The Asessment Alchemist Podcast

This is Week 2 of From Panic to PE, a six-part series for engineers who have failed the PE or FE exam and for those who want to make sure they do not. Last week, Tina introduced the real reason capable engineers fail the PE: it is almost never a knowledge problem. It is a performance problem driven by what happens in the nervous system under pressure. This week, she goes deeper into why the most c...

This is Week 1 of From Panic to PE, a six-part series for engineers who have failed the PE exam and for those preparing to take it for the first time. In this first episode, Tina Wiles makes the case that failing the PE is almost never a knowledge problem. It is a performance problem, and the data backs it up. NCEES pass rate data shows that across Civil Construction, Civil Structural, and Electri...

Ready to walk into your next exam feeling calm, prepared, and confident? In Episode 27, Tina Wiles introduces the STEADY framework, a six-part system built to help you bring everything you know into the actual test room. STEADY stands for: S — Study Anchors: Use sensory cues like scent, taste, touch, and sound during your study sessions so you can replicate them on test day and trigger memory reca...

You knew the material. You studied hard. And then you sat down for the test and your mind went completely blank. That is not you forgetting what you learned. That is your nervous system cutting you off, and in this episode, we talk about exactly why that happens and what you can do about it. In Episode 26 of The Assessment Alchemist Podcast, Tina Wiles breaks down the freeze response, the often ov...

About the Episode 1 in 3 people fail a high-stakes exam on their first attempt. And when they go back to take it again, pass rates can drop below 50%. Those are enormous numbers, and almost nobody is talking about them. This episode is here to change that. In Episode 25 of The Assessment Alchemist Podcast, Tina Wiles shares the story of Mel, a professional engineer who failed her licensing exam 9...

If you've ever studied hard, felt confident going in, and then watched yourself change a correct answer to a wrong one, this episode is for you. In Episode 24, Tina Wiles breaks down the Overthinker mindset type, why it happens, and three skills you can use right in the middle of a test to stop the spiral. What You'll Learn in This Episode The five signs you're an Overthinker (and why high achieve...

About the Episode In this episode of The Assessment Alchemist, host Tina Wiles gets into the brain science behind why test anxiety makes you freeze, go blank, and overthink — even when you've studied and you know the material. Spoiler: it's not your fault, and it's not about studying harder. Tina breaks down exactly what's happening in your nervous system when you sit down to take a high-stakes ex...

About the Episode In this episode of The Assessment Alchemist, host Tina Wiles makes a bold and important claim: failing a high-stakes exam is almost never a content problem. Whether you're trying to pass a nursing entrance exam, a PE or FE exam, the bar exam, a cosmetology board, or any professional licensure test — the real barrier is almost always mindset and strategy, not knowledge. With passi...

About the Episode In this episode of The Assessment Alchemist, host Tina Wiles tackles one of the most frustrating experiences a test-taker can have: knowing the material inside and out — and still not seeing it reflected in your score. Tina explains why this disconnect is not a mystery and not your fault. A test doesn't measure how well you know the content; it measures how well you take a test....

About the Episode In this powerful episode of The Assessment Alchemist, host Tina Wiles returns to the podcast with exciting news: the expansion of From Panic to Passing to help professionals preparing for high-stakes exams. Tina opens with the story of Mal — a professional engineer who studied relentlessly, knew the material cold, and still couldn't pass her PE exam. Sound familiar? Tina breaks d...

