Dana Do’s: Dealing with the Frustration of Failing the BCBA® Exam

Hi. Did you miss passing the exam by just a few points? I am so sorry about that. That really sucks. But I’m gonna offer you some unsolicited advice. I hope you don’t mind. Now, this first part that’s going to sound kind of hurtful. Apologies in advance. But, then, hopefully, the second part will be motivational. Okay, the hurtful part. Getting close, it means you missed passing by the lowest possible score, which is about a 76. It means you didn’t hit a C+. That’s not fluency. Maybe it’s because you made goofy mistakes. The next time you’ll be more careful and you’ll pass. But it could also mean that you got lucky to get so close. You made good guesses. And the bummer is, the score report it doesn’t give you that sort of feedback. You don’t get to find out why. So no matter what you scored, do not let your score impact your next steps. Don’t think of being close as only needing to brush up. Think of it as a fail. And now, the inspirational part. Study everything again. Ignoring that score report is going to increase your odds and get you that certificate once and for all. You got this.

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    PTB co-founder Dana Meller shares an easy way to break down the 7 dimensions of ABA by using the dimensions to define what it means to be a behavior analyst, which in turn, makes it much easier to discriminate between each dimension. BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section A-5: Describe and define the dimensions of applied behavior analysis (Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968).
  • Programming Common StimuliDana Do's: Programming Common Stimuli
    PTB co-founder Dana Meller talks about programming common stimuli and how this method can help students feel more prepared on exam day. Refer to Task List section G-21: Use procedures to promote stimulus and response generalization.
  • Importance of Experimental DesignDana Do's: Importance of Experimental Design Fluency
    PTB co-founder Dana Meller talks about the importance of being fluent in experimental designs, not just to pass the exam, but to be a good clinician as well. Ref Section D-3: Identify the defining features of single-subject experimental designs (e.g., individuals serve as their own controls, repeated measures, prediction, verification, replication).
  • How to Know When You're Ready to Sit for the BCBA® ExamDana Do's: How to Know When You're Ready to Sit for the BCBA® Exam
    PTB co-founder Dana Meller talks about measuring exam readiness. How do you know if you’re ready to sit?
  • Using Stimulus Salience to Increase Studying EffectivenessDana Do's: Using Stimulus Salience to Increase Studying Effectiveness
    PTB co-founder Dana Meller discusses the ways in which you can increase your studying effectiveness through stimulus salience. We know that ABA works, and Dana reminds students to utilize basic ABA principles to help themselves prepare for the BCBA® exam. Refer to Task List section B-10: Define and provide examples of stimulus control.
  • How to Make Time for Studying for the BCBA® ExamDana Do's: How to Make Time for Studying for the BCBA® Exam
    PTB co-founder Dana Meller shares helpful tips about incorporating studying into your already busy lives.
  • Dana Do's: The Secret to Test Questions
    PTB co-founder Dana Meller shares a surprisingly easy trick to interpret the call-to-action of a mock or actual test question on the BCBA® or BCaBA® exam.
  • You know what they say about making assumptions on the BCBA® exam.Dana Do's: The Problem With Making Assumptions on the BCBA® Exam
    PTB co-founder Dana Meller shares practical insight on the importance of approaching exam questions at face value.
  • For BCBA® exam candidates, time management is the name of the game right now. PTB has 5 additional ways to better organize a packed schedule.Perfect Timing: More Tips for Better Time Management
    There are (unfortunately) only 24 hours in a day– and that goes for everyone, including Beyoncé. For BCBA® exam candidates, time management is the name of the game right now.…
  • Eight guidelines for modeling.Dana Do's: 8 Guidelines for Using Modeling
    Get ready to model as PTB founder Dana Meller walks you through the eight specific guidelines for using modeling.
  • How to assess quality test prep materials.Three Hallmarks of High Quality Test Prep
    Preparing for the BCBA® exam is a marathon– and a dizzying one at that. There are an overwhelming number of options out there for study materials… So how do you…
  • What kind of learner are you? PTB co-founder Dana Meller spells out the differences between flashcards and SAFMEDS, so you can pick the best study tool based on how you learn.Dana Do's: SAFMEDS or Flashcards? How to Choose the Tool Most Effective for You
    What kind of learner are you? PTB co-founder Dana Meller spells out the differences between flashcards and SAFMEDS so you can pick the best study tool based on how you learn.
  • Power through your exam prep with foods that fuel.Fuel Your Focus: 5 Foods That Help You Study
    Preparing for the BCBA® exam takes focus, stamina, and a whole lot of brain power. You’ve got to learn the entire Task List– from top to bottom– plus, the ethics…
  • The PTB ABA Exam Study Manual: A Guide to the Other 'White Book'
    The PTB ABA Exam Study Manual has become a mainstay of BCBA® exam prep– and with good reason. Expertly written to break down the critical Task List information the BACB®…
  • Dana Do's: Tips for Exam Questions About Ethics
    There is a difference between ethical decision-making in practice, versus ethical decision-making on test question scenarios.
  • Get the Scoop: What You Need to Know About the BACB’s Transition to the 6th Edition
    You may have heard horror stories about the last BACB transition from the 4th to the 5th edition Task List. Not without good reason, too. The 5th edition brought changes to the supervision requirements, an increase to the number of test questions, and the introduction of the Ethics Code. Luckily, this time around won’t be such a shake up. Candidates caught on the cusp of this transition will be relieved to know that most of the updates are minor. Many find these transitions intimidating and overwhelming because they think they’ll have to learn an entire list of new information. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Think of it as more of a restructuring, rather than a total revamp.
  • Dana's Do's: Struggling with ABA Jargon? Watch This.
    The clinical jargon of ABA can be one of the most intimidating parts of BCBA® exam prep. However, as PTB co-founder Dana Meller explains, understanding the source material like textbooks and literature— no matter how dense they may be— is imperative for exam day success.
  • 5-Foods to boost your brainpower when studying for the BCBA® exam5 Foods to Boost Brainpower While Studying
    #1 Green tea You’d be hard pressed to find an ABA student who isn’t reaching for caffeine in one form or another. Try sipping on green tea the next time…
  • PTB co-founder offers a new approach to reframing your mindset when answering questions on the BCBA® exam that may help you beat the odds.Dana Do's: What Would Cooper Do?
    PTB co-founder offers a new approach to reframing your mindset when answering questions on the BCBA® exam that may help you beat the odds.
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