RHS, ICE, GC< DANB, Dental assisting bords

Is Trusting Your Gut On a Multiple Choice Test a Good Testing Strategy?

 

You’ve heard the advice that trusting your gut on a multiple choice test is the absolute best way to go. But is this a good strategy for the dental assisting board exams (CDA®, NELDA®, COA®, CPFDA®, CRFDA® exams)?

 

Picture this: You are sitting in the radiology final exam at your dental assisting program and you will graduate in one year. For questions #13, you are stuck between answers choice A and B. You select A, and then changed the answer to B. When the test comes back, “Whammo!” You’ve realized you’ve made a huge mistake. You should have been trusting your gut because answer choice A was actually right!

 

There are actually times when trusting your instincts is the appropriate strategy. Here are a couple of those instances:

 

1-You studied: And I don’t mean just cramming for the test. You put in the necessary study time, thoughtfully and purposefully learning the material so you know it inside and out.

2- You strategized: When you were reading through the test question, you utilized the process of elimination to leave only the two most correct choices.

 

Why trust your gut in those instances? Your unconscious mind is powerful. It is there all the time, whenever you see/hear/read/touch/smell something. For instance, you heard that new song on the radio. Even if you did not pay much attention, you may be able to “remember” part of the song. The same thing happens when you study. The information gets “stored” in your subconscious. So when you see the question, the information is pulled out without even you noticing that.

 

But there are instances that CANNOT trust your guts and change your answer:

 

1-You discovered new info: As you were taking the test, you ran across a question that related to the one you were stuck on, and it offers different information than the answer you selected. This extra clue can be very important and actually make you realize something you didn’t.

2-You were carelessIf you have extra time, go back through the all exam questions. If you see that you misread a word (e.g., you read the word hypertension incorrectly to hypotension) then yes you should change your answer.

 

Trusting Your Gut – Good or Bad?

 

When it comes down to it, it’s typically good testing behavior to adhere to the trusting your gut philosophy as long as you’ve been a great test-taker by preparing yourself well for the exam and employing good testing strategies.

 

With SmarterDA, you can see green checkmarks next to topics. If all the topics are marked with this green sign and the progress bar is at 100% (or almost at 100%), you know you studied hard. So in this case, YES, trust your guts!

 

SmarterDA has great STEP-by-STEP courses that give you everything you need. There are FREE trials in each course, 100% FREE. If you are interested in being successful, give it a shot.

 

Want FREE Mini-Reviews in your Inbox? Enter your email below! 

Feel free to ask me anything about the dental assisting board exams. I personally mentor SmarterDA users. The goal is #SUCCESSANDNOTHINGLESS. Be the best you can be!

 

Related article: 4 Practical Tips to Overcome Anxiety

 

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 and support@SmarterDA.com.

 

Disclaimer: Dental assisting board exams®, CDA®, NELDA®, COA®, CPFDA®, CRFDA® are registered service mark of the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc. (“DANB”). This article is not reviewed or endorsed by or affiliated with DANB.