#blepp2018

The Board Licensure Examination for Psychologists and Psychometricians (BLEPP) started in 2014. It’s safe to say that this is one of the relatively new national exams in the Philippines.

Through the years, only more or less half of the total number of takers are successful in passing the Psychometrician board exams. Here are the results:

2014 - 1,290 out of 3,283

2015 - 2,061 out of 4,466

2016- 3,690 out of 7,312

2017- 4,957 out of 8,701

2018 - 4,035 out of 8,453

I placed these numbers not to scare future takers. I just want everyone to have an idea on how tough the exam is. So you can get the picture, the board exam is not easy as it seems.

I passed BLEPP 2018. For someone who is in the helping profession, I would want to extend my knowledge and help fellow Psychology majors who would want to take the Psychometrician licensure exam.

Knowing that you are here, searching for tips on how you can attain your goal of being an RPm too says a lot about your determination. Keep that up and I’m pretty sure your name will be on the list of passers too!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs):

1. What are the subjects included in the Psychometrician Board Exam?

The Psychometrician board exam is composed of four (4) subjects namely, Psychological Assessment (40%), Theories of Personality (20%), Abnormal Psychology (20%), and Industrial Psychology (20%). However, there are news that additional subjects will be added in future examinations. This isn’t confirmed yet for BLEPP 2019 so you can calm down a bit. Just a bit.

2. What is the passing grade in order to become licensed?

You need to attain a general average of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for all subjects, with no grade lower than sixty percent (60%) in any of the subjects.

However, there is what we call a conditional passer. These are the examinees who attain an average of 75% but they have a grade lower than 60% in any of the four subjects. What's the catch? Conditional passers may retake the subject(s) within the next two years and they must obtain a grade of at least 75% in order to pass the licensure exam.

But of course, that’s not THE GOAL. Aim to completely pass all subjects and become a board passer. If you can, go the extra mile and even top the board exams!

If you have any questions, kindly send a Tumblr ask, I would gladly help you out if I know the answers.

MY TIPS ON HOW TO PASS THE PSYCHOMETRICIAN BOARD EXAM:

Disclaimer: These tips helped me a lot but it doesn’t mean that it will certainly work on you too. It will still depend on your personal preference and your learning style.

1. Have a study schedule and STICK TO IT.

Set a goal. Since there are four subjects, I allotted at least one month per subject. I started reviewing as early as June 2018 so I had ample time to review. By October 2018, I had around a month for a refresher and to reread.

I had daily and weekly goals to meet. This helped me a lot because I wasn’t only organized with my review but it helped me to feel accomplished once I see my progress on paper. It felt great to tick off topics on my to-do list. It was reassuring for me.

What if you don’t meet your goal? Of course there will be days when it’s harder to study, especially during the rainy season. There are days when you’ll be distracted and you couldn’t focus. Don’t be afraid to adjust your schedule as needed. But refrain from always doing this and putting off your goals for tomorrow. We all know that each hour of studying matters! “Bukas na lang” and having a lot of excuses won’t help you pass the board exam. Make sure to make up for your backlogs and delays.

It’s better to study in advance than to cram. Besides, you will feel more confident when October comes. Imagine if you are still halfway through the coverage and it’s already October first. I swear, that will be terrifying! SO STUDY IN ADVANCE.

2. Fix your body clock.

On the day of the board exam, you will need to wake up VERY EARLY. If you are nocturnal and you are more productive at night, you will have a hard time to focus during the board exam if you do not fix your body clock. Trust me, I’m a night owl as well.

Why is this important? If you stay up all night studying, your body will be used to waking up late and feeling sluggish during the afternoon. It will be hard to wake up and arrive on time for the exam. For me, it was a challenge to train my mind to be ready for the first exam at 8am and also make sure to fight that after-lunch-siesta sleepiness for the afternoon exam at 1pm.

So my tip is to fix your body clock. While reviewing, I woke up as early as 5am. My study schedule was from 6 in the morning up until 8 in the evening only (breaks included of course!) But it’s still up to you, whatever works for you. That’s just my study tip.

