How to pass the NCCAOM exam? Passing the NCCAOM exam requires careful planning and strategic studying. The goal is to pass your exam so you can start your acupuncture career, however, what happens if you fail? In this quick and simple article, we review the key tenants to pass your NCCAOM exam, and how to regroup if you don’t pass the exam on your first attempt.
10 Tips to Help You Pass the NCCAOM Exam
1. Understand the NCCAOM Exam Format.
Know the structure of the test, including the types of questions, time limits, and scoring methods. The NCCAOM Exam format consists of the following:
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- 2.5 hour time limit for each exam (Biomedicine, Acupuncture with Point Location, Chinese Herbology, and Foundations of Oriental Medicine)
- Scaled scoring system
- The NCCAOM provides year-round testing and preliminary exam results at the testing center
2. Create a Study Plan & Gather Study Materials
Break down the acupuncture and TCM material you need to review into manageable chunks and schedule regular study sessions leading up to the test. Collect textbooks, notes, online resources, and any other materials relevant to the test. Make sure you have everything you need to study effectively. To organize your studying, divide study material up into folders for the following categories.
- Acupuncture Point Location
- Biomedicine
- Chinese Herbology
- Foundations of Oriental Medicine
3. Review Class Notes.
Go over your notes from your acupuncture & TCM master’s degree program to refresh your memory on key concepts and information discussed in lectures.
4. Use Active Learning Techniques.
Instead of passively reading through materials, actively engage with the content by summarizing information in your own words, creating flashcards, or teaching the material to someone else.
5. Practice with Past Papers or Sample Questions.
Familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may appear on the test by practicing with past papers or sample questions. This will help you become comfortable with the test format and identify areas where you need more practice.
6. Seek Clarification.
If there are concepts you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to ask fellow acupuncturists or mentors from your internships for clarification. Understanding the material from all angles is essential for your success.
7. Take Regular Breaks.
Avoid burnout by taking regular breaks during your study sessions. Schedule short breaks every hour to recharge your mind and stay focused.
8. Stay Organized & Stay Positive.
Keep your study materials organized and create a study schedule to ensure you cover all the necessary topics before the test date. Maintain a positive attitude and believe in yourself. Visualize success and stay confident in all the hours you spent studying, and the immense knowledge and experienced you’ve accumulated as a professional thus far! Remember, passing the NCCAOM exam is about understanding acupuncture and TCM concepts and being able to apply them effectively. With proper preparation and dedication, you can succeed!
9. Practice Time Management.
During your practice sessions, work on answering questions within the allotted time to improve your time management skills for the actual test.
10. Get Enough Sleep.
Ensure you get enough sleep the night before the test to feel rested and alert on test day. Avoid staying up late the night before the exam, as this can lead to fatigue and decreased performance.
You Pass the Exam! Now What?
I passed the exam. What was my score?
Those who pass the test won’t get a breakdown of their performance in each topic area or their final score. Examining entry-level proficiency in practice is the goal of NCCAOM tests; measuring excellence is not. The Examination Content Area Diagnostic Report is intended to help students who do not pass the exam pinpoint their areas of strength and weakness in their performance and to help them concentrate on their studies.
What to do if you fail?
The Examination Content Area Diagnostic Report in your official results letter contains scaled scores. The NCCAOM recommends that you to utilize these scores to determine which area or areas require remediation, beginning with the area with the lowest scaled score. But remember that there are just a few questions in each content area, so the total scaled score, which assesses exam performance overall, is more accurate than this information. Put differently, the degree to which performance may be attributed to a content area strength or weakness is restricted by the small number of questions in each content area.
It is recommended by the NCCAOM that you review the full Expanded topic Outline for your next exam, regardless of your topic area scaled results. You can download the Expanded Content Outline for free from the NCCAOM website’s Examination Preparation section. Since they are not subject matter experts, the NCCAOM Testing team is unable to offer advice on how to prepare for the test.
Consult the director of your program at school, a member of the faculty, a mentor, or look into trustworthy resources that can help you prepare for the test. The Expanded Content Outlines and a bibliography of study references are included in the NCCAOM® Candidate Preparation Guides, which are helpful tools that may be downloaded for free from the NCCAOM website under the Examination Preparation section.
You failed the exam. How do diplomat hopefuls request verification of exam results and overall scaled score?
Within 30 days of learning that you failed the exam, you have the option to request that it be rescored. The NCCAOM Testing team only manually verifies the computerized scoring as part of the score verification process to make sure your answers were appropriately recorded. A review of the test material or a second look at the right response to any question is not included in score verification. Please fill out the NCCAOM® Score Verification Request form and send an email to info@thenccaom.org if you would like to submit a score verification request.
On your NCCAOM online site, an invoice will be generated for which you can make payment. Each exam has a charge of $100 for score verification. Exam content and specific items will not be discussed or taken into account for verifying scores.
Note that requests for score verification are discouraged by the NCCAOM. We implement rigorous quality control protocols to guarantee the accuracy of exam results prior to their dissemination to applicants. Two reputable testing businesses independently score each exam to guarantee that every question is correctly scored and that the final score is accurate. Furthermore, both testing organizations have several safeguards in place to identify test data irregularities that need further examination. No inaccuracies have ever been found via a score verification request because the NCCAOM’s examination scoring methods are so comprehensive.
Why the exam may be labelled as “failed” when the exam when the average of the content area scaled scores was 70 (or higher).
The content area scaled scores listed on your Examination Content Area Diagnostic Report cannot be used to determine your overall scaled score. The average of your subject area scores does not equal your overall scaled score because the content sections have different amounts of questions. Your performance during the entire exam determines your final scaled score.
How to Bounce Back After Failing the NCCAOM Exam?
Failing the NCCAOM exam can be disheartening, and you may feel that you have delayed the start of your professional career as an acupuncturist. But, it’s important to remember that one failed exam does not define your abilities or future success. Here’s what you can do to bounce back after failing the NCCAOM, and pass on your second attempt:
Revisit the “10 Tips to Help You Pass the NCCAOM Exam” above!
Allow yourself to feel disappointed, but try not to dwell on the failure. Take some time to reflect on what went wrong and why you didn’t perform as well as you had hoped. Then, get back in gear and revisit the 10 Tips above to help you pass your NCCAOM on the second go!
Analyze Your Mistakes.
Identify the specific areas where you struggled on the exam. Did you misunderstand certain concepts? Did you run out of time? Understanding your mistakes will help you address them effectively in the future.
Remember, failure is a natural part of the learning process. What matters most is how you respond to failure and what you do to bounce back stronger. With determination, resilience, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes, you can overcome failure and achieve your academic goals.
Develop a Plan for Improvement.
Based on your analysis and feedback, create a plan to address the areas where you need improvement. Adjust your study strategies, seek additional help or resources, and make it your goal to pass the NCCAOM on your second attempt.
Stay Positive, Motivated, and Consistent.
It’s natural to feel discouraged after failing the NCCAOM exam, but try to maintain a positive mindset. Use the experience as motivation to develop a better understanding of the material contained on the exam. Consistency is key to success. Stick to your study plan, stay organized, and dedicate yourself to improving your understanding of the material.
Take NCCAOM Practice Tests.
NCCAOM practice tests will help you to hone your test-taking skills, simulate the test taking experience, and show you the areas in which you are lacking knowledge. Learn more about all of the NCCAOM practice tests that are offered on AOMTestPrep.com!