Great tips for IBLCE exam candidates.
There are many strategies for maximizing your success on multiple choice exams. Even a well-prepared student can make silly mistakes on a multiple choice exam or fall prey to distracters that look very similar to the correct answer.
The IBLCE uses a very highly qualified psychometrician to educate the Exam question developers and reviewers prior to its being set, and then does a detailed post-exam review of the performance of every single question. By doing this the IBLCE ensures that they are testing for knowledge and problem-solving skills. So your first, and most important tip, is to READ each question carefully. Take your time!
There is plenty of time for even the slowest test-taker. There are two papers with 100 questions on each and you'll have 3 hours available for each paper. If you allow 30 minutes at the end of each paper to review your Answers that leaves 1.5 minutes per question - check the time after the first 10 questions and you should find you're well inside the 15 minutes you'd allowed yourself for every 10 questions. Now you can concentrate on answering carefully and thoughtfully instead of feeling rushed.
- Cover up the possible responses with a piece of paper or with your hand while you read the stem, or body, of the question.
- Try to anticipate the correct response before you are distracted by seeing the options that the examiner has provided. Then, uncover the responses.
- If you see the response that you anticipated, circle it on the Question Booklet (not the Answer Sheet) and then check to be sure that none of the other responses is better.
- When you've decided which answer is correct, mark your Answer Sheet appropriately straight away and move on.
If you do not see a response that you expected...
- read the question again!! Chances are you rushed into it thinking you knew that one, misreading the intent of the question.
- because you've studied so well you should be able to eliminate at least one, or two, distractors - now you have less to consider, and have raised your chances of guessing the right answer.
- treat each option as a true-false question, and choose the 'most' true. (this doesn't work with the 'what would you do first' questions).
- if two alternatives seem correct compare them for differences, then refer to the stem to find your best answer.
- mark the Answer Sheet with what you think is most likely correct. Then put a big asterisk on the Question Booklet at that point to remind yourself to come back later to think more about that question.
"What is the first/best/most likely ..." questions may have ALL correct answers. Apply your counseling skills to think what is appropriate. Lactation problems are rarely life and death, so there is always time for good communication skills or diagnostic skills.
Negative stem questions (eg. Which of the following is not/least likely/except ...) take a little extra thought to answer. They are grouped together in the IBLCE Exam so you can be prepared for them. - Underline the main point of the question, then be prepared to spend a little extra time validating your answer. It's a real pity to lose a mark when you really do know that answer.
When you decide which response is the correct one, mark it on the Answer Sheet.
Use your ruler to slide down the page one answer at a time, checking the number of the question against the number on the Answer Sheet that you are marking.
If you cannot answer a question within a minute or so, DO NOT leave questions unanswered.
- It can cause you to mismatch the next few questions to answer spots, until you realize what has happened.
- Even if you have no idea what is the correct answer, you stand a 25% chance of getting it right.
Take the time to check your work before you hand in the Answer Sheet.
- Think carefully though before you change an answer you had previously thought was correct.
Practice, practice, practice!!
- You may not have had much chance to practice this style of examination. If you are familiar with the format that's one less thing for you to worry about during the exam.
HYPOGLYCEMIA Is your knowledge evidence-based?
For clinicians and exam-takers alike, it's a good idea to refresh your knowledge of the prevention and management of hypoglycemia. What happens in many hospitals is NOT, sadly, evidence-based and for exam-takers, it's the evidence you'll be examined on - not 'at our hospital we do ...'.
If your hospital's protocol doesn't coincide with this evidence-based practice, you may consider printing the paper, sourcing other recent research and presenting it to your Unit to bring it up-to-date with present-day protocols.
Read this excellent paper published in Pediatrics in 2000 here: Controversies Regarding Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Suggested operational thresholds
Go to Health e-Learning: http://www.health-e-learning.com to read more articles and find out about the online courses we offer.
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Denise Fisher, MMP, BN, IBCLC
Director, Health e-Learning
Health e-Learning is well-known for providing excellent, high-quality, evidence-based online courses on many lactation-related subjects. Our students appreciate the quality of our courses while saying "I love learning like this!".
Many of our courses offer CERPs and CEUs - see our website for details.
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Our Breastfeeding Essentials series of online courses (Essentials, Essential Update, and Essentials for Doctors) is now being used in 4 countries and 23 hospitals for the most cost-effective and easiest way to provide Baby Friendly education to hospital and community workers.
If you'd like more information about using the Essentials' series for your staff education email Denise Fisher today.
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