Why Did I Fail the NREMT?

Understanding the NREMT Exam

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam is a crucial step for aspiring EMTs and Paramedics. It's designed to ensure that candidates possess the necessary skills and knowledge to provide emergency medical care. However, many candidates find themselves struggling to pass this challenging exam even if they excelled in their class. Understanding the common reasons for failure and learning how to overcome them is key to achieving success.

Common Pitfalls in the NREMT Exam

Lack of Preparation

One of the most frequent reasons for failing the NREMT exam is insufficient preparation, either due to a poor class or lack of personal effort. The rise of accelerated and online courses has greatly contributed to this issue, as students are not able to ask necessary questions or have time to fully absorb complex material. In other instances, you may have had instructors who taught you "local protocol" rather than national protocols or taught you how to pass their class exams without adequately preparing you for the NREMT. 

Any one or a combination of these issues causes the student to resort to word association and answer memorization to pass their class rather than understanding the "why" behind complicated concepts. This leads to students passing their class but then having difficulty with the tricky NREMT-style questions, which can be both difficult to break down and require in-depth knowledge of the topic to answer correctly.

Trouble Breaking down NREMT-Style Questions

Another very common reason for students to fail the NREMT is due to both the style and difficulty of NREMT questions. Many students feel like they have a good understanding of most concepts, but then struggle explaining either the "why" behind the concept or how to apply that knowledge to scenario-based questions.

Even if you did well in class, the class exams may not mirror registry style questions very well. Many registry questions have answer options that are very similar and they are scenario-based questions. These two components make having an in-depth knowledge of the "why" absolutely essential to choose correct answers.

Test Anxiety

Another significant factor is test anxiety. The pressure of taking a high-stakes exam can lead to stress and anxiety, which can negatively impact performance. Most students realize that not only is this exam going to be more difficult than probably any other they have taken, but it also usually determines the potential for employment opportunities. There is also added stress with the cost of each exam attempt, money spent on preparation materials, and knowing you only have a limited number of attempts to pass.

This anxiety can lead to second guessing yourself on answers, especially if you have failed multiple times and consequently lost you confidence as well. Always keep in mind that you MAY get some answers correct by guessing, but you will for SURE get multiple incorrect. Know that you are not alone with these doubts. All of these factors and circumstances are currently happening to many others as well. Do NOT get discouraged though! There are solutions to each of these problems, and you most certainly can still pass the NREMT if you are willing to put in the work!

Solutions for These Problems

Flashcards

I know the majority of us despise writing out and going over flashcards, but that is one of the most effective ways to memorize anything you are struggling to remember. If you are coming across words you are not familiar with, make a flashcard and go over it daily until the information is 100% solidified. The NREMT uses medical terminology frequently, so failure to understand these words means you might as well be taking the exam in a foreign language.

Use this same process for any other topics you struggle with, especially disease processes. Make sure to write the symptoms that are "unique" to that disease process in a special area, as those are going to be key to separating it from other disease processes. Putting the time in to commit these words and concepts to memory is an absolute necessity for passing the NREMT.

Online Practice Quizzes

Online practice quizzes are my number one overall recommendation for improving both your knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge to answering scenario-based questions. PocketPrep is my personal favorite, but I just recommend any app that has two key features. 1. It allows you to choose the topics and number of questions you want to be quizzed on. 2. Has a thorough explanation of why you got the answer correct or incorrect. This saves you from having to spend hours researching topics in your textbook, therefore making your studying much more efficient and productive.

Take the time to review your quizzes. Look at both the questions you got wrong as well as the ones you guessed on but got correct. Determine exactly why you missed the question. Are you not familiar enough with the signs and symptoms of that disease process and what sets it apart from the others? Did you fail to understand the question because of words you are not familiar with? Did you choose an answer that was somewhat correct but not as correct as another? Or are you misreading questions, answer options, or second guessing yourself after initially having the right answer? Taking the time to spot these weak areas and correct them is ESSENTIAL for passing the NREMT!

Study Groups and Tutoring

If you have come to the realization during or after your class that there are topics you are failing to understand thoroughly, then do not be afraid to ask for help! Your primary resource of course should be your instructor. If you are out of class or in a class without time or instructor access for asking questions, there are other options.

Studying with other students who know the material can be very helpful, just remember that they are also students alongside you though and may have gaps in their knowledge or ability to explain concepts. See if there are EMTs or Paramedics who have passed their NREMT and are willing to share their knowledge. Your ambulance ride time during class is a great opportunity to make connections for this! 

Online tutoring is another excellent option, and can often be the most effective and efficient. An experienced tutor will be able to show you where and why you are failing, explain any NREMT content in-depth in a way you can comprehend and remember, and restore confidence in your ability to pass this difficult exam. Although it can be difficult to find a tutor that fits your style of learning, and it may seem like an added cost, you will ultimately save both time and money by reducing how long it takes before you successfully pass the exam and the cost of multiple exam attempts. This is another reason why I give my students their first session for FREE! 

By understanding the common reasons for failing the NREMT exam and implementing these strategies, you can increase your chances of success. Remember, persistence and dedication are crucial, so keep pushing forward until you achieve your goal. If you put in the work and utilize the necessary resources, you will achieve your certification and the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes along with it!