3. Reward yourself!

As mentioned, I only studied for around 12 hours. After a day’s worth of studying, I make sure to reward myself IF I FINISH MY DAILY GOAL OR TARGET. I watch my favorite tv show to unwind or eat my favorite comfort food or go out for a drive and get milktea.

This is important too. Remember that too much of something is always bad. Rewarding yourself will keep you sane, make you feel motivated to accomplish your review goals, and to of course, free your mind of the fears and doubts!!!

4. Choose only one to two reference books per subject.

There are a lot of books available that would help you, but it will be too overwhelming if you study too much books per subject. I will list down below the books that helped me throughout my review.

Psychological Assessment and Theory by Kaplan & Saccuzzo

Psychological Testing and Assessment by Cohen & Swerdlik

Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach by Barlow & Durand

Theories of Personality by Feist & Feist

Industrial and Organizational Psychology by Aamodt

Sikolohiyang Pilipino by Pe-Pua

These were the main materials that I used. I finished these books from cover to cover. These books were recommended by the lecturers in the review center that I enrolled in, RGO.

I also used some of the powerpoints that our lecturers provided as well as the review booklets and drills that were given to us.

5. Enrolling in a review center or self-study?

It’s a case to case basis. Remember that not everyone who enrolled in the review center passed the BLEPP! Enrolling in a review center is not a ticket to those three letters! I would like to believe that this greatly depends on you. Sure, enrolling in a review center has its advantages. You’ll have test drills and review materials. Some lecturers are also kind enough to give a copy of their powerpoint presentations. You’ll also be motivated to study because of a supportive community of fellow Psychology students, review center staff, and your mentors.

But there’s a downside. It was honestly overwhelming and draining to sit from morning til the afternoon, from 8am to 5pm. For someone with a short attention span like me, after two hours, I was honestly zoning out already. It’s hard to pay attention the whole day for lectures.

Another downside is that you will feel pressured, especially when you see your friends’ progress with the review, reading, and results in the test drills. You MIGHT compare where you are and what you’ve accomplished, which leads me to another tip.

6. FOCUS ON YOURSELF but surround yourself with positive people and have a support system!

COMPETE WITH NO ONE ELSE BUT YOURSELF. Don’t compare your progress with anyone else’s. Trust your pace and focus on your own review. It will cause you additional pressure if you compare with the people around you.

Don’t hangout with those with negative vibes. “Hala babagsak ata ako.” “Ako rin.” Remember, our mind is a very powerful place. Feed it with the right fuel. Stay with people who will motivate you and who will not bring you down.

7. Think positive. Be optimistic!

I’m not gonna lie. My BLEPP journey was not easy. There were nights when I felt like giving up. I also doubted myself if I will make it. I shed a lot of tears during that five months of review. My mantra all throughout is: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”

I didn’t take the exam with the goal of just passing. I wanted to have decent results, to top the board exams if I can. I didn’t have a mindset that’s mediocre, similar to this: “Kapag pumasa ako edi good, kung hindi okay lang.” Why is that, you ask? Because I want to pass the exam. If I give myself the assurance that it’s okay for me to fail, even if in the back of my mind that’s not my goal, and that’s not what I want to achieve, the universe won’t pave a path towards my success. Law of attraction!

So set that goal, claim it. You will pass and all your actions, thoughts, and everything else will be circling around your dream of being an RPm. Believe that you can and you are halfway there.

8. Know your learning style or what works best for you.

In my case, I’m a visual learner. So the use of flashcards (i made my own using index cards), writing down key words, drawing to understand certain concepts, and reading while using colorful highlighters really helped me!

9. Believe in yourself and don’t listen to your demons!

Your motivation will wear out at some point. You will start to doubt yourself. You will begin to question why you wanted to take the exam in the first place. You will feel like you will fail. These are just some facts.

Don’t be afraid. Just pray, trust in the Lord, and His plans. So what if you don’t make it? What are you afraid of? Being judged by others? Being reprimanded? Remember, you can always take the exam again. Passing on your first or second, or third take won’t really matter. What will truly matter is what you do with your license. Just strive, do your best, and believe that you will become an RPm.

