How I Passed The NMLS Exam And Then Secured MLO Job

In this blog, we will discuss and cover how I passed the NMLS exam the first time around and how I landed my first job as a mortgage loan originator. The minute I passed the NMLS exam, I contacted Gustan Cho to let him know how I passed the NMLS exam. Left him a message and within the hour, I got a congratulatory call with a guaranteed job offer. What an amazing day. Gustan Cho asked me if I would write an article on how I passed the NMLS exam to inspire others who were studying for the exam. He went further and asked if I can detail my study methods and regimen on how I passed the NMLS exam on the first try.

Is The NMLS Mortgage Loan Originator Exam Difficult?

Best Study Materials To Use To Pass The Exam The First Time Around

Personally, I scored very highly in the ethics and uniform state content categories and scored worse in federal mortgage-related laws. This enabled me to learn my weakness and by the day of the exam, I had spent such a great amount of time on that specific category that it was in equal strength to the other topics. 

The Day of The NMLS EXAM

While learning the information the next most important aspect to work on is controlling the emotion involved. No matter how you choose to look at the test, calling it high stakes would be a fair assessment. This can be turned into a personal advantage, however. The exam is an intimidating wall in the path of your career. However, if you can peek over that wall at life afterward it serves as motivation. This method works the same way as most competitions. Be that a sport, debate, friendship, or anything else.

Fighting Off Anxiety The Day of the NMLS EXAM

If the challenge ahead is difficult, rise up to the challenge. See that much less than fifty percent of first-time takers pass this exam and take that personally. Put in maximum effort to avoid being one of the unlucky ones. This “I will be a winner” mentality helped me greatly. In my life tests have always been a struggle, it brings the worst out of my anxiety and anxiety can cloud the mind.

Overpowering this was a must-do for my success and with the right mentality, I succeeded and so can you. The frustration of taking four tests a day to see my grade go from seventy-six percent to seventy-seven percent is immense. Yet this is still an improvement, the process can be fast or slow depending on the person so do your best to give at least a couple of weeks prior to the exam for practice tests.

The MLO NMLS Testing Center

Once the knowledge had been learned and my mind was in the right place, the minutes were ticking down to test time. Make sure the screen you are taking the test on has a working camera and all study materials are removed from the room and you are ready to go. Sorry if this is not the news you hoped to hear, but the exam itself is much harder than the practice tests.

No repeat questions and no particular question on the practice test is going to give you the answer word for word. This is why proper studying is crucial to success. If you focused on the individual questions instead of the concepts behind them then you are in for a very rough test-taking experience. The questions do relate to what you studied but they are not the same.

Passing The NMLS MLO Exam

If you do not understand something conceptually while studying, it is imperative that you take the time to learn it. If you studied correctly, rested the night before, and calmed your nerves, Congratulations! You should find yourself in the elusive thirty-one percent. The bottom line is that prepared individuals are the ones to pass tests in general. Taking the proper steps is as simple as increasing the odds of success. Depending on how much time and effort you are willing to give you can almost guarantee success. 

Have The WTF Attitude Will Calm Your Nerves

Taking the MLO test certainly is a situation that can cause a high level of stress and intimidation. However, that is only if you let it have that effect on you. By taking the time to learn all that material and make sure I was in the best headspace to take the test I was successful. And every step of the process is repeatable and in no way unique to me. Anyone following these steps can find themselves being one of the thirty-one percent.