NBDE I: National Boards
dental exam, part 1
As I write this post from the local coffeeshop in Chapel Hill, NC, where I spent most of my time studying for this God forsaken exam, I reflect on how utterly miserable those 3 weeks of my life truly were. If anyone tells you that the exam was really no bid deal or that they barely stressed over it, they're either wayyy smarter than me, outright lying, or just didn't give 2 ducks about it. This was by far the hardest test of my life and I am so very glad that it's over and that I never ever have to endure that terrible test again. So, for all of you who have either taken it and want to relive those "glory days" or my fellow dental students who are looking forward to the miserable time ahead of you, here we go.
What the test actually is
This national test basically encompasses everything that you've learned (and sometimes haven't learned) since the very first day of dental school. The biochemistry, anatomy, dental anatomy, microbiology, and then some random subjects you've probably never heard of just for the heck of it. It's a pass/ fail test meaning that if you pass, you only see PASS when you log in to check your results, and if you fail then you see a breakdown of the subjects you were weak on so that you can better prepare for the next time you take it. There is no way that you can see how many questions you got right if you pass, no can you see which questions you missed because the questions are recycled through for a certain number of tests in a massive test bank. The test consists of 400 questions that throws the tested subjects in a random order. For instance, you'll have a question about the Krebs cycle, then one about the lateral movement of certain teeth, then something about how the cardiac output changes in a given circumstance, followed by 2 more questions about microbiology. It's truly a whiplash of a test that you have to just stay calm during because you can very easily get frazzled.
Here's a link for the official test site along with break downs of the subjects, the format of the test, and all the technicalities you might be concerned with (link here).
Here's a link for the official test site along with break downs of the subjects, the format of the test, and all the technicalities you might be concerned with (link here).
How i studied for the nbde 1
I used B&B Dental as my test prep! Click on the image for the link to their website!
Materials Used:
I used the B&B Dental as my sole material to study for this exam. They hosted a lunch and learn at UNC and I was immediately drawn towards the professionalism, organization, and their concise approach to handling boards. Traditionally, students use several types of products to study for this exam. Those typically include the Dental Decks, some notes that their professors gave them throughout the school year, and various NBDE apps.
I really loved the B&B system and ultimately chose their product for a few reasons:
1. They had everything you needed in one area. When you purchase the product, they give you immediate access to the online content and get your textbook shipment ready. Within about 5-7 days, you get a heavy paperback bound book in the mail (the thing literally weights about 7 pounds) and has EVERYTHING you need to know for the boards. The book is broken down into several topics that are highlighted on the exam. They really focus on the information that is most heavily weighted on the exam, and skimp on the material that is not so much. This was extremely helpful for me because there is just so much information to review for this exam and it was nice to have an organized way to approach it all. They also have their own flashcard app that you can download to any mobile device that was clutch when I was waiting on my bus or just had 10 minutes here and there to kill.
2. They have visual aids! I'm a very visual person, and they had topics covering almost all of the material that was written in the textbook. I also really appreciate that they were extremely honest and attentive to what appeared on the exam the most and catered the time that you focused on the content towards that.
3. They teach to the test. Sure, they mention that they really want you to learn this stuff to become a better dental provider (which obviously is important), but they truly teach to the test. What I mean by that is they have reviewed numerous previously released exam questions and are very upfront with students about which topics to focus their attention on, like Anatomy of the head and neck and Dental Anatomy, and which topics to look over but not stress (like anatomy of everything below the neck). And best of all, they were actually pretty accurate. I was pretty skeptical of believing that they truly had such a good grasp on this really big test, but I'm telling you, they really did know what they were talking about.
4. Their customer service was incredible. When I first ordered my set, I got an email within hours from their VP of Sales and Operations Kayla Lind, to thank me for my purchase. I had a couple of questions throughout my use of the product and she was always really fast to respond to any and all of my concerns. I really value that because I was super anxious when taking this test and it was just nice to know that someone was there looking after my experience.
5. The instructors were super upbeat and motivated you to become the best NBDE test taker. During the videos, the instructors did a wonderful job of making sure that you were engaged by asking real NBDE practice questions to review the material, drew diagrams to make sure that you understood the content, and tried to integrate as many of the topics as possible so that you were really learning the material rather than just memorizing it. I will never forget some of the stuff they taught because they would tell stories of their own personal lives to make you remember the information or bring up helpful mnemonics that were really easy to remember during the test.
