Having Trouble Passing NREMT-B - Suggestions?

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Cincy53

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Took NREMT-B on Wednesday the 19th

I went into the test feeling pretty good about the class I passed and everything else. I didn't freak myself out on studying so hard that I got aggrivated. Well, I noticed I had a lot of questions pertaining to patient scenarios with my answers being what would I do next in terms of using a BVM or 15 LPM via NRB. I got booted at number 123 I beleive. I didn't feel too good about the test.

So I get to work this morning and check the website, and there it is. FAILED. So Now I'm wondering, did I not study enough? I'm a pretty good test taker and I used the KAPLAN book a lot, but I noticed that the book was very very easy. I've been searching the forums for other study materials besides the tons of notes I have. I hear the BRADY books are good to use. But all in all I have been bummed the whole day b/c I was hoping to knock this one out of the park on the first try. Any advice? Thanks!
 
Was it that you weren't sure of the steps to take for the given scenario?

Or were there certain facts about the scenarios that you didn't know about (haven't heard of before) or didn't know how to handle?
 
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Yes, read the other several hundred posts that discuss this same question. Seriously, there is a wealth of information posted here and multiple EMS Forums that have some good points.

What it appears to me more & more is EMT instructors are using too easy test questions and not preparing students for the examination.

Good luck,
R/r 911
 
seriously,

in my class, we weren't allowed the state sheets for practical, or banks of test questions until the class was finished, and we were signed off to take the test.
their philosophy was to test us on the concepts and critical thinking. if we passed their way, the exam would not be a problem. and it wasn't. all in our class passed, and we had the highest avg score in the state.

the other half of our agency took a different class, different instructors. they learned by rote the steps for the practical, and they studied banks of questions to memorize them for the exam. well guess what, different questions on the exam, and that class had more than a few failures..

that class has been pulled by the county. bud Rid is absolutely correct, many basic classes are geared towards rote to pass exams, not on comprehension of the concepts.

if you understand what your are studying, it becomes much less likely you will be "tripped up" by unfamiliar questions... you either know the material or you don't. if you don't, then don't complain because the questions were different from the ones you studied.

geez, how many of these same threads do we have to see? People, LEARN the material!!!!!
 
it's not that the information was "unfamiliar." I probably just read the questions either too fast or not carefully enough. I remembered some of the questions and took a look around the forums for the right answers b/c those same questions were posted. Turned out, I wasn't picking the question apart correctly. I didn't think the test was way too difficult. It's just that with the adapative nature of the test itself, some of the questions are tricky and can throw you off. That's just how the test is designed in my opinion. There were at least two right answers in most of my questions, which sucks.

What I'm looking forward to now is the letter I'll be receiving which will highlight my strengths and weaknesses. Maybe then I'll have a better idea of what threw me off. I have two fresh weeks to gear up and go. Thanks for the input everyone.
 
Cincy53 said:
What I'm looking forward to now is the letter I'll be receiving which will highlight my strengths and weaknesses. Maybe then I'll have a better idea of what threw me off. I have two fresh weeks to gear up and go. Thanks for the input everyone.
Click to expand...

I am not familiar with "the letter". I have been informed they no longer break it down into categories or sections. Rather it is only a number grade, which I believe is wrong.

Good luck!
R/r 911
 
There are usually at least two 'right' answers on EMT tests, the challenge is finding the right 'right' answer.:wacko:

Don't give up, give it another try. I checked out all of the study guides I could find from the library. I think Kaplan is the worst yet. The book I thought was most like the exam is "Exam Prep: EMT Basic" by Ben A. Hurst. It is a good book, has three good practice tests (more challenging than the real test).

My advice is to find as many books as you can on the NREMT test and study them. Study your text well, look over any practice exams you can find. Review all sections of your text book that are confusing.

Good luck on your retest!
 
The way I passed the NREMTB was, I downloaded the DOTNSC and read the thing front to back. on top of reading the Brady book like 4 times. It might help you.
 
Thanks for all the advice everyone. The "letter" I'm talking about is one the website says they'll send you and the message they gave me said you'll get a letter which highlights your areas of strength and weakness.

A buddy of mine in another class said when he failed the letter shows six categories and it shows you if you were above, at, or below the "passing" percentage of that portion of the test. So I'm really interested in what it'll say aobut my performance.

Are the Brady books better studying material than Kaplan?
 
Take your study guides and throw them in the trash!!!

I did 4 or 5 of them, they were useless. I think going back to the basics.. 1st quarter stuff is the most important way to study. Get your book out, reread the a,b,c chapters. I just tested at the I-85 level, most of my scenarios were managed using things we learned in those chapters!!
 
What study guides are you talking about throwing in the trash Erin?

On line study guides?

Workbooks that come with the classroom books?

On line pre-tests?
 
I mis-read... I thought the op was studying those "National Registry" prep books you can buy at bookstores. I bought them all.. and did them all. They did hardly anything to prepare me!!! The only thing they helped with was maybe a little bit of help picking the best of 2 or more right answers...

I didnt do any studying from online sites. I DID do the workbook that came with the textbook (we used the AAOS book) for the basic part of the class and I feel that was some help, not a ton...
 
Alright...well it's been a little over a month since my first attempt and I took another stab at it yesterday 4/29/08.

My results this morning indicated I have failed yet again. This time around I got booted off around #74.

I put in much more time and effort to study and trying to refresh and everything and still come up short. What really gets me is the classmates of mine that put in virtually no effort, barely passed the class, and pass this thing on the first try. I know of one particular kid who didn't study for three months, and walked into the test hungover and passed it.

I hate to whine, but that's not fair. I'm just really bummed guys. I looked all over for help books (not really much help.) I went over the sections that I was weak in that NREMT outlined and thought I had it pretty solid. Somewhere I'm just comin up short.:angry:
 
Sorry to hear about that. DON'T GIVE UP!!!! If you know EMTs in your area, ask them for help. I personally had a pair that drilled me day in and day out and I did just fine. Not all of us are good at test taking....I am HORRIBLE at taking tests....part of it is mental, try to relax....yes its a stressful test, but then so are many pts. If you know the academics really well it may be mental....work on remaining calm.....hell if you can find a class that can assist you in test taking try that. I hope this helps, again best of luck and don't give up hope!
 
I'm not sure why I didn't pass it this time through. I think what happened is that I messed up early on the easier questions so that dropped me below the passing standard and it was an uphill battle from there. Anyway, I'm interning right now at a fire department so on my next shift I'll see if I can get the medics to drill me. I won't really know until the next letter arrives from the NREMT, highlighting what I did wrong this time around.

Thanks for the replies everyone.
 
I think looking back that one of my biggest areas of weakness is reading the question incorrectly....i'm waiting on some exam preps from amazon to help me further and also going over my notes and chapters from my required text books. i remember there being a file you could purchase and download from nremt.org but I can't find it. any help anyone on where i can find this?
 
NREMT cbt tomorrow...

Well here I go, tomorrows the test.. Took 6 practice exams today using EMT achieve and the green NREMT study guide..

I just need to slow down, read the question fully, read all 4 answers and eliminate the bad ones right away.

I will update here with how many questions were asked and if I passed or failed as soon as I get the results..
 
when in doubt, high flow o2 and transport....
 
you will soon find that the study guides do jack squat to prepare you.
 
Hopefully all the time I spent with the text will help then.

I guess I need to just rely on what a paramedic told me..

If its not breathing blow in it
If its bleeding put it out
And if its on fire put it out
 
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