I'm enrolled in an ADAP program and my written assessment is coming up in 6 weeks. I did really well in the clinical rotation — chairside assisting and instrument handling felt natural from day one. The written portion is harder for me because I'm stronger doing than reading about doing.
I found an ADAP practice test that's been helpful for drilling the infection control and radiology sections. Those are my weaker areas — I can follow protocols but explaining the rationale behind sterilization categories or radiation safety standards is where I lose confidence.
Instrument identification has been my strongest section in practice tests. Does it carry significant weight in the actual exam?
The "rationale behind" approach you mentioned is exactly right for studying infection control. Memorizing steps is less reliable than understanding why the protocols exist — spore tests, biological indicators, why certain items must be sterilized vs. disinfected. The why gets you through edge case questions.
Six weeks is plenty of time. Clinical strength translates to exam strength more than people expect — a lot of the questions are scenario-based and reward people who've actually done the work. Keep drilling practice tests and pay specific attention to anything you got wrong.
Instrument identification is usually well-represented — it's a core competency of the role. But don't let it be a reason to underinvest in infection control. The radiology safety questions are very specific and the sterilization category questions (critical vs. semi-critical vs. non-critical) show up in multiple forms.