6. Last, but not least, everything was laid out for you. When you get your big bad textbook, you also get a little booklet that has a 2, 4, and 6 week study plan included. This was incredibly helpful because it took out a lot of the guesswork when it came to determining what I needed to study for the day to be prepared on time. I did feel that they required more than the number of hours they said the studying would take per day, but I did think that I tended to go further in depth. Nonetheless, it was nice being able to just follow a predetermined plan rather than relying on my already stressed out self to come up with one.
I used the B&B Dental as my sole material to study for this exam. They hosted a lunch and learn at UNC and I was immediately drawn towards the professionalism, organization, and their concise approach to handling boards. Traditionally, students use several types of products to study for this exam. Those typically include the Dental Decks, some notes that their professors gave them throughout the school year, and various NBDE apps.
I really loved the B&B system and ultimately chose their product for a few reasons:
1. They had everything you needed in one area. When you purchase the product, they give you immediate access to the online content and get your textbook shipment ready. Within about 5-7 days, you get a heavy paperback bound book in the mail (the thing literally weights about 7 pounds) and has EVERYTHING you need to know for the boards. The book is broken down into several topics that are highlighted on the exam. They really focus on the information that is most heavily weighted on the exam, and skimp on the material that is not so much. This was extremely helpful for me because there is just so much information to review for this exam and it was nice to have an organized way to approach it all. They also have their own flashcard app that you can download to any mobile device that was clutch when I was waiting on my bus or just had 10 minutes here and there to kill.
2. They have visual aids! I'm a very visual person, and they had topics covering almost all of the material that was written in the textbook. I also really appreciate that they were extremely honest and attentive to what appeared on the exam the most and catered the time that you focused on the content towards that.
3. They teach to the test. Sure, they mention that they really want you to learn this stuff to become a better dental provider (which obviously is important), but they truly teach to the test. What I mean by that is they have reviewed numerous previously released exam questions and are very upfront with students about which topics to focus their attention on, like Anatomy of the head and neck and Dental Anatomy, and which topics to look over but not stress (like anatomy of everything below the neck). And best of all, they were actually pretty accurate. I was pretty skeptical of believing that they truly had such a good grasp on this really big test, but I'm telling you, they really did know what they were talking about.
4. Their customer service was incredible. When I first ordered my set, I got an email within hours from their VP of Sales and Operations Kayla Lind, to thank me for my purchase. I had a couple of questions throughout my use of the product and she was always really fast to respond to any and all of my concerns. I really value that because I was super anxious when taking this test and it was just nice to know that someone was there looking after my experience.
5. The instructors were super upbeat and motivated you to become the best NBDE test taker. During the videos, the instructors did a wonderful job of making sure that you were engaged by asking real NBDE practice questions to review the material, drew diagrams to make sure that you understood the content, and tried to integrate as many of the topics as possible so that you were really learning the material rather than just memorizing it. I will never forget some of the stuff they taught because they would tell stories of their own personal lives to make you remember the information or bring up helpful mnemonics that were really easy to remember during the test.
6. Last, but not least, everything was laid out for you. When you get your big bad textbook, you also get a little booklet that has a 2, 4, and 6 week study plan included. This was incredibly helpful because it took out a lot of the guesswork when it came to determining what I needed to study for the day to be prepared on time. I did feel that they required more than the number of hours they said the studying would take per day, but I did think that I tended to go further in depth. Nonetheless, it was nice being able to just follow a predetermined plan rather than relying on my already stressed out self to come up with one.
also, i did a thing for y'all...
So, you know that I really appreciate y'all following my blog and encouraging me (seriously though, your kind words keep me going and motivate me to keep this blog current). SOOOO, I did a thing for y'all.
I reached out to the good people at B&B Dental (the study resource above), and got a promo code for you! When you check out, enter ATBT25 to receive $25 off of your order!
I reached out to the good people at B&B Dental (the study resource above), and got a promo code for you! When you check out, enter ATBT25 to receive $25 off of your order!
Helpful hints for before, during, and after the test
Before the test
When you're studying for this beast of a test, make sure that you take care of yourself. I was absolutely terrible about this and would get about 4 hours of sleep per night (if I was lucky) and would spend literally the entire day studying for 3 weeks straight. I learned the hard way about a week before the test that the human body just cannot take that amount of constant stress. About 3 days before the test I found myself having vision problems (literally the vision was going in and out and kinda bouncing from one eye to the other) because I was so tired and had strained my ocular muscles so badly. I wasn't really sleeping well, which in turn made studying and remembering information harder. I was always grumpy (ask my family or Dave) and didn't want anyone to tell me that I was undoubtedly going to pass. I constantly was doubting my intelligence and questioning if the study system I had paid for and was supposed to be devoted to was really going to work out.