10. Apps that helped me.

Forest - The first app that I used is called Forest. It helped me to stay away from social media and to get rid of distractions! It’s also for a good cause because you can plant REAL TREES once you get a certain amount of coins. Stay productive. Help Mother Earth as well.

Tide -  This app helped me to stay calm. The “breathe” option where it guides me to take deep breathes was effective in letting go of my anxious feelings! The “sleep” option helped me to fall asleep faster at night when I need to doze off already and it gave me good sleep because of the relaxing music that the app has. Also, the alarm that this app has helped me not to wake up feeling shocked (unlike the usual alarms in our phones!) The alarm increases in volume so you won’t wake up feeling so surprised because of the loud, nerve-wracking alarms. I hope you got what I was trying to say. Haha!

Headspace - Once I get up every morning, I allot a few minutes to meditate and clear my mind. So I can be ready for an exhausting day of reviewing. It also helped me to think more positively and to get rid of my fears, doubts, and whatnot!

Spotify - Studying with music really helped me remember things better and to stay focused. I highly recommend the Deep Focus playlist on Spotify! If all else fails, listen to Oceans by Hillsong and other Christian songs.

11. On the day of the exam:

Make sure you bring everything you need! (Especially your pencils and NOA)

Bring a jacket.

Make sure that your scantron won’t get crumpled, WET, or tampered!!! PROTECT YOUR ANSWER SHEET AT ALL COSTS. Keep it neat and tidy.

Manage your time well especially for Psych Assessment.

Make sure not to spill your drinks. I brought water and coffee (in case i feel sleepy) and drink away from your paper.

You may use the questionnaires as scratch papers. You can mark and write on them.

Make sure to READ THE QUESTIONS CAREFULLY. Some questions are meant to be confusing. Make sure that you know what they are asking for! (Be aware of the double negatives and look out for the words like “except”, “all but one” etc.

When in doubt, stick to the basics. Go back to the roots and basics of Psychology.

It’s better if you bring food to eat. Imagine that there will be thousands of takers. There will be long lines in the nearby restaurants.

Use your lunch break to rest. Don’t talk to your friends and discuss answers! It might ruin your confidence.

It won’t hurt to follow some superstitious beliefs! What’s there to lose right? I wore red underwear. I entered the room with my right foot first. I broke one pencil (donated the others) after the last exam and I never looked back on my seat once I passed my paper! But of course, your success won’t really be based on these but it gave me some sense of comfort and extra boost of luck, I guess.

PRAY. The Lord is with you. Trust His plans and remember that he answers prayers only with three ways: Yes, Not Yet, and I have something better in mind. Stand firm in faith.

12. After the exam, wait patiently.

I know it will be the most anxious-filled days. You will think that your nervousness will be gone after taking the exam but no. Your anxiety will still be through the roof! Remember to pray. Know that you did what you can. Be proud of yourself because months of studying wasn’t easy. Be proud of yourself too because not EVERYONE had enough courage to even try to take the board exam and that alone is already an achievement.

Those are what helped me to become a Registered Psychometrician. If you have questions and if want to ask for reviewers, don’t be afraid to message me through my Tumblr ask or Twitter DMs . I would be glad to help. I already have a Google Drive with compiled readings/powerpoints available for sharing anytime!

It's been a while since the last time I wrote. I've been planning to write this blog ever since but I just find a perfect timing just now. 

