Think Like the Test

How much information do you need to answer exam questions correctly? In some cases -- not all, but some -- you can get a question correct just with your knowledge of the profession, without needing to know anything from the specific vignette in front of you. These sample questions come from the 2023 version of the NCMHCE Candidate Handbook produced by NBCC. [Detailed, 1,000-word case vignette desc...

When you see exam questions based on models of therapy, knowing the model well can help you eliminate some wrong answer options. But it often can't get you all of the way to the correct answer. For that, you'll need to align your knowledge with your test-taking skills. Today's sample question comes from a previous version of sample questions from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. A 19-y...

What does it mean to think systemically? And how do you demonstrate systemic thought on an exam? These questions come from a prior edition of the official handbook for the National MFT Exam. Both questions are derived from the same case vignette. A couple has been married for 1 ½ years and have a newborn baby. They seek therapy to deal with behavioral problems involving the mother’s three children...

Exam developers work diligently to produce what they believe to be strong, accurate exams. But just like everyone else, they occasionally make mistakes. What should you do when you read a question and you think, none of these answers sound right? This question comes from the current edition of the official California LPCC Law & Ethics Exam Plan, available here . During an initial session, a cl...

What's your moral framework? That can heavily influence your clinical and ethical decision-making -- but it might not line up well with the approach you're being tested on. This episode is especially true to our title: In deciding right and wrong, to Think Like the Test means to think from a much more rule-based approach than how many clinicians actually work. This question comes from prior editio...

Therapists and reality TV shows are often not a great mix. And yet, it turns out that both of your esteemed hosts have some history with Hollywood. Learn more about how to think about dual-relationship exam questions -- and Ben's dark secret. This question comes from an older edition of one of our books. A therapist is concluding short-term treatment with a casting director for a production compan...

What happens when an ethics question -- produced by the actual test developer -- doesn't actually line up with what the relevant code of ethics says? In today's episode, even the "correct" answer isn't entirely correct. We discuss why, and talk about who you should think of as "the therapist" on exam items. This question comes from the current California BBS exam handbook for the LPCC Law and Ethi...

Logic is one of the most important test-taking skills. If you can rule out even one part of a response choice, you can rule out that entire response choice. In today's question, Carrie ties herself in knots, as many examinees do. Ben explains how to focus your attention to answer complex questions quickly and correctly.  This question comes from the current BBS handbook for the California MFT Clin...

[Content advisory: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault. Listener discretion advised.] Crisis management questions will often include multiple answers that are good things to do in the situation described. But there's often a key word in the question that can help you know which of those good options is the right answer. And speaking of safety, Ben starts asking whether clinical lice...

[Content advisory: This episode includes discussion of client suicidality. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call 988.] Exams have been criticized for how they treat information about a client's culture. Resisting stereotyping is an important clinical and test-taking skill, but race weighs more heavily on mental health licensing exams than you might expect. This question comes fro...

Key words in a question can often help lead you to the correct answer. In this episode, we discuss some to attend to -- and some that you shouldn't give much weight to. This question comes from the current California Board of Behavioral Sciences handbook for the LCSW Law & Ethics Exam. A client discloses that he had a sexual relationship with a previous therapist. The client does not disclose the...

Remember the key lesson from childhood games like Simon Says and Mother May I -- always listen carefully to the instructions. This question comes from Ben Caldwell Labs' program for the California LMFT Clinical Exam. (It's not from one of the full-length mocks, we wouldn't want to give the answer to one of those away.) An MFT in a community mental health center receives a new client. The client re...

Carrie Wiita and Ben Caldwell talk through a sample question to start our discussion of test-taking skills, and Carrie comes one step closer to an important life goal. This question comes from an older version of the BBS California LMFT Law & Ethics Exam handbook. It would equally apply to the LPCC and LCSW Law & Ethics exams. A client initiates therapy for depression following a failed marriage....