My RD Exam Experience

I cannot get into the specific questions I have witnessed in the exam itself, since this act is not permitted.

My exam date was about 8 months after completing the didactic internship.  This may be too long a time of a window for some to schedule, but it worked out just fine for myself.

As for a study tool, I began in August (5 months prior to taking the exam) researching and writing questions for my database used in the RD Practice Exam CD-ROM.  I guess this was a more conventional, textbook way to study.  This may be more in depth than what you, or others plan to go through for studying, but for myself, it needed to be done.

Registering for an exam was easy and painless.  All you need to do is call the Commission on Dietetic Registration.  The people were very nice, and you get many dates from which to choose.

I went to sleep early the night before the exam day in order to feel refreshed.  My exam was scheduled at 1:00 pm in the afternoon, so I found myself just waiting around, feeling nervous like someone about to be executed!  But I hear this feeling is common, so try to remain relaxed.

As for the test itself, it is on the computer and 2 1/2 hours in length.  As you first sit down at the computer, you must go through a short tutorial - this just prepares you for taking the exam, making sure you hit the correct buttons.  The test is set up to shut off when you get a passing score.  The amount of questions you must answer is about 120, and the maximum you can answer is about 145.  I know I just about maxed out the number of questions I could take.  At around number 140, the exam shut off!  Towards the end, I was having some anxiety because I knew it would shut off when I passed, but more questions kept coming!  I finished with 23 minutes remaining on the clock.  (There is a timer counting down from 2 hours and 30 minutes.  If this makes you nervous, you can click a button to hide the timer.)

Following the test, I just wanted to know my score.  But you must first fill out a post-test survey (maybe another 5 minutes).  Then I got my score - 26 out of 50.  This is a passing grade.  You need a 25 out of 50 to pass.  Now this does not mean you can get 70 right and 70 wrong; it's not actually 50%.  It is based on a point scale, where each question is ranked for difficulty - more difficult questions get more points.  From what I've heard, if you get an "easy" question correct, you are asked a more difficult one.

Well, I cannot tell you the questions I saw, but I can tell you what kind of questions there were.  There were maybe only about 10 or so mathematical questions, where you have to use a calculator (which the center will provide for you).  After I decided on the correct answer, I tried plugging in the numbers in different ways.  Each answer provided can be computed in some way or another with the information given in the problem.  So my advice to you is to read the problem carefully and not just choose the first answer you get from the calculator.

The rest of the 130 questions consisted of mostly "situational" questions.  Situational are those that ask, "What would you do in this situation?"  It is hard to prepare for this type.  You have to rely on instinct.  What you would do is not necessarily what the ADA thinks you should do.

And the remaining questions seemed to be equally weighted between the rest of the domains: Basic Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Sanitation, etc...

I found that with nearly all the questions in the exam, I was able to discard 2 obvious answers.  But for the other 2, I had to really think about.

I wish you all the best of luck when you decide to take the exam!  And remember, just relax, and read each question carefully.

I would like to hear about your exam experiences.  Please drop me an email!

Best regards.........Ryan T Hartz, MS, RD, CSSD