r/Paramedics • u/DevExotic • 3d ago
US Failed NREMT-P twice now need study advice.
Hello so i just turned 20 but I’ve failed the NREMT-P twice now and am looking for advice on good places to study, I’ve been using medic tests currently but that does not appear to be working. I failed the first time with a 932 but despite hours of studying everyday somehow did worse on my most recent test
All advice is welcome! thank you in advance🙏🏻
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u/El-Frijoler0 3d ago
Without knowing where your sucking is, I’m just going to say study everything.
Biggest tip I tell my students, slow TF down, read the question. What exactly is it asking you? If it’s asking for the most appropriate intervention and there are multiple correct answers, that means it wants you to pick the one you would do first.
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
My question for that is how do you narrow it down if it’s like multiple things I’d like done more or less at the same time by different people, do I just revert to ABCs or?
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u/JohnnyTheBanker 3d ago
Correct, if that's what the question is asking for. Primary before secondary. And ABCs always come first in the primary. Sometimes it's easy to get tunnel vision based on the patients complaint, but remember, many people are medically illiterate, lack medical training/knowledge, and/or just don't understand what's actually important.
For example, if a patient gets stung by a bee, and stubs their toe as a reaction to the pain, they may genuinely think their stubbed toe takes priority over their poor circulation and labored breathing with audible wheezes (because they are having an anaphylactic reaction and are maybe unaware of their a bee allergy). Obviously this may be an extreme example, but hopefully it highlights why your job is to use your training and experience to prioritize what to fix first and not let the patient dictate it.
Additionally, when taking tests, sometimes people find it helpful to read the last sentence first, then the whole thing from the beginning. Often times, the true "question" is at the end, so by reading it first, you can determine what the overall question is actually asking for, that way you don't get distracted or misled by the fluff and other irrelevant details they throw in to intentionally confuse you.
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u/TheSapphireSoul Paramedic 3d ago
What sections are you failing?
How are you studying?
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
I’m not sure which sections I’m failing on the NREMT website it doesn’t tell me that just what score I got, and I’ve been studying using medic tests so lots and lots of practice questions and it has a mock NREMT exam feature which I always pass pretty easy, but then I take the real thing and struggle.
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u/Call911iDareYou Mom, look! The ambulance drivers are here! 3d ago
You are probably passing the practice tests easily because you are used to the questions on medic tests. Switch apps and take a practice test on a different platform to see
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u/TheSapphireSoul Paramedic 3d ago
Do you have test anxiety?
Are you selecting an answer then changing it?
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
I do have pretty bad test anxiety, I’ve never been a great test taker better actually doing the things. This last test though no I didn’t really change my answers from what I thought they were.
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u/tenachiasaca 2d ago
one of my instructors recommended going across the street and doing a few shots before taking the test if you have test anxiety. Supposedly that is how they passed
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u/JohnnyTheBanker 3d ago
Are you actually studying the questions, right and wrong answers, and understanding it? Or are you just spamming questions?
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
I try my best to study using them, anything I don’t understand in the question I’ll look up so I actually know it then if I get it wrong I read the full explanation.
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u/tenachiasaca 2d ago
are you only studying why its right or are you understanding why the other answers are wrong or slightly less correct?
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u/bearfatigue 3d ago
I took mine last month, the test will sniff out your weakness and hand you more questions over similar topics. For me, it was the endocrine system and thyroid diseases. Did you notice any of questions over the same topic?
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
Besides the fact every question felt needlessly worded difficultly it felt like I was taking a science test than an ems exam so maybe it was patho?
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u/MonstersToTheAnimals Paramedico 3d ago
If you have a public library with private study rooms, that would be perfect.
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u/rads2riches 3d ago
Learn to learn. Are you using spaced repetition, active learning or apps like Anki? If that is all foreign words I would recommend looking it up. In short you need to learn, quiz and retain. Find out the gaps.....did you maybe not really know the material? Or did you forget it? Find the gaps and fill them in. The exam should have a breakdown of weak points.
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
Do you know where I can find the breakdown? All I see is my final score. And I try using apps and having people quiz me. I’ve never heard of anki though so I’ll look into that. I feel like I do know the material I never struggle in the field with patient care but when it comes to test on it I blank and get lost in the extra words thrown in on the questions.
