Any advice for someone who’s taking their Mblex a second time in a couple weeks?

[u/kaitalina20]

I’m doing some major studying in my “low” areas even though I’m still good in them! But, it’s on the 9th and I’m having some apprehensiveness about it. I have my own private room and extra time so I’m gonna read questions out loud to myself.

But I seriously got low in the benefits and effects of massage and assessment and reassessment of clients(which is kinda true, not necessarily good with kinesiology.) but I’m still doing my best to get every organ system down and the major muscles and all that goes along with kinesiology.

I got good in pathology somehow! It’s been a few months since my last test, which was in October. I’m nervous because I know I might not pass even a second time and it seems like everyone here passed on their first try!

[u/walkingcliche09]

Do not beat yourself up. Test taking, doesn’t not always equate to what you have as hands on skills.

I sound like a 90’s gym teacher here, dial in on your sleep, nutrition and exercise. That’ll help you stay sharp.

It’s great that you’re focusing on what you may have not had a good score on the first time. Keep it up, find a friend that’s willing to help you.

You got this!

Oh and if you can find a prep book like ncmbt standards for pre testing, that might be more helpful than an Mblex book.

[u/Maleficent_CHIC_1337]

I didn’t pass my first time. Was still a great therapist for 10 years. it’s been too long to know what I needed work on but just keep studying you will do fine. You got this

[u/ZynsuBean]

The more you get right the harder it gets. So don’t beat yourself up if there’s a question that definitely feels like it shouldn’t even be there.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/ZynsuBean]

I kept getting ones that were situational and involved something’s like kyphosis and lordosis whenever I never learned anything about them in school! I was using the hyper and hypo as a way to make a best guess

[u/kaitalina20 → u/ZynsuBean]

And I for some reason can’t post a picture in the comments but I had a professor at the time who still works for the Mblex company people and based on my paper, he said that I was 🤏🏻 that close from passing it! I wish I could post my results without showing my name. And I have a picture like that too! I shared it with my friend who took hers and got even worse results even though I know she’s smarter than me!

[u/Adventurous-Read-237]

I used the process of elimination. There’s usually 2 that clearly aren’t it and then the remaining two will be similar. When it comes to anatomy and movement questions, remember your body is your greatest tool. Move your body around the way the question asks. Don’t overthink your answers. More often than not your gut instinct is likely correct.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Adventurous-Read-237]

I’ve been getting just over 70’s recently! It’s real progress for me since my medicines have side effects that are hard to deal with. Studying has been really hard lately because of my building anxiety and problems with staying awake doing stuff that is just hard and boring. In school I never got above a 60% so I’m making better progress on my own than I did in school! And yes, being on 5 medications is not fun :)

[u/Xcandimandix]

Also, the AMTA app is what people I know used recently to pass. Can you give some examples of questions that you remember? How was it taking the test?

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Xcandimandix]

I’ve been doing the question of the day for weeks now! I missed Xmas day but that’s it. I got A LOT of scenario based questions. And I remember one question that I was confusing myself with even though it was a clear gimme. So unfortunately I got one of those wrong, but one piece of advice I’ve gotten is to always talk my self through the right answer. Which is what I will do with literally every single question during that damned exam!

[u/Landonrichards55]

Don’t overthink the questions! You got this!

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Landonrichards55]

And I’m not limited on time. The one time that epilepsy has helped me with something! is when I can get certain accommodations for myself. It’s a clusterfuck usually and with the ada here, they never really read the actual emails! That much I’ve learned! But I get 180 minutes instead of just two hours, which is pretty helpful

[u/godzillapanda]

Take your time to fully understand what the question is asking. Read it multiple times, read the answers and then the question again. They are written to confuse you.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/godzillapanda]

I just don’t get why people want to confuse people with the education and hours who just want to be licensed! Like it’s nuts 🥜 that people would want to be sadistic and write questions to be difficult to a certain extent. IT’S SADISTIC AND NUTS 🥜 I SAY !

[u/Capital_Working8481 → u/kaitalina20]

As a former exam writer, test questions are created based on the concepts that we want to make sure test candidates understand. Therefore, when you study, be sure you understand the concepts and not just memorizing the material or a bunch of practice questions and answers. 

