone!

3. Take full-length practice exams.

To recap, you’ve worked through all the board prep material, focused on topics that are tough for you, and answered all the questions in the Qbank. Are you ready now? Almost!

Before you schedule your NP board exam, we highly recommend taking a few full-length practice exams. That means setting aside a few hours to answer 150-200 questions at once on various topics. This is meant to simulate test day. These exams are long, mentally fatiguing, and you need to see where you stand when your brain is tired.

Taking practice exams will also help you figure out how quickly or slowly you answer questions. Do you constantly feel rushed? Or are you a fast test taker and find that you miss those key words like “inappropriate” or “except”? How do you respond when you reach a difficult question? Did you maybe get flustered, and were derailed for several questions after that, even if they were easy? The point is you don’t know how you’ll react on test day unless you prepare for it by taking practice exams.

What score on a practice test should you be aiming for? Remember, the board exam is testing for minimal competency to practice. If you’re scoring 70-80% on exams and Qbank questions, then you can be confident you’re ready to take the real exam! And if you’re not there yet, that’s okay! Review, reach out to instructors and peers, and keep practicing. You’ll get there!

4. Get into the testing mindset.

The final piece of the board-readiness puzzle is getting into the right mindset. You’ll never feel 100% ready, but you need to be confident in your abilities to face whatever the test throws your way. If you’re prone to test anxiety, doing a full-length practice test is a wonderful way to test your plan for handling it. See if your plan for handling anxiety, be it brain dumping, taking breaks, utilizing test-taking strategies, affirmations, etc. works.

Another way to get in the testing mindset is to do a test run and check things out beforehand. Make sure you know the rules of the testing center and do a practice drive there before test day so you know what to expect for traffic and parking. Practice your dump sheet and what you want to include on it. Also, when test day comes, make sure to take care of yourself. Get a good night’s rest and eat a good breakfast or lunch before heading out.

🧠 FREE Download: 5 Dump Sheet Examples & Resource Guide

Need help making your dump sheet? Vetted and highly rated by our team of NP experts, this resource includes 5 different examples of dump sheets to help you kickstart your own dump sheet creation and excel on exam day. Just fill out the form below and get it sent straight to your inbox!

 

Final Thoughts

At SMNP Reviews, we understand what it means to be ready for the NP boards. If you do these four things before exam day, you’re probably going to crush the exam. Remember, you don’t have to do this by yourself. We’re here to help you every step of the way! Please check out our resources, including our free tip sheets, live webinars, blogs, podcasts, and Facebook group. We look forward to helping you pass your NP exam—the first time!