I tell you all of this not to host a pity party, but rather with the hopes that you won't repeat the same mistakes that I made. Sure, it worked out in the long term, but I was super depressed and felt so lonely during those weeks. So, here are some of the suggestions that I would give to you so that you don't have to endure the same punishment I threw upon myself:
1. Make a schedule and stick to it. Map it out before you start studying and don't slack from it. Make it actually reasonable for yourself.
2. When planning your schedule, give yourself at least 3 days to review all of the information one more time. I found that during my last week of studying the Anatomy that I learned from days 1-5 were pretty dusty. I also only gave myself 2 days to review all of that information. By the end of your studying, you're going to be very tired, so giving yourself an extra day to review and relax would have been really wonderful.
3. Make sure that you check in on your friends who are taking the exam. It was so nice to get Good Luck tests or encouraging phone calls from classmates that were going through the same thing. I find that it's kinda nice knowing that you're not the only person doing through hell and that the same emotions you're feeling are probably not specific towards you.
4. Make time for yourself. Some people only spend 4 hours per day studying if the were taking the test in 3 weeks. I knew that that would stress me out because I'm super OCD when it comes to making sure that I have looked over and literally memorized all of my notes. But, I would say to give yourself 1 hour of not studying per day to kinda let your mind relax and rejuice. I made the mistake of not following this rule and really regretted it. I was more depressed that I should have been because I literally found no joy in life during those weeks and felt like a prisoner to my textbook. Please, for the sake of your own sanity, do not go without this one.
I tell you all of this not to host a pity party, but rather with the hopes that you won't repeat the same mistakes that I made. Sure, it worked out in the long term, but I was super depressed and felt so lonely during those weeks. So, here are some of the suggestions that I would give to you so that you don't have to endure the same punishment I threw upon myself:
1. Make a schedule and stick to it. Map it out before you start studying and don't slack from it. Make it actually reasonable for yourself.
2. When planning your schedule, give yourself at least 3 days to review all of the information one more time. I found that during my last week of studying the Anatomy that I learned from days 1-5 were pretty dusty. I also only gave myself 2 days to review all of that information. By the end of your studying, you're going to be very tired, so giving yourself an extra day to review and relax would have been really wonderful.
3. Make sure that you check in on your friends who are taking the exam. It was so nice to get Good Luck tests or encouraging phone calls from classmates that were going through the same thing. I find that it's kinda nice knowing that you're not the only person doing through hell and that the same emotions you're feeling are probably not specific towards you.
4. Make time for yourself. Some people only spend 4 hours per day studying if the were taking the test in 3 weeks. I knew that that would stress me out because I'm super OCD when it comes to making sure that I have looked over and literally memorized all of my notes. But, I would say to give yourself 1 hour of not studying per day to kinda let your mind relax and rejuice. I made the mistake of not following this rule and really regretted it. I was more depressed that I should have been because I literally found no joy in life during those weeks and felt like a prisoner to my textbook. Please, for the sake of your own sanity, do not go without this one.
during the test
I was super nervous taking this test. I absolutely dreaded sitting here for 8 hours answering 400 questions that would basically determine if I had to endure this horrid study period again, or if I could plan for a vacation during the next summer break. The night before the test I promised myself 7 hours of sleep (which I actually did) and woke up with my heart pounding from fear and anxiety. I reviewed some of my study guides as I was putting on my make up, grabbed my high protein snacks (yogurt and some meats) and walked out the door.
When I got to the testing center, I literally thought I was going to faint. My best friend was in the lobby smiling, but we were both super nervous. They do a very in-depth process of checking you in and confirming every personal detail, give you a key for your locker, and then basically TSA pat down you before you enter the quiet room. The place that I tested at was absolutely terrible. The woman who checked my in had the personality of a robot, there were interruptions during the test (a proctor literally yelled at a guy who had his hands in his pocket because they keep the temperature at an arctic temperature), and the keyboards are so loud that even the soundproof headphones couldn't block out the clicking (which they don't wipe down between users mind you).
