Exam Writing Experience

Hi everyone!

I can't believe it—I passed! It's an incredibly surreal feeling, like a massive weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can proudly call myself a Behavior Analyst and a BCBA now!

So, let me share my entire experience with you.

Before the Exam:

I kicked off the day by sleeping in, enjoying a nice breakfast, and meditating to center myself.

I wore the most comfortable shirt and buttery-soft leggings. Then, I hopped on the subway and made my way to the exam site.

Upon arrival, I presented my IDs, and they requested me to stow away my personal belongings. The preparation process was more rigorous than I anticipated. They scanned my hands not just once, but a total of five times! Then came retina scans, photographs, and finally, I was allowed to proceed to the back to meet the proctor. The proctor scanned my hands yet again, snapped a picture of me, and mentioned that she also recorded my voice. She provided instructions in case I needed a break, and then handed me an erasable board, two pens, and earplugs (if necessary).

I took the items and followed the proctor to the desk where I would be taking the exam.

I settled down and began reviewing the instructions, taking a moment to say a prayer.

During the Exam:

Nerves definitely got to me during the exam, and I had to remind myself to stay positive and banish any negative thoughts, taking a few seconds to regain composure.

I opted not to take any breaks during the exam for fear of running out of time.

To my surprise, I took longer to complete the exam compared to the mock exams. However, I managed to finish with about 45 minutes remaining.

Once I completed the exam, the screen displayed the message, "Test results are pending." I raised my hand and patiently waited for the proctor's call.

After the Exam:

The proctor called my name, collected the pens and erasable board, and instructed me to discard the earplugs. She informed me that she would provide my results once I finished putting everything back in order. Then, she asked me to gather my belongings, including my phone and watch. She opened them for me and finally revealed my exam results. At that moment, I couldn't help but understand why learners engage in challenging behaviors when they don't receive timely reinforcement.

FINALLY, I had my jacket on, grabbed my purse, and was ready to leave. The proctor placed the results on the desk, upside down. In the past, when a teacher put test results upside down, it usually meant the result was poor. Panic started to set in, and I took a couple of deep breaths to calm myself. However, as I glanced at the results, I noticed that I could read them even though the paper was upside down. I immediately spotted the word PASS—the very same one I had seen countless times on Facebook and Instagram. I thought I must be dreaming. Hastily, I flipped over the paper, and reality hit me—I had passed! The overwhelming feeling almost made me faint. I quickly captured a photo of the results and shared it with my partner and supervisor.

I couldn't believe it! I walked down the street with the biggest smile on my face, probably looking like a crazy person, but I didn't care. I was finally a BCBA.

I can't wait to hear your stories about your exam experiences! Good luck, and I'm certain you'll do amazingly well!