RHS, ICE, GC< DANB, Dental assisting bordsStudent K (nickname) was a top student in her program. Nobody had ever imagined that she would fail the dental assisting boards.

 

Some students “FAIL” at the Dental Assisting Boards (RHS®, ICE®, GC, AMP® exams, etc.). Student P (nickname) failed the written boards twice. P was an excellent clinician and was loved by all her faculties. Student K (nickname) was a top student in her program. Nobody had ever imagined that she would fail the dental assisting written boards.

 

Those are true stories. Today, I would like to share some of the mistakes I have repeatedly seen with those who failed. Don’t worry, I am not trying to put those students down, as they all kindly let me share their struggles. Let’s try to achieve the opposite; to learn from others’ mistakes.

 

I am going to skip the obvious, not studying enough. Let’s dive into some other reasons students failed at the Dental Assisting Boards.

 

#1. Letting anxiety take over

 

Whenever I get on a Skype call with students who had past failures, the #1 concern I hear is “I am nervous, I am scared.” However much you have studied, there will always be doubts in your mind – “Should I postpone the exam?,” “Am I going to fail?,” or “this is the 10th question I did not know the answer to.” Stress and anxiety are part of our normal human defense system, they alert us to danger. Being attacked by a bear is an immediate danger, but having a small hole in the brain during the dental assisting exam is not.

 

“But don’t let a small bump on the road ruin the rest of the exam. Regain control.”

 

There will be times you will be afraid and anxious. This can happen while you are studying for the examinations (RHS®, ICE®, GC, AMP® exams), while you are at school, the day before the exam, or during the exam. Anxiety has a snowball effect. It grows and grows with imagination to the point you want to give up and cry.

 

Solution: create a mantra that will take you out of the negative loop. Use a WHEN… THEN phrase.

 

Here is an example: “When…… (I start feeling like I don’t know anything), then….. (I will think about the day my boyfriend proposed).”

 

The idea is to master your emotion and mind. The RHS® exam and ICE® exam are very difficult exams! But don’t let a small bump on the road ruin the rest of your day. Regain control, fast.

 

#2. Reading too fast

 

We all have the natural tendency to rush through the exam, being concerned about not finishing on time. As a result, our eyes skip critical words. Rushing through questions in the exam is like building a car while skipping through some lines of instructions. You can probably imagine the consequence of such problem.

 

“Rushing through questions in the exam is like building a car while skipping through some lines of instructions.”

 

Solution: Slow down. Read every word of the sentences. Taking 3 more seconds per question is way more beneficial than finishing early.

 

The idea is to have precision. Do not sacrifice the details, the clues can be anywhere.

 

 

#3. Studying and practicing with printed material

Student K (nickname) was one of the top students in her class but failed the written exam. Then I discovered that she only studied with printed material – books, notes, FREE trial printed from SmarterDA, seniors’ notes, etc. She said she learns better if she can mark things with her pen and have the material in front of her. This applies to most of us; we like physical copies. I do too, even though I am the founder of 2 dental related prep courses that are 100% online (SmarterDA.com and StudentRDH.com).

 

“The idea is to create a replica of the environment you will be tested from.”

 

The dental assisting boards (RHS®, ICE®, GC, AMP® exams) are administered ONLY as electronic versions. It is scientifically proven that computer screens are more tiring on the eyes compared to papers. This, in turn, brings fatigue, and your performance can dramatically decline. Ask anyone who took the dental assisting boards, they will testify that the computer format was very “stressful” on the eyes and brain.

 

If you don’t prepare for the computer exam, you are significantly lowering your chances to perform well. Is playing tennis in a real court with a friend the same as playing an online match? I will let you imagine the answer.

 

Solution: Study from an ONLINE review course. Practice questions through a computer or phone screen. Give your eyes and brain the proper training.

 

The idea is to create a replica of the environment you will be tested from. The harder you try, the more likely you will pass the boards.

 

This is why SmarterDA is 100% ONLINE. This method had proven to enhance student’s confidence and performance level.

 

If you want to test yourself through this ONLINE format, start with the FREE trial.

 

If you have other dental assisting boards review materials, practice with the online version.

 

I hope that this article helped you understand why students failed the exams. Special thanks to students who allowed me to share their experiences. We all strive for the same “PASS” results. I wish you the best in everything you do. Let’s achieve #SUCCESSandNOTHINGless. High five for reading this article!

 

 

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Author: Claire RDH, MS

Claire is the founder of StudentRDH and SmarterDA – exams prep solutions for the dental hygiene and dental assisting students. The online solutions deliver content of the highest quality through the latest e-learning technology. According to some students, studying is now “addictive!” Prior to her career in the dental field, Claire Jeong was an education specialist at Boston Children’s Museum. Claire is licensed to practice in the United States as well as Canada. She provides personalized mentorship and can be reached at clairej@SmarterDA.com.

Disclaimer: Dental Assisting National Boards®, RHS® and ICE® are registered trademarks of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (“DANB”). This course is not sponsored or endorsed by or affiliated with DANB.