But, rather than me whining about the terrible customer service, here are a couple of helpful tips about the test itself that luckily some of my friends told me prior to the big day:
1. You have 3.5 hours to finish 200 questions. This is important to realize because you really have to keep track of what your remaining time is. In other words, the test will not stop 1/2 way through that time, rather it stop after the first 100 questions and asks you if you want to take a break. So, try to pace yourself!
2. Taking the breaks will not hurt you at all, and will actually give you some time to regroup. I closed my eyes during the breaks and tried to breath a little and recall any information. Taking the breaks does not penalize you because the time stops, and not taking them doesn't add more time to your time remaining. So, I suggest taking them!
3. You can mark which questions you're unsure about to review and come back to right before you're going to submit the set of 100 questions. I HIGHLY recommend taking advantage of this feature because it saves you time and stress and allows you to zip through the questions you do know and ponder about those tricky ones later.
When I got to the testing center, I literally thought I was going to faint. My best friend was in the lobby smiling, but we were both super nervous. They do a very in-depth process of checking you in and confirming every personal detail, give you a key for your locker, and then basically TSA pat down you before you enter the quiet room. The place that I tested at was absolutely terrible. The woman who checked my in had the personality of a robot, there were interruptions during the test (a proctor literally yelled at a guy who had his hands in his pocket because they keep the temperature at an arctic temperature), and the keyboards are so loud that even the soundproof headphones couldn't block out the clicking (which they don't wipe down between users mind you).
But, rather than me whining about the terrible customer service, here are a couple of helpful tips about the test itself that luckily some of my friends told me prior to the big day:
1. You have 3.5 hours to finish 200 questions. This is important to realize because you really have to keep track of what your remaining time is. In other words, the test will not stop 1/2 way through that time, rather it stop after the first 100 questions and asks you if you want to take a break. So, try to pace yourself!
2. Taking the breaks will not hurt you at all, and will actually give you some time to regroup. I closed my eyes during the breaks and tried to breath a little and recall any information. Taking the breaks does not penalize you because the time stops, and not taking them doesn't add more time to your time remaining. So, I suggest taking them!
3. You can mark which questions you're unsure about to review and come back to right before you're going to submit the set of 100 questions. I HIGHLY recommend taking advantage of this feature because it saves you time and stress and allows you to zip through the questions you do know and ponder about those tricky ones later.
Breakdown of the 8.5 hour test. Click on the image to go to the official ADA site.
post-test
Being done with this thing is one of the best and worst feelings ever. I left the testing center positive that I had just wasted an entire day of my life and failed the thing. Unlike the DAT, the NBDE I doesn't have the results as soon as you submit the test. You have to wait 4-6 weeks, although my results were out in about 2 weeks. Good news: you're free for those weeks, and although the not-knowing can be painful, at least you can be blissfully ignorant for a while. There's absolutely no point in trying to calculate your score to determine your future because subjects are supposedly weighted differently, and some of the questions don't even count because they're just questions that are being tested. So, just try to enjoy yourself before you find out the results. Easier said that done, I know.
When I found out my results, though, I was outside checking the website on my phone with my best friend Priya standing right beside me. I was petrified. As the page was loading my heart was POUNDING uncontrollably. Finally the page loaded and PASS showed up in the results category. I started crying and hyperventilating and Priya thought that I had failed. I kid you not, this was one of the best moments so far of my life. I had conquered this thing, but I also didn't have to put myself through that hellish experience ever again.
When I found out my results, though, I was outside checking the website on my phone with my best friend Priya standing right beside me. I was petrified. As the page was loading my heart was POUNDING uncontrollably. Finally the page loaded and PASS showed up in the results category. I started crying and hyperventilating and Priya thought that I had failed. I kid you not, this was one of the best moments so far of my life. I had conquered this thing, but I also didn't have to put myself through that hellish experience ever again.
Basically how I felt when I checked my results!
Final Advice
My final pearls of wisdom to impart to you is to study hard, remind yourself every single day that you are smart and that your school would not have chosen you if they didn't think you could get past a silly little test like this, and to just conquer the damn thing. During the test if you start getting anxious, close your eyes for 10 seconds, take 3 deep breaths, whisper to yourself that you can and will do this, and begin again.
You are so smart and you absolutely are not going to let 400 questions get in the way of your success. You're too good for that.
If you have any questions about the NBDE I at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I'm more than happy to help in any way possible!
You are so smart and you absolutely are not going to let 400 questions get in the way of your success. You're too good for that.
If you have any questions about the NBDE I at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I'm more than happy to help in any way possible!