We’ve all experienced it. The alarm goes off, and we moan, “Oh, no…It’s today.” We try to breathe and enjoy a cup of coffee…but meanwhile, we feel like our front door is going to open out onto the deck of the Titanic!
Test anxiety is a particularly ironic curse for students, even students of massage therapy, who specifically want to help others relax! While breathing, positive thinking, and coffee are certainly going to help us over our next massage exam, there is nothing that can compare to simply being prepared. Now, “being prepared” does not mean hitting the books the night before the exam! A student should approach the subject they study with a serious sense of responsibility. When there is an area of the subject that is beyond us, we should ask for help and do whatever is necessary to understand the difficult topic. We should try to stay on top of reading (and rereading) our notes and textbooks. There is nothing more helpful for test taking than actually knowing the material on the test. These things take time, but remember that this is an investment in the future! Now let’s look at some study tips and test-taking strategies for massage therapy students.
Study tips and tricks for massage exams
Reading massage text books is important, however, the pages upon pages of material required for a comprehensive exam can be overwhelming, but there are some effective study tips and tricks that can come in handy! Firstly, most comprehensive exams have their own “language,” and it is necessary to (1) learn the language of tests. So many students, after an exam, approach their teacher with the same complaint: “I would have gotten it right, but the wording threw me off!” This is where practice tests, such as the ones that can be found on MBLExGuide, are particularly important. We begin to recognize patterns in the wording of questions, and we can say, “what they’re really asking here is…” You cannot do too many practice tests! This will help you pass your exams and relieve test anxiety.
Next, we should be sure to learn the (2) key terminology and concepts. If we keep stumbling on the same problem in the sample tests, we should study that problem in particular. Keeping a list of key terms or difficult concepts can be helpful. Adding color to the list, highlighting the ones we always forget, grouping terms using color, or drawing the concepts visually, may bring the things we need to know to our attention more quickly. Try rewording definitions in a way that makes sense to you. Writing and re-writing the material that is confusing could be particularly helpful for someone who learns more visually, but for a person who learns well by listening, they could record classes, or record themselves talking through the “need to know” subjects. For those who are more tactile (and there are many of us in massage therapy!), finding physical study aids may be a great support in our study time. For example, one could befriend the classroom skeleton to master the language of the skeletal system!
Finally, it comes down to the test. (3) Approach the test with confidence! You’re ready for this! Take deep breaths, make sure you’ve eaten and are hydrated. Try to get enough sleep. When you sit down to take a test, set aside the bubble sheet and focus on the questions. I tend to read them through and write all over the test, if that is allowed. I circle key words, and cross out answers I know are not correct. When there is a difficult question, I do not let it bog me down! I draw a big arrow to the question and move on. Once I get through the whole test, I go back to those questions and try again. Take the time you need, and try to stay calm. Sometimes, we need to close our eyes and visualize the problem. The next part is often overlooked and can be our major downfall: filling in the bubbles. This is where we make the dumb mistakes. Go through the test again, quickly reading the question and your answer. Sometimes we can catch a wrong choice on the second (or third) readthrough! As you go, fill in the bubbles, and be careful not to skip or fill in the wrong one. Finally, double check your answer sheet with the answers you chose in the exam booklet. It’s just one more chance to save yourself from any ridiculous error! However, in this strategy, do not forget to keep an eye on the time. If time is almost up, never hand in an empty sheet! Carefully fill in what you have so far, and at the very least pick one. It might be right! These test-taking strategies may help you in massage school. However, since the massage licensing exam (MBLEx) is computerized, and you cannot go back to previous questions, that test will required a different strategy.
So, in summary: begin with the intent to conquer this exam! Keep reading and practicing until the practice tests become like second nature. Be confident! The world of massage needs people who are dedicated and passionate, ready to step out and bring everything they have to help others. Enjoy your coffee on the morning of the test. You can do this!
