NCLB Certification | Application | Study for Exam | What to Bring
Recertification | Find NCLBs | NLBCT Statistical Report
How to Study for the NCLB Exam
This document is intended to provide general guidance on commonly encountered mistakes made on the NCLB exam. This summary should not be considered a substitute for studying for the exam, but rather for focusing exam preparation. The following are not in any particular order.
Studying
It is recommended that all applicants study for this exam with particular attention to the four sections: writing with a Braillewriter, writing with a Slate & Stylus, Proofreading, and Multiple Choice – a sample exam is available on the NBPCB website. Applicants should use the manual of their choice to study braille rules and contractions of American English Literary Braille. In addition, applicants are encouraged to study literary braille symbols and problem words, including rules for their proper use in various situations.
Formatting
Applicants should pay particular attention to formatting. It is important to understand and apply correct margins and orientation to 11x11.5 paper using a 40-cell line and 8.5x11 paper. An applicant will lose points for improper application of margin width, line length, centering, indentation, or other paper orientation conventions and formatting rules. Applicants must follow directions that are specific to each section of the exam regarding hyphenation, centering, and formatting.
Composition Signs
Applicants are encouraged to understand rules and special conditions related to composition signs. These may include italics, capitalization, letter signs, number signs, etc.
Errors and Omissions
The NCLB exam is a test of braille knowledge and accuracy. Applicants should be able to read and write braille well enough to limit errors and omissions. Errors occur when an applicant fails to erase mistakes completely, overtypes words or letters, or uses the wrong braille character. Omissions include leaving out letters, words, or entire sections of the exam.
Additional Information
NCLB Sample Test
The NCLB sample tests were designed to give applicants an idea of what will be on the test. It is not intended to replace other study materials. Click here to Download the Sample Tests.
BANA English Braille American Edition (EBAE)
Click here to go to the EBAE online. A braille or print copy of the EBAE, Revised 2002 Edition will be available for candidates use during the first three sections of the exam. Use of the 2002 or 2007 rules are acceptable, but the 2007 updates will be required by 2012.
Study Guides
Most candidates have found that they study best from the book they used to learn braille. For reference, the test covers the Braille Transcribers Manual through at least Lesson 15.