Massage Exam Academy

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Studying for the MBLEx with Pomodoros

Pomodoro-MBLEx
It is hard to believe that Massage Exam Academy has been around almost ten years helping massage students and massage therapists study for the MBLEx, NYS, and Hawaii massage exams.

In that time, I have learned exam preparation does not come naturally to many future massage therapists. If you are feeling lost and lack knowing where to begin, or constantly asking yourself if you should start with Anatomy, Kinesiology, or Pathology- you are not alone. You may also feel you do not have time to study because of school, work, or family commitments. I know this uncertainty and pressure leads to feeling overwhelmed and usually procrastination.

This year I put out my MBLEx “Plan to Pass” as part of the Massage Exam Academy membership to help those struggling with the above problems. Each member is able to develop a plan so they know exactly where to begin, or if they truly struggle with a certain subject, and how to study when they are short on study time.

Today, I am going to talk about one particular study, or productivity, technique that works for lots of students and can be used as part of your plan to pass. It is called the Pomodoro Technique.

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Taking the MBLEx When English is Not Your Native Language

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The goal here at Massage Exam Academy is to help anyone who dreams of being a massage therapist make that dream a reality. When English is your second language, it makes the MBLEx exam even more difficult to pass, which puts your dream in jeopardy. If you are not a native English or Spanish speaker, the only two languages the MBLEx is administered in, your preparation for the MBLEx will most likely involve some work in English comprehension in addition to using the Massage Exam Academy’s MBLEx program.

We know the pass rate for the MBLEx is 66%. The good news is that many Massage Exam Academy members speak other languages and go on to pass their exams. We have found that those who use the program and work on their English language skills obtain the best results.

I want to thank Kathleen, or Kat, for helping me with this post. Kat is a question writer here at Massage Exam Academy. She is a non-native English speaker and has taken (and passed!) the NPTE (physical therapy licensing exam). I cannot think of anyone better to offer you guidance as you prepare for the MBLEx.

Read on for Kat’s words of wisdom and input on passing the MBLEx.
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How Many Times Can I Take The MBLEx?

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If you’re taking the MBLEx for the first, second, or even fifth time, you may be worried about a limit to the number of times you can take the exam. It’s possible that an instructor or colleague told you that you would need to go back to school if you failed it more than once, and there is already fear revolving around this exam that the extra pressure of a limited number of attempts can add to those anxious feelings.

So, I’m writing to you now to hopefully be able to put those fears to rest and help you get prepared for your next MBLEx attempt and get your massage career on the right track!

So, is there a limit to the number of times you can take the test?

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7 Free Tips to Help You Pass the MBLEx

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Graduating from massage school is a tremendous accomplishment. You have proven your competency in the classroom and in a clinical setting. You are on the verge of beginning a new, exciting career.

There is just one final hurdle to overcome before officially becoming a licensed or certified massage therapist; the MBLEx.

I have talked to instructors and students all over the country preparing for the MBLEx. Test-takers just like you.

  • There are people who have used every website, app, and study guide without success.
  • Fresh students right out of massage school.
  • Therapists taking the exam after practicing massage for twenty-plus years.
  • Massage students with terrific hands-on skills, but the thought of an exam leaves them exhausted from anxiety.

Wherever you are in your MBLEx preparation, these are seven tips I have compiled from years of helping hundreds of members on Massage Exam Academy.
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CAT and the MBLEx: What is Computer Adaptive Testing?

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As you prepare for the MBLEx, you may have seen the acronym “CAT” or heard an instructor talk a little about it. After talking to hundreds of MBLEx takers, both those that passed and failed, I know being familiar with CAT can make the difference in seeing the “passing” or “must retest” result on your MBLEx score report.

Without getting too crazy and throwing around terms like psychometrics, calibrated pool questions, and termination criterion, let’s learn a little more about the basics of CAT and what it means to your MBLEx preparation.

What is CAT?

CAT, or computer adaptive testing, is a computer-based test that adapts to the examinee’s (that’s you!) ability level during the exam. This type of exam gauges the examinees’ competence levels as test questions are tailored to each examinee’s knowledge levels during the exam.

To do this, each question in the CAT question bank has a predetermined difficulty level.
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