All Things Transcription

In many cases, to obtain a job in medical transcription you must pass a pre-employment test. These tests usually consist of an objective portion and a transcription portion. The objective portion of the test may include questions regarding medical terminology, spelling and grammar and fill in the blank. Occasionally, the objective portion is timed. Usually the objective portion of the test is completed and the invitation to proceed with the transcription portion of the test hinges on your score on the objective portion.

There are some general hints regarding test taking that apply to medical transcription pre-employment tests that may help the recent graduate with passing these tests. Most importantly, try to relax. Yes, I know, the entire process is nerve racking. However, if you are exceedingly nervous, you may misread the instructions for the test right off the bat. This is an immediate recipe for disaster. Perhaps you placed a punctuation mark within a fill in the blank answer out of habit but the instructions cautioned you not to do this. You did not see the instructions in the grammar portion stating to type “correct as is” if the sentence is punctuated correctly and just left it blank. Even though you know the material, because you did not read the instructions carefully, the answer is incorrect because you did not follow the test format.

If the test gives you the opportunity to save the answers in each section, do so. Computers are contrary things and, if you use this feature, it can save you a lot of trouble if your computer crashes or the test site experiences problems. The answers you have completed will still be there when you log back into the test site. If the test is timed, this can be crucial since it allows you to pick up where you left off instead of wasting valuable time reworking sections you have already completed.

Always make sure that you clicked the correct answers before you save the section. Even if the test is timed, you must take the time to glance back over each question to ensure that you haven't mistakenly clicked the wrong answer. How disappointing to receive a poor test score and then find out that you would have gotten one or two more correct answers if only you had taken this step.

Most medical transcription pre-employment tests allow you to use any research materials that you choose. Make use of these! Research is something you do every day on the job, so why take a chance. Even if you are 100% sure about an answer, check it anyway. That may be the one that you clicked the wrong one on. I would also suggest that if you get stuck on something, move on and come back to it. Just do not forget to come back to it. This is standard test taking advice and it is good advice. If the test is timed, why take the chance of not having the time to answer the ones you do know because you spent too long on one question. At least it gives you the opportunity to only miss that one question you left blank.

Have your chosen references close at hand and ready to go. If you use specific websites, make use of the tab feature and bring up the ones you feel you will use beforehand to avoid wasting time during the test. You don't want to find out the site you usually use for abbreviations is down and have to spend time looking for another one. Never forget, Google is your friend! However, make sure you choose a reputable site. Do not just glance at the page of results and accept what you see in the site synopses at face value.

You may find in the spelling and grammar sections that you will be looking for grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors in the same sentence or paragraph. This will be followed by multiple choice answers or boxes to fill in the misspelled words or both. Be very careful with this format. Make sure that you have clicked the correct answer buttons and make sure not to use punctuation in the boxes unless instructed to do so.

If you are invited to continue the test with the transcription portion, again, do not panic. Take a deep breath. Relax. Make sure you have enough time to complete the test in the time you are given to complete it. If references are allowed, follow the advice above. For the record, I have yet to hear of any pre-employment test that does not allow references.

Regarding blanks or flags on transcription tests, NEVER GUESS! I see many people getting their panties in a wad about this subject. How many blanks are good/bad? What should I use for blanks? Should I use parentheses? Underscores? Should I include (s/l)s? I use 5 underscores for blanks at work. I would do the same for a test. This is just my preference. Just make sure that the format you use is clearly a blank. The most important thing here, again, is that you just DO NOT GUESS. You will not do this in a work situation, you do not want to do this on a test. Guaranteed fail. Epic fail. You just will not get a job this way. You cannot fake it if you do not know it.

That being said, we have all either heard horror stories about or have been on the receiving in of some of the worst dictations known to medical transcriptionists. Chewing, sneezing, ringing phones, mumblers, auctioneers, page shufflers, film rattlers and, of course, "Is that doctor really speaking English?" You may find one of these on your test. Again, do not panic! Most companies want to see what you will do with these. "But I can't turn it in with 15 blanks," you say? Yes, you can and that is probably what they are expecting to see from a new medical transcriptionist. Better 15 blanks then guessing. Have I mentioned NOT TO GUESS?

Listen to the dictation, transcribe it, do a second pass, a third pass, read it backwards, read it out loud, print it out and use a red pen. It does not matter what you do to make sure you have done your very best on the transcription portion of your pre-employment test, as long as you do your best every time you take one. Indeed, you may expect to fail a few. Keep taking them. It is excellent practice.

It is also worth mentioning here that you do not want to use any forum to ask questions while you are testing. Not your school forum and not industry forums. Do not even consider it. No matter how desperate you are. It is better to fail the test than to participate in this kind of cheating. You may think that no one will find you out, but they will. You may be banned from the forum. Worst case scenario is that someone notifies the company that you are testing for of this transgression. You may find yourself unable to obtain any type of employment if word of this gets around. It is, after all, a small community.

If you have graduated from a reputable training program, you will be able to find gainful employment as a medical transcriptionist. Be confident that even if you fail a few tests, you will pass some too. Then all you have to worry about is what job offer to take! Good luck and happy testing!