About the Episode In this inspiring episode of The Assessment Alchemist, host Tina Wiles sits down with Kevin Guzzo, a veteran educator, athletic director, and certified Mental Performance Coach with Brian Kane’s Peak Performance. Together, they explore the power of Mental Performance Mastery (MPM)—a framework that helps educators, students, and professionals alike overcome burnout, manage test an...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is hosted by My2tor founder and test prep expert Tina Wiles, who sits down with civil engineer Melanie to share a story of resilience, healing, and triumph. In “From Trauma to Triumph: One Engineer’s Journey to Passing the PE Exam,” Melanie opens up about how unhealed trauma and years of personal hardship created a barrier between her and the test sh...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is hosted by My2tor founder and test prep expert Tina Wiles, who explores science-backed techniques to conquer exam stress. In “Unlocking Calm: Science-Backed Techniques to Beat Exam Stress,” Tina draws from her nearly 20 years of experience working with students and professionals to explain how stress impacts memory retrieval on test day—and what yo...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is hosted by My2tor founder and test prep expert Tina Wiles. Hosted by My2tor founder and test prep expert Tina Wiles, this episode of The Assessment Alchemist features an inspiring conversation with Dr. Carrie Redmond, the principal of Harmony Science Academy, Grand Prairie. Join Tina and Dr. Redmond as they delve into the transformative power of sc...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is hosted by My2tor founder and test prep expert Tina Wiles. Join host Tina Wiles on "The Assessment Alchemist" as she delves into the concept of psychological resilience and its vital role in overcoming test anxiety and high-stress situations. In this engaging solo episode, Tina shares practical exercises and insightful examples to help you build me...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is hosted by My2tor founder and test prep expert Tina Wiles. Join host Tina Wiles on "The Assessment Alchemist," as she dives into mastering the challenges of online exams. In this solo episode, Tina explores essential techniques for navigating digital testing environments, focusing on the effective use of software tools, strategic reading of questio...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is hosted by My2tor founder and test anxiety reduction specialist Tina Wiles. Join host Tina Wiles on "The Assessment Alchemist," as we delve into strategies for supporting neurodivergent students both at home and in educational settings. This episode features Jacqueline Ragan, Assistant Director at Ensemble Therapy Services, and Ashlyn Champagne, Cl...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is hosted by My2tor founder and test anxiety reduction specialist Tina Wiles. Join Tina as she welcomes Kirt Manecke, an award-winning author and entrepreneur, who has dedicated his career to empowering teens through the development of essential social and employability skills. In this enlightening discussion, Kirt shares the foundations and inspirat...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is brought to you by My2tor CEO and standardized test prep expert Tina Wiles . In this episode, Tina Wiles takes a deep dive into the first-ever digital SAT in the United States, providing invaluable insights into its structure, preparation strategies, and how understanding these aspects can significantly reduce test anxiety. #TheAssessmentAlchemist...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is brought to you by My2tor CEO and standardized test prep expert Tina Wiles . In this episode, Tina Wiles shines a light on overcoming test anxiety and mastering recall under pressure.. #TheAssessmentAlchemist We want to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us an email here . About the Episode: Welcome to "Recall Rescue: Beating Test Anxiety and...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is brought to you by My2tor CEO and standardized test prep expert Tina Wiles . In this episode, Tina Wiles delves into practical strategies to sharpen focus before and during exams. #TheAssessmentAlchemist We want to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us an email here . About the Episode: Welcome to "Zoom In, Stress Out: Navigating Focus for Te...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is brought to you by My2tor CEO and standardized test prep expert Tina Wiles . In this episode, Tina Wiles reveals the importance of teaching resiliency in a post-pandemic world. #TheAssessmentAlchemist We want to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us an email here . About the Episode: Episode Title: The Assessment Alchemist: Dr. Sherry Kelly o...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is brought to you by My2tor CEO and standardized test prep expert Tina Wiles . In this episode, Tina Wiles delves into artificial intelligence (AI) with an expert on using AI in Education, Dr Monica Burns. #TheAssessmentAlchemist We want to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us an email here . About the Episode: Episode Title: Navigating the AI...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is brought to you by My2tor CEO and standardized test prep expert Tina Wiles . In this episode, Tina Wiles delves into how mindfulness can transform educational experiences for both teachers and students. #TheAssessmentAlchemist We want to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us an email here . About the Episode: Episode Title: The Mindful Classr...

This week’s episode of The Assessment Alchemist is brought to you by My2tor CEO and standardized test prep expert Tina Wiles . In this episode, Tina Wiles delves into the fascinating topic of time management in the context of test preparation and exams #TheAssessmentAlchemist We want to hear your thoughts on this episode! Send us an email here . About the Episode: Episode 5 - The Assessment Alchem...