Have confidence in yourself. You have taken the correct courses of study and done well. So think of it this way: You are being tested on knowledge you already have in your head.

Team up. If there are reviews in your school or with individuals, please avail yourself of these opportunities, as they are extremely helpful. For a list of online resources that can help connect you with study partners or study help, see “Point, click, study” (left). All of these will be invaluable in your preparation.

Schedule study time. Set up a calendar for yourself, allotting time each day to study a specific National Board topic. Even if it’s just a half hour, study every day.

Take one subject at a time. Take as many sample questions as possible and learn from your mistakes. Once you have become comfortable with a subject, put it aside and move on to another topic. Try to study subjects that lead into one another. For example: Anatomy into pharmacology into pathology into radiology into... This will help you with the case studies during the exam.

Recognize weak points. Keep track of things that you consistently get incorrect and try to find a way to remember the correct facts. Concentrate on these items more carefully than on information you already know.

You can’t learn everything. And you certainly can’t remember everything, but you can be familiar enough with the information that you will be able to make an educated decision and use critical thinking.

Don’t overdo it. Studying too long at any given time can be counterproductive. Generally, 50 minutes on and 15 minutes off is a good rule of thumb.

You’re not a machine. Leading up to the boards, remember to make time to relax and do something special for yourself—a manicure or haircut, a movie or dinner out, even a walk in the park.

testing tips

Be aware of outside influences. Some of the hurdles you encounter while testing might include extraneous noises (bring earplugs) or radiographs of poor quality (bring a magnifying glass).

Two right answers. Sometimes there really are two answers that seem right. Don’t answer these right away. Instead, circle the number of the question in the test booklet and then go back to it later and use your critical thinking to come to the right answer.

Time is running out. Do not panic if you think that you are taking too long to take the test—that is why it is a timed test. Some people will not need as much time as others, and that is OK. The important thing is to not change your answers and to answer every question, even when you have to guess.

Don’t erase. Once you answer on the scantron sheet, leave the answer as is. When we change our answers it is then, usually, that we get it wrong.

Try to cover as many case studies as possible. Especially those that incorporate a variety of special-needs situations. Esther Wilkins’ The Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist is a wonderful resource for these cases, as is Margaret Fehrenbach’s Web site, dhed.net. Teach yourself how to take that type of test, and know which part of the study you have to go to for your answer.

It’s not the end of the world. Remember, this is an exam that, if necessary, can be retaken over and over again. However, if you prepare properly, there should be no need for that.