I believe we all have a story to tell about our journey, of how we end up being on our situation right now. Mine wasn't an extraordinary one or nothing much special as other people think it was, but for me it is something to be proud of. (Atleast for me) lol. Talking about board exams, I couldn't really think how I would survive knowing that I am just an average student way back on college. To be honest, I really doubted my ability. Thoughts were racing on my mind about it, whether I was gonna make it or not. “Is it really necessary?”, “What is it for me?”, “Oh come on it's just a title” were the common thoughts. After attending a testimonial ceremony on our university, I witnessed the journey of our seniors. I also become enlightened, the questions I have in mind were somehow answered. But it still didn't convinced me to take the boards. I prayed to God to guide me in making this decision. I asked my Mom about it and she encouraged me to take it. She even allowed me to focus first to review before looking for a job.  So there... I finally decided to take the boards, I decided to atleast give my best shot. I enrolled to a review center before my graduation. My friends enrolled as well on a review center. Two of them are on my same review center.  REVIEW SESSION  The schedule of our review session is from 8-12am every Mon to Thurs. Right after our graduation is our first day at that review center. I am late on our first day because I am still tired from yesterday's grad. Lol. Luckily, it's a holiday so it just took me more that 30 minutes to arrive. 

This is the schedule that I made. I promised my self to at least follow it as much as I can. Sometimes it varies if I have an urgent task to accomplish or If I am not in the mood to review. 

5:00am - Wake up! 5:10am - 5:20am - Breakfast 5:20am - 6:00am - Take a bath 6:00am - 6:20am - Get dressed and get ready to go!  8:00am - 12:00pm - Review Class 1:00pm - Home 1:00pm - 2:00pm - Lunch, rest 2:00pm - 6:00pm - Review (with breaks in between) 6:00pm - 7:00pm - Dinner 7:00pm - 9:00pm - Review 9:00pm - 10:00pm - Get ready to sleep! 

When I don’t have classes at the review center, I wake up late because the previous day was my ‘stay up all night’ mood to study.

I also plan to read books. I learned it from our seniors & I also browse here in tumblr (studyblr) that really helped them. These are the books that I read; Psychological Testing & Assesment by Cohen 8th ed: I read it first because it is 40% on the board & I find it the most difficult subject during my college days. I bought it and its a second hand book, it still in a good condition though. This is the first textbook that I've read cover to cover. It was very technical some terms were really hard to understand but there are some examples in a situational format to make it understable. It took me a month to finish this one. It really helped me to understand the concepts, and also the lecture during the boards bec some of our lecturers use it as well as their references.  I/O by Aamodt: Most known book in I/O. I read after the first one because I feel like I didn't learn much in this subject way back in college. Because i didn't find it interesting lol. So I convinced myself to read a lot about this subject. Good thing that the book of Aamodt is not hard to understand. As you read it, you would feel like you are having a conversation with the author. I also appreciate the concepts about job after reading it. And, I get to have high scores in I/O during our drills. Many of us psych majors think that this is the easiest one & the least like to the point that we have taken it for granted. I really didn't expect I/O to be that difficult on the actual board exam.  Theories of Personality by Feist & Feist: The book that I really enjoyed reading. This is one of my favorite subject way back on college. As I was reading it, I get to understand the life of the theorist. It helped me appreciate their theories. The concepts were explained really well. This one really helped me pass & to get good scores on the drills we have at the review center.  Abnormal Psychology by Barlow & Durrand: This subject is also one of my favorites. But I didnt get to finish this book due the shortage of time. I was really cramming at that time lol. It's a month before the boards when I started reading it. But the concepts were well-explained. The disadvantage is that I feel like I was really tired after reading a chapter. Some words were too technical as well. So what I did is that I also read the book of Comer, I read the chapter that I didn't understand on the book of Barlow. It helped to comprehend well the concepts.

Additional Readings:

-          PPT from Lecturers

-          PPT from College

-          Manual given by Review Center

-          Self-made summarized concepts

-          DSM 5 & the shortened version of it

TIPS: Before, During & After

Before:

Decide whether you’re gonna take the exam or not. Having a firm decision makes you feel determined in taking it. And this also makes you give you’re your best. Although, there may be confusions along the way, it will not stop you on achieving your goal.

Always be prepared and have a presence of mind.

 Allot some time for your ‘me time’ in studying.

Have some schedule and follow it as much as you can.

Pray

During:

Take care of yourself. Your mental health.

Eat healthy foods.

It’s okay to take a rest. Especially if you can no longer absorb what you’re reading. 

