The BOC is the measuring stick by which all would-be athletic trainers are measured. Without a doubt, this is the most comprehensive and difficult test you will have faced to this point in your life. The BOC essentially is testing you on years worth of clinical and academic knowledge in a 4-hour exam. This can be daunting for even the most seasoned veteran.
Because there is so much material to cover, it’s important that you attack it in an organized fashion. Too many students go with the “shot-gun” approach that my high school coach used to criticize. If you lob a ball up in the general direction of the hoop, the chance of scoring a basket is very slim. Your shots should be laser-focused on a specific point of the hoop. Similarly, you should have a laser-focused game plan for how you prepare for the BOC exam.
Key Steps to Focusing your BOC Exam Studies
If you study for the BOC exam with only a loose or disorganized study plan, your likelihood of succeeding is dramatically reduced. Several key steps to help you focus your studies include:
- Make a list of the material that is covered on the BOC. Looking through the list of modules offered on the All-Access membership is a good place to start.
- Organize the list according to your strengths. Place weaker subjects at the top and stronger subjects farther down the list. WRITE THIS DOWN and put it on the wall where you can see it.
- If you’ve already taken an ATStudy Buddy practice exam, use the Domain-specific score report to further help you prioritize and list your weaknesses and strengths.
- Attack the weakest subject with a vengeance! Create a study guide that includes your in-depth notes about the material. Once that weakness is eliminated, proceed down the list. You could potentially attack 2-3 at a time, but make sure you don’t lose focus.
- Stay laser-focused through all of your weakest areas. No study system or book will compensate for a lack of understanding of the material.
- Evaluate your performance on practice exams. If you’re not getting 80-100% on practice questions about that subject, there is still work to do!
- Repeat for every subject until you are comfortable and familiar with ALL of the content on the BOC exam.
Increase Your Odds!
As listed in step 5, no book, study system, or instructor can make up for a lack of knowledge and application of the test material. You really must know everything! I get asked all the time what my tips are for passing the BOC. Many students have tried a number of study books and systems, but they often continue to lack a deep understanding of the material.
At ATStudy Buddy, we focus on the material that you must know for the BOC exam. I do not and cannot teach you everything about the exam. Rather, I ask students to do just as I have outlined—I tell them to know the material. If there is a subject that a student is particularly confident in, I recommend placing that further down the prioritized list and focusing instead on a more difficult subject.
You must be organized in your study approach.
As always, I am here to help. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions. Good luck studying!