I hope you were able to catch my IG Live. As promised, I wanted to talk about how to pass the RD Exam on the first attempt.

According to the Academy, in 2020, 67.3% of dietitians passed their RD Exam on their first attempt. Before you get too caught up in the statistics remember, you aren’t playing the odds. You are a willing participant in the outcome of passing the RD exam. You CAN pass the test on your first attempt! While much of the exam is about understanding and knowing the material, knowing how to take a standardized test is equally as important!

The RD exam is a challenging exam, but so was your DPD-program, Dietetic Internship, biochem, organic, food science, food law, and life in the COVID-era. You can do this! I promise. You have and you will do harder things.

The questions are not there to trick you. The exam tests your attention to detail, ability to assess the most important information given, and critical thinking. My hope is that these tips will not only help you prepare for your RD exam in the best way possible but also help you go into your exam with a sound mind and confidence that you deserve to and can pass this exam!

Are you seeing a trend? You can pass your RD Exam on the first attempt!

How to Pass Your RD Exam on the First Attempt

Narrow Down Your Study Resources

I passed the RD exam after studying consistently for about 8 weeks using primarily Jean Inman, Visual Veggies, and Pocket Prep.

This leads me to my first bit of advice- narrow down your study resources.

My internship program provided each intern with Jean Inman. Due to campus restrictions during COVID, I purchased Visual Veggies software on my computer. I also purchased Pocket Prep app on my phone. Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

Jean Inman walks you through each domain. I could listen to the USB in my car. I downloaded the audio to my phone so that I could listen to it at the gym or on walks. Jean Inman covers each domain while noting key topics.

Visual Veggies software helped me track my progress over time. I loved the whiteboard videos and rationales provided for answer choices. I also liked the ability to take full practice exams that simulated the RD Exam. That helped me get into the right frame of mind while studying.

I love Pocket Prep because I was able to take it with me everywhere. I would answer questions while waiting to get my oil changed, on an airplane, or just on the go. Similar to Visual Veggies, Pocket Prep provided rationale and references to find follow-up information.

While resources named above were my main, everyday resources, I still found it useful to check into study groups on FB, study groups with NOBIDAN, and my weekly study group with those from my cohort. Additional supplemental study resources included Chomping Down the Dietetics Exam Podcast and occasionally YouTube videos.

The key point is to find what works for you based on your budget, your style of learning, and the amount of time you have to study.

Create a Realistic Study Schedule

During this season of my life, I was incredibly fortunate I was able to focus solely on school and not have to juggle work at the same time. I feel for those of you on the grind! It’s not easy, I know! I realize this is a privilege and was largely how I was able to study.

This is the time, you need to sit down and be honest with yourself about how long and when you will be able to study. I initially wanted to dedicate 8-10 weeks to study. For the first 3 weeks, I studied for about 15-25 hours a week. After this week, I assessed my progress (motivation and concentration) and reduced my study time to no more than 20 hours per week (4 hours a day).

Can you study 5 hours a week? Great! 20 hours? Awesome! Make your schedule realistic to your season of life, because my schedule may not be realistic for individuals who are working, juggling family, and other responsibilities. Self-care during this time (in the form of eating well and resting) is equally, if not more, important than getting the study time in. 

This is where I want to “note” (Jean Inman voice), CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF, and adjust your schedule accordingly. As you approach your exam date, your studying will probably begin to taper.

Schedule Your RD Exam (you can always change your date)

Unpopular opinion: Don’t line up your dream job with the RD Exam hanging over your head.

Congratulations! Schedule your exam.

You don’t have a job lined up? One will come, schedule your exam!

If your goal were to run a marathon, wouldn’t you schedule your race before putting in all the training? That’s the only example I got. You’re not Forrest Gump. You have motivation. Schedule your RD Exam! (And then watch Forrest Gump, if you haven’t already).

Treat Practice Tests as Study Material

Memorizing answers will not do you any favors. I’ve heard many people say things along the lines of, “I only got 2 questions from Jean Inman on my RD Exam.” Quite honestly, I couldn’t tell you if any question I studied was actually on my RD Exam, and here’s why:

Aside from my weekly full-length practice test on Visual Veggies, I made a spreadsheet and started adding questions from my practice tests. Then, I looked up the rationale for every answer- even the wrong answers.