Study on your peak time. (Some says its best to study during morning, but it didn’t work for me. I am more of being an all nightery always)

No matter how slow your progress is, always remember that it still a progress. It always starts with baby steps.

Motivation is not always present. Seek discipline.

Reward yourself.

Always give your best.

Pray

After:

Relax. You’ve done your part.

Pray.

Organize your things.

Reward yourself. Binge watch those movies you weren’t able to watch during the review. Eat your favorite food. Spend time with the people you love. Or anything that makes you happy.

Do the things you weren’t able to do while preparing for the boards.

No matter what the result is, whether you became a Psychometrician or not. You deserve to celebrate. If you passed, be grateful and use your license to help other people. If you don’t pass, still be grateful. Thank yourself for trying and there are still a lot of experience you learned throughout this process.

 After all, passing the board exam isn’t just because I have the ability or skills and I couldn’t take all the credits of this huge success. This is because my heavenly Father blessed me enough to extend help to the people who might me needing my help I the future especially those who are struggling. For those who believed in me and for those who became part of my journey, I wanted to extend my gratitude to all of you. Thank you everyone!

Last November 9, I went out to ease my mind. Two days have passed since the supposed release of our board exams results. I figured that it will take more time since our Baguio test takers are yet to take theirs today, November 13. Their day two exams were postponed due to the typhoon.

The waiting game for the results was really stressing me out. When I stay at home, I try to read a book or watch a movie. I noticed that I just read through the words or stare at the screen, but my mind is still running on a lot of what-ifs about the board exam.

So I went out. Let me tell you about my happy, memorable day last November 9, 2018.

For our first stop, we went to one of my favorite milktea places, Tokyo Bubble Tea! I ordered my usual Royal Milktea with oreo cream. I missed this drink so much. Compared to other milktea shops, this one isn’t as accessible because there are only a few branches. I’m happy that I finally satisfied my craving.

From Katipunan, we drove to The Grove to eat late lunch. We went to Sunrise Buckets. We ordered four half pound wings - Jack Daniel’s is my favorite flavor! We also got garlic parmesan, honey mustard and real American buffalo hot wings. On the side, we ordered Kate’s spaghetti.

I took advantage of the good lighting and the green scenery outside. I guess it’s safe to say that my mission to get distracted and to forget my worries about my recent board exam was successful.

Before going home, we ate street food just because we were still full from all the food we ate at Sunrise Buckets. 

I drove home, blasting through my favorite tracks - I began to feel anxious once again.

Fast forward to me lying down on my bed around 10PM, I was ready to hit the hay but I was scrolling through my Twitter feed to make me feel sleepy. Then suddenly, I saw a tweet from the PRC Board account which says, “October 2018 Psychometrician Board Exam Results.”

Well-played, PRC. Well-played. We were waiting for two days and the site says “Stand by, results are expected shortly.” Two days have passed and the website stayed the same. The results weren’t released. 

No one was expecting it at all since the Baguio takers were yet to take their exam. Funny how they released the results at the most unexpected time, when everyone was convinced that our results will be released next week, together with the Baguio takers.

I went up of my bed like how a zombie gets up after it has been bitten. You did your best, you got this. I told myself. I clicked the link via my phone. It wasn’t loading. I started shaking. My palms began to sweat. I decided to get my laptop to view the results instead. As I was about to click the link, the rainbow round wheel popped up on my screen. My laptop hanged. Thanks universe?

I decided to scream “Mommy, may results na. Di ko makita ikaw tumingin. Help!” I needed someone to hold me as I go through the list of examinees. I ran downstairs. Finally, the page decided to load on my phone. I scrolled through the list, M, N, O, P, Q - this is it. 

You know how they say that your heart literally skips a bit. I think mine did. I can vividly remember how I jumped three times and I uttered the words, “RPm na ako.” I couldn’t help but cry. I am grateful.

I started the day worried. I wanted to be distracted from the thought of the results. I ended the day with the universe giving exactly what I want. There was nothing to be anxious and worried about after all.