I have been studying for 4+ months with PsychPrep's Basic Package (practice tests + workshops + consultant) and am in need of some guidance given the data. I have mild issues with distractibility/careless mistakes for which I am prescribed a very low dose stimulant (5mg adderrall - has been very helpful for the neurobiological questions on stimulants
). However, I rarely take the medication (max 15x/year) because my job/life allows me to function fine without it. The distractibility shows up pretty prominently during test taking, so I wanted to take a PEPPP in-person, with medication, to get a sense of what the day-of will feel like for me. I passed that and felt such relief and achievement. I now feel quite dizzied by the dialogue between my own thoughts ("you've got this, you don't fail things, you've been a tremendous student your whole life") and my consultant's ambivalence in stating whether I am ready or not to take the EPPP after taking Test E.
The Data
Scores - study mode, retake, test mode (all unmedicated except for Test E).
- Test A: 40%, 88%*, 90%*, 93% *consultant asked me to retake Test A twice in retake mode
- Test B: 58%, 94%, 97%
- Test C: 60%, 93%
- Test D: 58%, 91%
Test E Test Mode: 62%, medicated
250 Retired Questions: 78%
PEPPP: Pass, 575 (NY 81) - 2 days ago, medicated
Consultant's response: "our feedback on scores shows that generally a score of 550/560+ on the PEPPP translates into a pass on the exam but this is not scientific...I have seen students with your scores go on to pass the EPPP. However, my recommendation would be that you need to prepare a bit more before taking the exam." She then gave me an ordered sequence of retaking the PsychPrep exams with no indication of new target scores and encouraged me to schedule an hour-long consultation for $200-300 to do an in-depth protocol analysis of my test-taking process. I don't want to do this.
Planned Next Steps
Next steps are based on a combination of inherent self confidence, intuition, and common sense given my study progression.
- Take a PEPPPO this week medicated. If I pass, I will schedule a test date for about 3 weeks from now.
- Assuming I pass the PEPPPO, retake the PsychPrep tests in the recommended order in the meantime.
- Take 1-2 days before the exam to do absolutely nothing except self-care.
- Day-of, take my medication and kick some ass, baby.
Any thoughts or suggestions? Also, is it just me or is there like, no availability to take the tests for months in advance? I am struggling to schedule it in my area. I feel really confused/uncertain and want to make sure I am not being naive by scheduling the exam if I am not ready or if there is a strong likelihood I could fail. I feel that failing the EPPP on my first try will feel like a major setback and would leave me even more confused. Thanks for any help!
Edit** I took the PEPPPO-2 on 12/10 one week after this original post and passed (medicated). I let my PsychPrep subscription expire to avoid paying another month.
I scheduled my exam for 12/20.