Study Tips for NBEO Part 1

How to Study for NBEO Part 1: A Complete Guide to Passing on Your First Attempt

Preparing for the NBEO Part 1 examination can feel overwhelming... says every professor ever. Our response to this is: there is NO CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING TO IT, IT IS ABSOLUTELY OVERWHELMING. How in the heck can one brain hold all this info?! And why do I need to know all of this info in the first place?

 With thousands of pages of material spanning optics, anatomy, pharmacology, ocular disease, binocular vision, and more, many students struggle to know where to begin. The good news is that success on the NBEO Part 1 is less about studying longer and more about studying smarter.

This guide outlines an effective strategy to help you maximize your study time, retain more information, and approach exam day with confidence.

What Is the NBEO Part 1 Exam?

NBEO Part 1, Applied Basic Science (ABS), evaluates your understanding of the foundational sciences that support the practice of optometry. Students are expected to integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines and recognize relationships between anatomy, physiology, optics, pharmacology, pathology, and vision science.

Start Early

One of the biggest mistakes students make is waiting until a few weeks before the exam to begin studying. Most successful candidates begin preparing approximately three to six months before their scheduled exam date.

A longer study timeline allows you to:

  • Review material multiple times.

  • Identify weak subjects early.

  • Practice answering board-style questions.

  • Reduce stress as exam day approaches.

Consistency is far more effective than marathon study sessions.

Create a Study Schedule

Rather than studying whichever topic feels easiest, develop a structured plan that covers every major subject.

A balanced study schedule should include:

  • Optics

  • Ocular anatomy

  • Physiology

  • Pharmacology

  • Ocular disease

  • Neuro-ophthalmic disease

  • Binocular vision

  • Contact lenses

  • Low vision

  • Public health and epidemiology

Schedule regular review days throughout your study period instead of waiting until the end to revisit earlier material.

Focus on Understanding Rather Than Memorization

The NBEO frequently presents information in new ways. Simply memorizing lists is often insufficient.

Instead, ask yourself:

  • Why does this disease occur?

  • How would this patient present clinically?

  • What findings distinguish this condition from similar diseases?

  • Which treatment is most appropriate and why?

Understanding the "why" behind concepts makes them easier to remember and apply during the exam.

Use Active Learning Techniques

Passive reading is one of the least effective study methods.

Instead, use active learning strategies such as:

  • Flashcards

  • Practice questions

  • Self-quizzing

  • Drawing anatomical structures

  • Explaining concepts aloud

  • Teaching classmates

The more frequently you retrieve information from memory, the stronger your long-term retention becomes.

Practice Board-Style Questions

Answering practice questions is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the NBEO.

Practice questions help you:

  • Identify knowledge gaps.

  • Improve test-taking endurance.

  • Become familiar with question wording.

  • Learn to distinguish between similar answer choices.

After each practice session, spend time reviewing both correct and incorrect answers. Understanding why an answer is correct is just as important as recognizing why the others are incorrect.

Master High-Yield Topics

Although every subject is important, students often find that certain areas require additional attention.

These commonly include:

  • Geometric and ophthalmic optics

  • Pharmacology

  • Ocular disease

  • Neuro-ophthalmic disorders

  • Binocular vision

  • Contact lenses

If one subject consistently gives you trouble, allocate additional review time instead of avoiding it.

Don't Ignore Optics

Many students consider optics one of the most challenging portions of the exam.

Success comes from repeated problem solving rather than reading formulas repeatedly.

Work through calculations, understand the underlying principles, and practice until the concepts become automatic.

Review Clinical Images

The NBEO includes clinical photographs and imaging.

Become comfortable recognizing:

  • Corneal disorders

  • Retinal disease

  • Optic nerve abnormalities

  • Glaucoma findings

  • Anterior segment pathology

  • OCT images

  • Fundus photographs

Learning to identify classic clinical findings can significantly improve your confidence during the exam.

Build Long-Term Memory

Rather than rereading notes repeatedly, use spaced repetition.

Review material:

  • One day later

  • Three days later

  • One week later

  • Two weeks later

  • One month later

Each review strengthens retention and reduces forgetting.

Take Full-Length Practice Exams

As your exam approaches, complete full-length practice exams under timed conditions.

This helps improve:

  • Time management

  • Mental endurance

  • Concentration

  • Confidence

After each exam, analyze your weakest areas and adjust your study plan accordingly.

Avoid Burnout

Studying every waking hour is rarely productive.

Maintain healthy habits by:

  • Getting adequate sleep.

  • Exercising regularly.

  • Taking scheduled breaks.

  • Eating balanced meals.

  • Maintaining realistic daily goals.

Your brain learns more effectively when it has time to recover.

Exam Day Tips

Before the exam:

  • Get a full night's sleep.

  • Eat a balanced breakfast.

  • Arrive early.

  • Bring the required identification and materials.

  • Read each question carefully.

  • Avoid spending too much time on any single question.

  • Stay calm and trust your preparation.

Remember that every student encounters questions they do not know. Focus on answering each question to the best of your ability and move forward.

Final Thoughts

Passing the NBEO Part 1 is absolutely achievable with a structured study plan, consistent practice, and high-quality review materials. The most successful students don't rely on last-minute cramming—they build knowledge gradually, practice actively, and continually reinforce what they've learned.

Whether you're beginning your preparation months in advance or refining your final review, staying organized and focusing on understanding rather than memorization will give you the greatest chance of success.

Good luck with your preparation, and remember: consistent progress each day adds up to exceptional results on exam day. Remember eventually inches turn to miles. (notch away at it slowly but surely)

Dr. Amy's Tips

As you can see from my teaching style, I love Mnemonics . I think if you use mine that is fine: but its even better if you make your own and draw it out so you can remember it in a crunch. 

My second biggest tip is having fun actively learning. What I mean by this is trick your brain into being like this is fun, I WANT to learn this. If you dwell on this is stupid why do I need to know this , your brain will not put it in its filing cabinet at all. So trick it and be like how lucky am I that I get to learn the filtration pathway of the kidney. Then stop every video every step and draw the steps with the video (on real paper, not digital is my suggestion). Then practice drawing the whole pathway without the aid of digital. 

Digital is great and it feeds us answers. But on test day you won't have it to rely on- just you and your brain. 

Dr. Emily's Tips

Don't just focus on the big topics. Don't just skip or wing optics and binocular vision because you hate it. Optics will never be the ten page long equations, they know you are on a time crunch so now the basic first steps and equations. Use AI to your advantage but not a crutch. Ask AI "I'm having a hard time remembering this specific pathway, can you break it down so I can learn it easier" then study that until you actually know it front and back. Most students think they know it after reading AI answer once but passively reading is must different than actually taking the time to understand it and learn it. If it takes one more hour of your day to get the concept done, that is one less worry on test day. 

Looking for a complete board review? See our NBEO Part 1 course.