BACB Exam Online Preparation Course and Tips (crossposted)

[Guest guest]

Hi all--

I've seen a couple posts asking for suggestions for preparing for the BACB

exam. Here are some tips, and if you aren't able to create your own study

group, I will once again be offering my online course to assist in preparing

for the exam. My class offers essentially an online study group with

pre/post tests to help identify priorities for studying, weekly practice

quizzes for each content area of the exam, and practice question

assignments. Students benefit from ample feedback, support, and discussion

both with fellow students and myself as the instructor. We also review the

essential concepts and principles as outlined in the BACB Task List through

weekly live chats and discussion boards. You can review the syllabus and

other information on my website, at http://www.siriming.com/examprep.html.

If you are studying for the exam this fall, my first suggestion to you is to

start planning your study time now. Begin by downloading the Exam Content

Task List from the BACB website (http://www.bacb.com). Exam questions are

not allocated evenly amongst the content areas (see the appendix of the full

Task List for exact numbers of questions per content area), and you should

allocate your time according to the importance of the area on the exam and

your own current knowledge.

The Task List details all of the content areas that will be tested on the

examination, as well as providing references for each content area and the

allocation of questions for each content area. An essential studying

strategy is to become familiar with the vocabulary of the Task List as well

as the principles and concepts tested.

Some of the strategies my colleagues and I have found helpful in studying

are to:

* Conserve your energy. Review the task list first‹and test your ability to

define key terms and create both examples and non-examples of key concepts.

Then, fill in any gaps in your understanding by reviewing the reference

texts cited in the bibliography (Appendix II) of the task list.

* Find a study partner or create a study group. Set time goals for studying

sections of the task list and meet to discuss problematic areas and test

each other¹s knowledge.

* Find a mentor. Keep a running list of questions that you have not been

able to answer through the task list, references or through discussion with

your study partner. Set two to three brief meeting times with a colleague

who has passed the exam to discuss these issues.

* Develop flashcards and matching exercises based on the task list content

areas; many definitions are clearly spelled out in the tasks. Flashcards can

be used in SAFMEDS practice .

* Review at least one of the major reference texts referred to in the

Appendix; the most frequent references are to , Heron, & Heward¹s

Applied Behavior Analysis, although any basic textbook will be helpful.

Create summary notes from these references linked to the task list; these

can also be used to create flashcards for SAFMEDS study. Another strategy is

to record your summaries of the reference chapters so that you can listen to

them in the car, while exercising, etc.

* Create and exchange practice questions and scenarios. This strategy is an

excellent one for requiring you to actively respond to the task list and

consider the various ways a concept may be tested.

Good luck!

Siri