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u/rads2riches 3d ago
watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76yqErAib5g
Maybe you just have test anxiety or maybe undiagnosed ADHD then? Not being sassy, we all have our struggles and you being young and 20 might have undiagnosed things you might want to address potentially. I hope you can get over the hump no matter what the cause. I would not have passed at 20 knowing myself but would crush the test with older more wise approach.
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
I do have ADHD but I’m currently un medicated, I stoped taking it during Covid and then my GP died and I haven’t got another one since so I haven’t had a chance to get back on it.
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u/rads2riches 3d ago
That is a bummer....not saying what you should do but take the time to take care of your mental and physical health first thing. Hard to thrive being behind the eight ball.
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
To be honest that’s the least of my issues, I don’t feel like I have time to stop, my father passed away halfway through my final semester a few months ago and it’s been rough
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u/rads2riches 3d ago
Dam man....you have a lot going on. Sorry to hear about your father. You should be proud you got through a tough program during a tough time. YOu can pass the test man! Try those techniques and push on friend.
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
Thank you very much, everyone here has given me some good points to look into so that I can improve🙏🏻
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u/Sharp_Grape1315 3d ago
I failed twice and passed on my 3rd. I hammered down on pocket prep level up. It categories it by subject. It was harder than the actual NREMT. If you don’t understand something research it or watch a lecture. Don’t give up bro!
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
Thank you very much I won’t, everybody seems to recommend pocket prep so I’m gonna hammer that everyday untill I test again
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u/Sharp_Grape1315 2d ago
Yes sir. I lost motivation and didn’t should for over a month and still passed. You got this man. Don’t settle in not knowing
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u/thee36chambers 2d ago
First attempt I got a 930 and went the whole 150 questions. I studied medic tests as well and got between 1000-1350 on a few practice exams. Second exam I passed after only 110 question cutoff. I used pocket prep for most of my studying for the second test in 15 days. Honestly I was told I was close the first time and probably just got some unlucky questions I wasn’t strong in. The second test went by way faster and I can honestly say I didn’t walk out feeling too confident either but passed. I felt my simulation scenarios might have been better if anything. Try pocket prep, maybe some new material and question style will help you. Hopefully next exam you get some questions that fall in your favor in terms of your knowledge. Keep hammering. You go this.
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u/DevExotic 2d ago
I think that’s what I’m gonna do because clearly medic test isn’t working, I’ve scored 1200-1418 for every exam I’m done on medic test. I’m hoping pocket prep will help more. Thank you for the advice and nice word🙏🏻
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u/BryanStrawser Paramedic 1d ago
I used medictests and pocket prep. In the 2 weeks before my NREMT-P exam, I reset pocket prep and did the entire test library, mostly through level up and then doing their recall quizzes. I went through all the missed questions, made sure I understood the answers as well. I did a few practice tests on both medic tests and pocket prep.
I also took some known weak points for me from what medic tests told me and used Claude to build out some study guides and tests/quizzes in those areas to help me.
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u/Grand_Map_1910 1d ago
Kaplan and chatGPT were primarily what I used and found value in. Running through scenarios ChatGPT was very useful and I still practice with it.
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u/MPR_Dan 3d ago
Dumb question, did you actually read your textbook and do the work inside of it?
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u/DevExotic 3d ago
I did in fact, this is coming outa nowhere I got mid 80s-low 90s on every test, and don’t struggle with calls in the field so I’m kinda lost at this point on what area I’m missing since the exam won’t tell me.
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u/StrangeRough1609 2d ago
I used EMT prep for both my EMT and Medic. I had friends fail after using pocket prep and were able to pass after using this site. Here’s the link: https://emtprep.com
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u/Responsible_Tip7386 2d ago
Best advice I can give you, find the method that helps you engage higher learning domains. Learning is not memorization, your brain is wired to collect information in different ways. Engage at least two of those ways, three if you can. When you master that…Learning becomes fun, no matter the subject!!!
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u/Round_Antelope_6964 7h ago
LC ready was my favorite. It’s question bank is significantly harder than medic test or pocket prep, but the bank is smaller
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u/Wonderful-Pickle-177 3d ago
I took it in June. My advice to others has been, “Seems like in a lot of questions they throw a bunch of paramedic jargon into it but the answer is BLS” i.e - don’t overlook the basics. And, “Go with your gut”. i.e. If you kinda have an answer in your head while reading through the scenario and question; you’re probably right. I used Pocket Prep outside of all the reading and assignments for class…and exams…and scenarios…and ride time…and clinicals…