Since we first offered our prep programs online several years ago, our customers have taken thousands of mock exams. By looking at these practice tests as a whole, we’ve learned some important lessons that can help you and all examinees.
We analyzed a large sample of practice tests taken on our platform, across different exam prep programs. Here are three of the things we’ve learned.
1. Most people fail their first mock exam attempt
This was a surprise to me. I figured that, after reviewing all of the material in depth through our video lectures, that initial attempt scores would be at least middling. But they weren’t. Mastering this kind of four-option, multiple-choice exam is a skill set unto itself (see #3 below), and that skill set can take some time to build.
So, if you found that your performance on your first mock exam isn’t what you hoped it would be, don’t worry. You’re not alone. It turns out that almost everyone fails their first mock exam attempt – and almost everyone who completes our programs passes the real thing.
2. Different attempts provide different signals
The overwhelming majority of our customers pass their actual exams. So those initial, failing scores on first mock attempts aren’t predictive of actual exam performance. If you use that first attempt to carefully review item rationales and performance data, you are likely to improve your readiness for the real thing.
At this point, we don’t have enough of a data set of people who failed their real exam [/low-key flex] to identify specific warning signs, like cutoff scores on our final mocks where you should be concerned. But even if we had such flags, your specific scores on mock exams matter a lot less than understanding why you’re scoring where you are. Do you have areas of content strength or weakness? Are you making consistent errors on certain questions? Again, reviewing the rationales for your mock exam attempts can go a long way.
You should interpret scores on retakes of mock exams with particular caution. Practice effects, where your score is influenced by remembering mock exam items, are a real thing. Improvement in performance on a mock exam on a second or third attempt can demonstrate mastery of those specific questions. But your real exam will be testing your ability to apply knowledge in unfamiliar situations, so It's important to focus on improving your knowledge and skills across the broad base of information and situations your actual exam might cover, and not just on the specific questions on a single mock exam.
Put more simply, a strong performance on your first attempt at a mock exam can be a good signal of readiness for the real thing. A strong performance on a second or third attempt shouldn't be interpreted that way.
3. Test-taking skills and anxiety management matter a lot
Since we introduced our Think Like the Test™ videos, we’ve noticed a clear uptick in mock exam performance – for those who actually watched that video all the way through. Folks who hadn’t viewed that segment, or had only viewed a small part of it, missed a potentially easy bump in their test scores.
The fact is, test-taking skills matter a great deal on the real exam. You may have a solid understanding of the material, but unless you understand how questions are asked and why some appealing answer choices can be wrong, you can fall into traps that would otherwise be easy to avoid.
Our exam prep programs give you that understanding, helping you avoid those traps. Our programs cover all three pillars of success on your real exam: Knowledge, test-taking skill, and anxiety management.
Originally posted August 9, 2023. Updated June 17, 2025.