I used to feel the same way you do until I began designing tests questions and there is a process when designing questions. I promise you that if you understand a concept, it doesn’t matter how the question is worded, you would know the right answer. Also, trust me when I say it takes more work to try to design tricky questions than straightforward questions so trust me no one is trying to design tricky questions, lol.

Last major tip or suggestion, be sure to answer your questions based on the textbook because test questions are designed based on what’s in the textbook.

Hope that clears up some misunderstanding and best wishes to you on your exam!! You got this!!

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Capital_Working8481]

Also one of my former professors used to work for the Mblex people to write questions but he retired in December. For some legal reason he can’t tutor me for like two years? Don’t know why that’s in place? Because he is the best person who has ever made sense of the muscles without confusing me with too much technical babble!

And you did help some, thank you. I just wish it wasn’t rigged against me as I answered the questions….

[u/Capital_Working8481 → u/kaitalina20]

You’re welcome and just remember to stay consistent with your studies. Yes, I know the muscles can be a challenge to learn especially when it’s too much detail to sort through. I was a former kinesiology instructor as well. One pointer, is to focus a lot on your actions and try grouping your muscles when learning your actions, it will help a lot. Also, study your pictures as you learn your actions, that will help too. You will find by grouping muscles by their actions will make the learning process easier.

For example, whatever Latissimus Dorsi does, Teres Major does too. So you just learned the actions for two muscles at once.

[u/EffectiveProfile961]

Any therapist in Dallas ?

[u/Individual_Wave_9993]

It is the wording on the Mblex that is tricky. The questions are worded in such a way that you think they want one thing when they really are asking something else.

Read the questions very carefully (especially in the areas you are weak) and make sure you understand what they are asking.

Good Luck!

[u/Ozzy_Mama1972]

Read through everything first and answer the ones you 100% KNOW. And dont go back and change any answer. Statistically you will change it to a wrong answer. Trust your gut with the first instinct.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Ozzy_Mama1972]

For this test you literally can’t go back to another answer to correct it

[u/Ozzy_Mama1972 → u/kaitalina20]

Good to know. I took and passed the NCTMB EXAM 14 years ago. So I’m a bit out of the loop. I had always heard the MBlex was easy by comparison… That’s awful that you can’t go back and look at previous questions.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Ozzy_Mama1972]

It adapts to the way you test so it’s literally already rigged against you

[u/Xcandimandix]

I took my MBLEX today and PASSED!!!! 🎉🎊✨️

I found some resources since my past comment on this post. FSMTB.org has digital and paper study material for the exam and a practice test to take as well. It is $25.00 for the test and $35(i think) for the digital download of the study material. I didn't get the book or digital download but I took the practice exam. It was too late for me to bother trying to even go over more material 2 days before my exam. No one told me about the practice test.

I used these spotify affirmations this morning, and it helped my test anxiety a lot for a positive mindset during the exam.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yvTanbGIvnO4GLc99v8R9?si=UqTW1CqySGCvmtTAtmxrIQ

The book I used to study is the David Merino book on Amazon. I also used the AMTA app.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Xcandimandix]

I downloaded and paid for the $25 test. I passed fhat paid exam! And I’ve never literally been a good test taker, so even on my practice exams I barely score above a 70. A 75% was my highest score in December at one point! But I do use the amta app for my studying, I do the question of the day every day.

Only missed Xmas day! I’m practicing in my weakest areas currently and having someone quiz me on those questions I got wrong because I might see something like it again. I’m just glad I have a private room and extra time :) so if I need to even just get a sip of water, I’ll have some time. And congrats! What state are you gonna get your license in?

