An Awesome Resource for Students Preparing for the NPTE
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The NPTE and the format of the exam
Content covered on the exam
How to study for the NPTE
How to pass the NPTE
How to fail the NPTE
A couple of practice questions
Final thoughts and special offer
Q&A
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
About Me
• Graduate 2011 from #15 University of Utah
• Practice in a rural hospital that includes outpatient, orthopedic, geriatric,
pediatric, sports, inpatient, long-term SNF, home health, and wound care.
• Began PT Final Exam in 2012—dedicated to being a resource for the NPTE
and helping students succeed
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NPTE
• National Physical Therapy Exam administered by the FSBPT.
• Eligibility: Meet the conditions required for your state.
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Many states allow PT students to test before their graduation date
Foreign-trained students must submit their credentials for review by the state
authority
Some states limit the number of attempts
• Computer-based competence test
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
NPTE Format
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Computer based
Multiple choice—4 options, no “all of the above” or “none of the above.”
5 sections—You are allowed 1 scheduled break after section two (clock stops), and 3
additional unscheduled breaks between the other sections (clock DOES NOT stop)
200 scored items
600/800 Scale Score required (75%)
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The FSBPT describes a type of curved scoring depending on the difficulty of the exam. This
makes the test more sensitive to students right around the 600 mark and allows for an 800
score without answering every question correctly.
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NPTE Content
• You must read and understand the FSBPT Content Outline
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https://www.fsbpt.org/download/ContentOutline_2013PTT_201212.pdf
• I created a Study Outline (free) that helps flesh out the Content Outline
• Large emphasis placed on Musculoskeletal (30.5%) and Neuromuscular
(25%)
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How to Study
• Scorebuilders
• Therapy Ed
• Therapy Exam Prep
• PT Final Exam (my favorite)
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
How to Study
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Make a plan
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Number 1 mistake by students is to not have a written plan
Make a list of your top 10 weaknesses based on the Study Outline
Organize your time
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Devote a specific amount of time each day to studying the material
Find support
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Get a study partner/accountability partner
Report your progress and be accountable
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
How to Study
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Join a class
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Scorebuilders and Therapy Ed both have 2 day review classes
Therapy Exam Prep has a 3 month forum and video-based program
Therapy Team has a live 9-day class ($1000)
Mastermind Study Group
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6 weeks of accountable learning
Several large assignments meant to help you focus your time
5 live interactive webinars (60-90 minutes)
Personal attention via email, phone, or skype
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
How to Study
• Know everything
• Take at least 4 practice exams in a “test environment”
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Same time, similar pace, don’t look at the answers until you’re done
Use the PEAT’s as a gauge for your progress
• Report to someone your progress—be accountable
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Real Students of the MSG Program
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
NPTE 1st Time Pass Rates
• Graduates of US-Accredited PT Programs = 90%
• Graduates of Non-US PT Programs = 33%
• Overall Pass Rate = 82%
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https://www.fsbpt.org/FreeResources/NPTEPassRateReports/NPTEExamYearReports.aspx
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
How to Pass the Exam
• Know the material well, especially the basics
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Basic anatomy and function are essential for many questions
You’ll get questions that require you to ponder deeply muscles and muscle forces
• Keep cool
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Decrease test anxiety with preparation
Use the “Will Crane Fist Pump”
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
How to Pass the Exam
• Use time effectively
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Both with study and on the test
• Pass at least 1-3 practice exams
• Stay inspired
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Keep in mind why you’re doing this
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How to Fail the Exam
• These attributes are paraphrased from emails from students who did not
pass the exam. My intention is not to make fun, but I want you to learn from
their mistakes.
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How to Fail the Exam
• I only took only 1 practice exam a few days before the exam
• I graduated 3 years ago and just wanted to see if I could pass
• I failed once, did not study much afterwards, and failed again
• I focused my time on one section and did not study musculoskeletal because
“I knew it”
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How to Fail the Exam
• I forgot that there were only 5 sections
• I moved apartments and changed jobs 2 weeks before the exam
• I got mad at the FSBPT for writing hard questions rather than studying the
material
• I used a review book and did some light reading
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How to Fail the Exam
• I overestimated my knowledge/underestimated the test
• I didn’t have time to study
• I thought that the curved grading system would save me
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
Practice Question 1
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A patient who has just had back surgery has significant quad weakness on the right
lower leg. While examining the patient’s gait from initial contact through the
loading response, which of the following anomalies will MOST likely be present?
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Excessive hip abduction
Increased knee flexion
Increased trunk forward flexion
Increased dorsiflexion
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
Practice Question 1 Answer
A patient who has just had back surgery has significant quad weakness on the right lower leg.
While examining the patient’s gait from initial contact through the loading response, which of
the following anomalies will MOST likely be present?
• 3. Increased trunk flexion
• Weak quads mean that the normal loading response is altered. The patient could not
tolerate any knee flexion or they would collapse to the floor. Thus, they will lock the knee,
and the easiest way to prevent the quads from firing is to shift the body weight forward
onto straight leg, relying on the passive structures of the knee to maintain the extension,
rather than relying on quadricep strength.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMu1KGXgW0M
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
Practice Question 2
While examining a patient, a physical therapist notes hypomobility of the patient’s
talocrural joint of the right foot, limiting movement into dorsiflexion completely.
Which of the following gait patterns will most likely be observed due to this
impairment?
1. Steppage gait
2. Double step gait
3. Trendelenburg gait
4. Circumduction gait
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Practice Question 2 Answer
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While examining a patient, a physical therapist notes hypomobility of the patient’s talocrural joint of the right foot,
limiting dorsiflexion completely. Which of the following gait patterns will most likely be observed due to this impairment?
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Steppage gait is a gait pattern of increased knee and hip flexion to avoid catching the toe on the ground during swing
phase. This is typically due to foot drop.
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This is the correct answer. Double step gait is a pattern that is defined by different alternating step lengths.
Because of the stiffness of the talocrural joint, the stance phase will be limited during midstance and will therefore
decrease the step length of the opposite limb.
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Trendelenburg gait is a gait pattern where the contralateral hip drops during stance phase and is usually due to hip
abductor weakness.
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Circumduction gait is a gait pattern where the limb swings laterally during swing phase and is typically due to a stiff
knee or increased leg length.
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
How to Answer Questions
• Read, read, read the question
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For topic, key words, and specific “what is it asking”
• Formulate an answer without looking at the answers
• Read through the options, eliminating the incorrect ones
• Mark down the best answer
• Be wary of “flagging” a question to return—you won’t have time or you’ll
“take the test twice”
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Final Thoughts
• Organize your time
• Review all of the material
• Focus on your weaknesses
• Be accountable
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam
Special Offer
• Over 8 hours of recorded video lectures from the Mastermind Study Group
• Over 200 practice questions
• Over 200 pages of study notes and materials in outline form
• Selling for $249—already a great deal!
• Use the discount code “facebookpromo” to get $50 off!
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Questions?
• Will Crane admin@ptfinalexam.com
• https://www.ptfinalexam.com
• Reserve your spot in the Mastermind Study Group—limited spots available!
Copyright © 2014 PT Final Exam