This forced me not to memorize answers. This also forced me to know what EVERY answer meant so I could get future questions correct. While this is incredibly time-consuming, it was a lifesaver. After answering the question correctly, I would then rephrase the questions by adding the word “not,”  “most,” or “least” to see how other answers could be correct if asked a different way.

Manage Stressors

You need to find a way to manage stressors. For me, planning meals was a point of stress. The time it was taking to plan meals, go to the store, and cook was valuable time I could be use to study but was not all that enjoyable as I was studying all this stuff. With great advice from my friend, Dawn, I decided it was a good time to try out a meal delivery service and not think about meals for a little while.  I know this may not be an option for everyone, I would just say, this is the time to take advantage of people offering to help. Whether it’s running an errand for you, cooking dinner, or babysitting the kids for a little bit, TAKE UP THE OFFER.

Write Down Affirmations

I know this seems cheesy and unnatural, especially if you’re not used to being your biggest supporter. I wrote a list of seven affirmations on my whiteboard, which I read EVERY DAY before I studied. I mean, EVERY DAY! 

When writing affirmations, I think it’s important to remember why. Your “why” comes from looking at past experiences, not future ones. With the exception of #3, my affirmations were written based on my journey to this point. If you don’t have affirmations, borrow mine. Write them down on a whiteboard or on your phone. Just be sure to look at them daily.

1. I am a dietitian
2. I know this information
3. I will pass my RD Exam on the first attempt
4. I am intelligent & capable
5. I am determined
6. I have done harder things
7. I deserve this

Take Breaks and Get Some Fresh Air

You can’t be all work and no play. But, also don’t be all play and no work. Take breaks that don’t involve studying. Go for walks or runs. Meet a friend for coffee. Listen to music! I made an awesome playlist if you need a break to bake cookies! Find a way to be human. Get some sunlight, you won’t regret it.

Nourish Yourself Kindly

I don’t want to hurt your feelings; coffee is not a meal. We both know this. We know food can serve two functions: nourishment and pleasure. We need food for both. Don’t forget to choose foods that provide enough nourishment to be able to study and function with clarity. Don’t let yourself get too hungry during your sessions. When your body feels nourished, you will be able to concentrate.

Trust Your Gut

Unless you know with ABSOLUTE certainty your first answer is wrong, trust your gut. Don’t change your answer. The majority of the time when you change your answer, you were right the first time. I STRUGGLED HARD WITH THIS taking practice exams, then I had to stop. You know this information, trust you know it.

BELIEVE YOU WILL PASS! (I changed CAN to WILL)

On exam day, you’ve done everything you can do, you just have to show up. Yes, there may be topics you didn’t cover or things you still don’t quite understand, you are still more than prepared for this exam.

This is not the time to cram. You pose more of a risk of misremembering. Wake up (or sleep in), enjoy your first meal, go get your nails done, or treat yourself to your favorite lunch spot. You’ve made it! Today is the day you get to become a Registered Dietitian! Be sure to nourish yourself appropriately before your test.

Before you answer your first question, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, and say to yourself, “I’m here. I’ve studied. I know this. I am smart. I’m going to be a Registered Dietitian today.”

There may be questions you don’t even know where to start. Make sure to read the complete question. Then, read it again. Write down keywords such as most, least, best, effective, etc. Look at the action verb in the answer choices- more often than not, dietitians will make decisions that offer the least amount of risk and requires us to EVALUATE and ASSESS the situation.

If you still are struggling with narrowing down answers, take your best guess. I decided ahead of time, that if I came to this point, my answer was going to be ‘D’ every time unless I was certain ‘D’ was not right. Choose an answer and let it go. Don’t dwell on it. 

At the end of the day, the RD Exam is just that, an exam. Yes, it’s important, however, it will always be there. 

I wish you the best of luck and I know you got this! Message me if you have questions.