The NBEO Optometry Boards Part I exam will likely be the most challenging exam you encounter in optometry school.
It’s a grueling ordeal, but also a necessary step in becoming a licensed optometrist. While there is no right or wrong way to study or prepare for these exams, our goal is to provide as many resources as possible to our colleagues getting ready to confront these major milestones! Preparing for the exam is one of the most daunting tasks you will face!
We hosted a YouTube Live with third year optometry student, Emilie Seitz (@eyeseitz), on February 12th, 2019 at 7:30pm EST!
We talked about:
- Your study strategy and materials
- When to start studying
- How to juggle studying, coursework, clinic, and having some sort of social life
- How to study
- Do you need multiple resources for studying or can you just rely on KMK
- What do do in the days leading up to the exam
- The general aftermath of the exam
If you are takingNBEOOptometry Boards Part I in a few months, or will be facing it next year, you’ll want to tune in!
Want help getting organized for NBEO Part 1? Check out our printable study schedule!
General Information About NBEO Optometry Boards Part I
The NBEO Optometry Boards Part I was hands down the most challenging exam I have ever taken, both mentally and physically. Fortunately, there are more resources than ever before to help students prepare.
Information about the exam:
Here is the official testing brief.
The Part I examination, also known as “Applied Basic Science” (ABS®), tests basic science concepts deemed necessary to practice of optometry. That means essentially everything you have learned from undergrad to this point in your optometric journey is fair game.
There are 350 scored items and 20 non-scored pre-test items on the ABS® examination. The exam spans two sessions, each consisting of 185 items, with candidates given four hours to complete each session.
The exam is scheduled on March 19 or 20 or 21 or 22, 2019.
As stated before, there is no right or wrong when it comes to studying for boards. There are a plethora of resources available, and we discussed them during our YouTube Live!
