Why I Think Being a Bad Test Taker Makes Me Better at Helping You Study

  • Sonja Ecklund

The unexpected credential behind a 97% pass rate


When I was asked to build and lead an NBHWC board exam prep program at my corporate job, my first reaction was something close to panic.

Not because I didn't know the material. I definitely knew the material. But honestly, I've always majorly struggled with taking tests. The anxiety, the mental blank at the worst possible moment, and the way a high-stakes exam environment can make knowledge that's completely accessible in any other context feel totally out of reach is THE WORST.

I said yes anyway. And over the three years I led those study sessions, my team had a 97% pass rate.

It took me a while to fully appreciate the irony of that โ€” and then to realize that it actually wasn't ironic at all. In fact, my test anxiety is actually what helped me build a great course.


How my test anxiety helped me build a great course

Here's the thing about being coached or taught by someone for whom something comes naturally: they often can't fully explain how they do it, and most of the time they can't understand why you find it hard.

A person who's always found test-taking easy doesn't have a lot of empathy for someone who finds it hard. They don't know what it feels like to walk into an exam room and feel the knowledge evaporate from your brain.

They haven't had to develop strategies for managing anxiety, building confidence, or constructing a study approach that works when your nervous system is on the fritz walking into an exam room.

When a student tells me they've been putting off scheduling their exam because they're scared, I can fully relate. I made myself take the exam on day one back in 2017 because I knew that if I didn't do it then, I probably never would. When someone says they feel overwhelmed just thinking about studying, I know exactly what they're describing, and I know how to help them through it.

I built my NBHWC Board Exam Prep Course, The Study Edit, from a place of empathy. And my students consistently tell me that this is one of the biggest things that sets it apart from other exam prep resources.

So if you're an anxious, panicky, nervous kind of test taker like I am, I would highly recommend investing in some high quality study materials to help you get prepared.


What is The Study Edit?

The Study Edit is my NBHWC Board Exam Prep Course that takes the guesswork out of studying and gives you everything you need to pass this exam, all in one place, and backed my money-back guarantee .

  • ๐Ÿ““ 400 Practice Questions

    • ๐Ÿ“ 150-Question Practice Exam

    • ๐Ÿง  75-Question Practice Exam x2

    • ๐Ÿ’ญ 20-Question Content Review Quiz x5

  • ๐Ÿ“‡ 328 Flashcards

  • ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿผโ€๐Ÿ’ป Optional Group Study Sessions

  • ๐Ÿ’ป An Online Discussion Forum

  • ๐Ÿ—’๏ธ Building a Study Plan Video

  • โœ… Test Taking Tips and Tricks Video

  • ๐Ÿ“‹ Preparing for Exam Day Video

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Coaching Session Swaps

  • ๐Ÿ“š All of your Study Materials in one place

  • โฐ 6 Months of Access to Your Study Materials

  • ๐Ÿ’ฒA money-back guarantee that you can choose to opt into

When you show up to my prep course, you're not just getting a bunch of study materials, you're getting someone who's been through this and knows exactly how to help you get prepared. I passed my exam on my first try and I've helped over 200 students pass this test. I'm confident I can help you, too!

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Every edition includes:

  • The inside scoop on coaching and behavior change. Insights about what I've learned from helping thousands of people change their lives over the last 15 years, all in plain language that doesn't require a psychology degree to understand.

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Hi, I'm Sonja!

Hi, I'm Sonja! I'm a board certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC), a financial social work coach, a learning and development professional, and a behavior change expert with 15 years of experience helping people change their lives through the power of coaching.

I wholeheartedly believe that life is editable. Most of us think our habits, patterns, and setbacks are permanent, but with the right guidance, you can rewrite your story at any stage. Thatโ€™s what we'll focus on through my high-touch 1:1 coaching programs, The Behavior Edit and The Business Edit.

I guide my coaching clients through a proven framework I call EDIT:

  • Experiment: Test small, safe changes in your behavior without fear of failure.

  • Design: Create intentional systems that actually fit your life, not someone elseโ€™s.

  • Implement: Take meaningful action in the real world, even when life is messy.

  • Trust: Build confidence in your ability to course-correct anytime.

Through this process, my clients:

  • Complete projects or goals theyโ€™ve been avoiding for years.

  • Stop procrastinating and regain control over their habits and routines.

  • Gain confidence that they can edit their behavior and rewrite their story whenever needed.

  • Move from feeling stuck and overwhelmed to empowered and in action.

Thinking about working together?

Join the waitlist for my on-demand courses

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The Behavior Edit Course

The Behavior Edit Course walks you through all four stages of the EDIT framework โ€” Experiment, Design, Implement, and Trust โ€” with the behavioral science behind each stage, practical tools to apply immediately, and reflection prompts that make the learning personal and actionable. If youโ€™re ready to take action on the one meaningful thing you donโ€™t want to leave undone in life, this is for you.

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The Business Edit Course

The Business Edit Course applies my EDIT framework โ€” Experiment, Design, Implement, Trust โ€” directly to the work of building a coaching practice. This course is not a cookie-cutter template or a "six figures in six months" fantasy. It's a real, strategic, customized roadmap for coaches who are ready to trade uncertainty for strategy and stress for execution.