Achieving certification as a pediatric professional is often an uphill climb. The process is
grueling, tests one’s knowledge, and usually takes years of study to pass. Not everyone has
that luxury of time before becoming certified; some suddenly need to take the board exam
without prior preparation. If someone finds themselves in this jam, getting ready to take the
board exam can become grueling. Here we shall discuss different things to do before retaking
the boards.
1. Create a Practical Study Schedule
A study schedule is key to successfully retaking the board exam. If you have the time and
money to set up a strict schedule, decide what days of the week are best for each session; this
will help with organization. You may have heard people say to do your studying at night; this is
fine for some, but if you find yourself finding it hard to concentrate on studying at nighttime, use
your weekends as study days. Remember that you don’t have any weekends off when you are
in school, so take advantage of those few times you get free time and study hard whenever your
schedule permits. If you find it hard to do your studying on the weekends, you might want to get
a study during the week.
2. Study Techniques & Methods
You must use different study techniques to learn as much as possible and retain the information
learned. This means you will have to do different study methods; some are better than others.
When it comes to methods, you should know what is best for your type of learning. Some ways
can be tedious, so you should combine several to keep yourself interested.
Some people find learning easier when they have a smaller amount of material; this is an
example of chunking up the amount of material being studied. When assessing your failed
pediatric board exam score, you must look at your study methods and find out what they are
lacking and whether it’s within your ability to change them.
3. Reviewing Your Notes & Study Guides
After studying, you may still find that your notes are jumbled up or that you can’t easily find a
particular section. This can sometimes be remedied by using a study guide or flashcards;
however, this is not always an efficient way of studying, so be aware of the approach. You
should also look at how you study; you want to make sure that you will be more efficient. If you
know that you learn better in a structured environment, set up a minor schedule with your notes
and study guides so that everything is organized and easier to find (and retain) in your memory.
If working on the material using flash cards causes too much confusion, use other visual aids
such as graphs, tables, or drawings when studying.
4. Learn Different Strategies for Different Types of Questions
Some exam questions ask one specific type of question, while others ask a wide variety of
questions. You need to learn different strategies for each type of question so that you can be
able to answer the many types of questions asked by the board. Some will be similar to your old
way of studying, while others are more different. Once you have developed strategies for each
type of question, you will find it easier to answer that type of question through testing.
5. Commitment to the Retaking Process
The most important thing you can do is commit to the retaking process. Keeping your promise to
yourself and others will help you achieve your examination success goal. You need to remind
yourself that you are seeking to achieve your goal because it is essential to you. Even when
things do not go according to plan, don’t give up; find ways to help change the situation and
move forward with your projects. Establishing a time frame for achieving your goal will also help
you stay focused on getting the job done. If you have too much time between failed attempts,
you may lose focus on what is really important. You need to know what is most important and
where to devote your time; don’t lose sight of your goals.
The board exam is meant as a learning experience for everyone. If you can successfully pass
the exam, you can be assured that you are now an excellent pediatric professional. Whatever it
takes to help you pass the exam, use that method and ensure you do it. For pediatric
professionals to succeed in their careers, they must pass all certifications successfully. There
are many ways to prepare for the exam; learn them, and use what works best for you.