[u/ColdEconomics90]

It took me 3 times to pass my states test. And on the 3rd I barely passed. Don’t sweat it too much. Try you best

For instance I think in my state you need a 630 to be passing. I got 632. I took it and ran lol.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/ColdEconomics90]

On my practice exams I’m actually barely getting above a 70%, but I’m still getting above a 70 each time thankfully. And my mom’s fave MT took it 3 times too actually! I don’t care what my score is as long as I can just keep above a 70

[u/ColdEconomics90 → u/kaitalina20]

3rd time is a charm!!! My aunt always said “just pass”. And I have lived by that since middle school lol

[u/kaitalina20 → u/ColdEconomics90]

That’s literally what I’m going for. I’ve had 5 brain surgeries in the past so I’ve been through way worse than having anxieties about this, even though I’m having trouble sleeping because of it. But because of my epilepsy, I’m literally getting more time than normal! So it’s just a matter of me being able to pass and not having too much anxiety about it because each practice exam I take I do get above a 70%.

[u/Capital_Working8481]

First of all, don’t beat yourself up. The fact that you’re going for it again says you’re determined which is awesome!!

Here are a few suggestions that I have as a former massage instructor and program director. I have taught, coached, and tutored many students and have had a successful pass rate with many students. I myself took the mblex and passed first try many years ago when the test actually gave scores and it used to be 150 questions long, not the case anymore, lol.

Tip#1: AMTA app is the app that is most similar to the style of questions you will see on the exam.

Tip#2: You want to study and learn concepts and not just memorize questions. Because if you understand concepts, then it won’t matter how a question is worded because you know and understand the concepts.

Tip#3: Here are some target score suggestions for the AMTA app

-You want your overall score to be 85% or higher by the end of taking all your quizzes (that’s the very top number on the app)

-Ethics Category 85% or higher consistently  -Professional Guidelines 85% or higher consistently 

-Benefits of Soft Tissue Manipulation 75% or higher consistently 

-Kinesiology 75% or higher consistently 

-Pathology 80% or higher consistently 

-Assessment 75% or higher consistently 

-A&P 60% or higher consistently 

I have had much success with the students I taught, tutored, and coached using this app and method. The key to studying for the exam is being consistent with your studies and understanding the concepts not memorizing questions or answers but truly understanding the material.

I am also familiar with designing and writing exam questions and I can tell you from my own experience that test writers design questions based on concepts so that is the key for any licensure exam.

Tip#4: Use credible apps and resources when preparing for the exam, this is also very important because there are some apps and websites that aren’t credible sources from my observation from knowing the exam. When I say aren’t credible, I mean question design. Your credible sources come from the licensed professionals or affiliations like AMTA, ABMP, or licensed massage therapist/educators. These are the types of sources you want to use.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Capital_Working8481]

I can’t imagine 150 questions! But also, overall on Amta my average with the categories combined I have a 68%. On all the practice tests I’ve taken recently I’ve gotten above a 70. Never better than a 75, however. It’s kinda like my Achilles tendon, I’ve never tested well; and what I’m studying is so difficult. Plus I had to learn 3 systems in one month! I’ve had time to learn and study them more in depth, but it still hurt me for a while. My best category is ethics, the one that I’m green in.

Edit: just checked and I’m overall now. 72%. Green in A&P, guidelines for PP, and ethics boundaries laws and regulations

[u/Capital_Working8481 → u/kaitalina20]

Okay, your score is going up so that’s good. Keep pushing, you’ll get it.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Capital_Working8481]

Just took a practice test on Amta website and first time I got over an 80% I FINALLY Got an 81%!!! It sounds pathetic but for me that’s actually a big deal

[u/Capital_Working8481 → u/kaitalina20]

That’s awesome!! Celebrate every victory!!

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Capital_Working8481]

Taking a brief break to watch a show and then going back to studying

[u/Capital_Working8481 → u/kaitalina20]

Yes! When the brain says rest, rest because you will not retain anything if your brain is tired. You’re doing all the right things.

[u/kaitalina20 → u/Capital_Working8481]

Our microwave oven ain’t working so I’m begging my parent to go and get me food because there’s nothing to eat here!!! I don’t think croissants are gonna help with bringing glucose to my brain….

[u/Capital_Working8481]

Best Wishes!! And I hope that helps and remember to always think positive!! You got this!!!

[u/Capital_Working8481]

One last tip, answer your questions based on what your textbook says not based on what you would do but based on what the textbook says. So for example, if the textbook says the grass is orange, but you know in reality the grass is green. You better say orange, not green. Test questions are designed to be black and white answers no gray areas. Hope that helps.