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Failed the mental health and psychology exam twice, need advice badly

by Chloe W. 1,075 views3 replies
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Chloe W.OP
May 27, 2026

I've been studying for this thing for almost four months now and I just got my second failed attempt back last week. Honestly feeling pretty defeated. I'm a working mom of two so I can only get in about 45 minutes to an hour of studying most nights, and I think my weak spots are anxiety disorders and psychological assessment — those sections just keep killing my score.

Someone in my cohort mentioned doing timed practice tests instead of just reading through the material, which I hadn't really tried yet. I found the Mental Health and Psychology Anxiety Disorders practice test and it was humbling — exposed a ton of gaps I didn't even know I had. Like I thought I understood GAD vs panic disorder but apparently not well enough to apply it under pressure.

Has anyone here passed after multiple attempts? I need realistic exam tips and maybe a better study guide structure. My third attempt is scheduled for early July so I have about six weeks. What actually helped you get over the hump?

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James R.
May 28, 2026
Six weeks is actually plenty of time if you use it right. I'd suggest dedicating the first two weeks purely to your weak areas rather than reviewing everything equally. For psychological assessment specifically, I drilled on test reliability vs validity until it was automatic. Also — are you simulating real exam conditions when you practice? Timed, no notes, no interruptions? That alone closed like a 12-point gap for me between practice and actual exam performance.
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Hannah K.
May 28, 2026
Two failed attempts here before I finally passed on my third try, so you're not alone. What changed for me was switching from passive reading to active recall — I'd cover my notes and try to explain concepts out loud. The anxiety disorders material specifically tripped me up because the DSM criteria overlap so much. I also started scoring myself honestly on practice tests instead of just checking answers after. That mindset shift made a real difference.
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Daniel M.
May 28, 2026
The Psychological Assessment 3 practice test really helped me nail down those tricky norming and standardization questions. Don't overlook that one. And honestly, hang in there — third time was the charm for a lot of people I know in this field.

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