Many people who I coach ask me, "How much should I study for the LCSW exam, the MFT Exam?", and my response is "How are you studying?"
Many people spend countless hours memorizing DSM flashcards and reading dry material from expensive workbooks. They know the "facts" but they fail the test. Why? Because they studied ineffectively.
So how should you study?
First, you should limit your studying to 90 minutes a day, preferably in two different sittings. Why? Because the average person stops learning after 90 minutes, the brain just can't soak up more than that. Many people tell me they spend "all weekend" studying. That's sounds great, but there is no way they are "learning" all weekend.
Second, you need to test yourself. Many people wait to take mock exams because they want to learn the material first. But how do you know what you need to learn if you don't do an assessment first. It would be like doing interventions before you even met the client. Taking practice tests and quizzes are the best way to learn what you don't know, so you can make sure you know it for the exam.
Last, don't let you test anxiety get the best of you. There are many ways to manage anxiety. One of the best ways is to have clear test taking strategies that you are going to use regardless of the the type of question on the exam. The opposite of test anxiety is test confidence. That's what we teach. And it will help you pass.
Think our straightforward, sensible approach could help you PASS your social work or MFT exam? If you're preparing for a social work exam, check out our Social Work Study Materials. If you're preparing for an MFT exam, check out our MFT Study Materials. Learn more about our offerings at The Therapist Development Center.
Looking for more practice questions and some study tips? Check out our new Social Work Exam Study Guide:
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