WE PASSED THE RD EXAM!
We both had jobs during quarantine and weren't sure when testing centers would open! Luckily, most testing sites in Massachusetts were available in August. We understand how you might feel like there is pressure on you to pass after putting in so much time and dedication to this moment. Most Dietetics students are “Type A” and tend to hyper focus. With this type of test, it is not beneficial for you to try to understand everything. We get that everyone has a different best method of studying and that’s why we are sharing our TOP TIPS FOR PASSING THE CDR RD EXAM.
Make sure to read through the whole blog because we have a VERY important question for you at the end!
Go through Inman once first and then pick a test date.
Try your best to commit to the test date, but if you feel like you need more time, don’t be afraid to push it back a week.
Try to stick to the type of studying that works best for YOU.
There are SO many different methods of studying. Try it out and see what works for you. Stay consistent!
Make a study schedule
Split up all the different topics and hours in a day - DON’T try and cram as much material as you can in 4 hours. That will only overwhelm you and won’t help you learn the material. It is all about controlling your stress and worries as you study. Some days, we only studied for one hour, and that is OK!
Write out your OWN flash cards; make your OWN Quizlets.
There are many pre-made ones already, but those are tailored to the person who created it and may not be beneficial to your preparation and some are based on older Inman editions which means the answer might be wrong.
Inman questions and answers
Unfortunately, Inman does not provide the answers to the questions. Browse through Quizlets where there are answers or talk it out with a friend.
Facebook groups
There are numerous Facebook groups where people post questions or offer virtual classes and tutoring - Choose wisely. It can be overwhelming to read people’s test experiences, whether positive or negative, which can make you even more nervous for the exam!
Study Groups
If you study with people, test it out to see if a bigger group or a smaller group benefits you more.
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE QUESTIONS TIMED!
Most of the questions on the exam, in our experience, were a combination of styles from the Inman, PocketPrep, CDR binder, and Visual Veggies.
Believe in yourself!
Believe that all the years you put into your career will carry you through. Some of the difficult topics wasn’t even on the exam! Most of our success to passing the test was based on the 6 years of schooling and being confident.
Fake it till you make it.
Seriously! Be confident and don’t overthink the exam. The last month before the exam, focus on your confidence and how to calm yourself down when you get anxious and nervous.
Scheduling BREAK TIMES and STRETCHING!
There’s a lot of material so you want to make sure you are giving yourself to process the information and rest so that you don’t come out of studying having tense shoulders and sore muscles.
Stay hydrated and nourished!
Feeding your mind and body with nutrients and compassion helps immensely. *Practice tests WITHOUT drinking water since you are not allowed to have any water during the actual test.
Highlighters!
Get lots of different colored highlighters so that when you’re getting through Jean Inman, you can use the different highlighters to organize how you want to learn the information.
THIS TEST DOES NOT DEFINE YOU
Don’t make this test a bigger deal than it really is.
STUDYING RESOURCES
We both thought that prioritizing the Inman was the best. The materials and questions from the Inman were most similar to the exam. Investing in PocketPrep ($25 on phone-app or on computer) would be the next best since it is similar to Inman, very convenient, and affordable. If you planned for more time to study (ex: more than two months), Visual Veggies is worth it because there are many video tutorials on major topics, short and full test simulations, and much more! We both agree that the questions on Visual Veggies is the hardest, so don’t freak out if you’re scoring lower on Visual Veggies compared to other resources. Visual Veggies definitely covers more than the Inman. The CEO of Visual Veggies is EXTREMELY compassionate and helpful! If you ever have questions or concerns, someone will definitely help you feel better if you contact them!
BONUS: Would anyone be interested in receiving an email with practice questions once a week? We have a lot of resources from studying for months so let us know if you’re interested in getting a little additional help.
