Cosmetology state board exam prep
Cosmetology exam prep that names the mistake behind every wrong answer
Cosmetology Exam: Board Ready is an iPhone app for the written cosmetology state board exam: practice tests, a timed 110-question NIC mock exam and flashcards. Miss a question and it tells you which misconception led you there, then drills it until it's gone.
Free to download · In-app purchases
Board Ready at a glance
- App Store name
- Cosmetology Exam: Board Ready
- Exam
- Written (theory) cosmetology state board exam, built on the NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination
- Question bank
- 986 practice questions, 67 named misconceptions
- Full mock
- 110 questions on a 90-minute clock
- Platform
- iPhone, on the App Store
- Price
- Free to download; Board Ready Pro is an optional subscription
- Offline
- Questions, explanations, drills, cards and mocks all work offline
How it works
Answer exam-style questions
Questions are weighted like the NIC theory exam, across all four content areas.
See why you missed it
Tap "Why?" on a missed question and Board Ready names the misconception behind your answer, with the fact to keep.
Drill that mistake
One tap starts a 5-question drill on that exact mistake, and spaced review brings it back before you'd forget it.
What's inside
Weighted to the NIC blueprint
Hair Care 45%, Scientific Concepts 35%, Skin 10%, Nails 10%: you practise in the proportions the exam tests.
A full exam simulation
110 questions on a 90-minute clock, no feedback until the end, scored like the real thing. Quick 20-question mocks fit a shift break.
Every wrong option has a reason
Each wrong answer is built from a real misconception: 67 of them, named and explained.
Review that adapts
Spaced repetition returns missed questions right before you'd forget them.
Flashcards two ways
Key terms, and "Exam Traps" built from the mistake library.
A plan to your exam date
A daily plan paced to your exam date, an honest readiness band (never fake precision), and a streak to keep you moving.
Screens from the app
Free to start
Download free and start with free questions, mistake-naming included. Board Ready Pro, an optional auto-renewing subscription, unlocks every question, the drills and the full timed mock exams. Plans, prices and any free trial are shown in the app before you buy, and you can cancel any time in your App Store settings.
Questions
How do I prepare for the cosmetology state board exam?
Start with your state board's candidate information to see which exams you'll take: most states use the NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination for the written part, and many also require a practical exam. For the written exam, study the content areas in proportion to the blueprint (Hair Care 45%, Scientific Concepts 35%, Skin 10%, Nails 10%), take timed practice tests, and work on the reasons behind your wrong answers rather than just the right answers. Board Ready is built for that written part: practice tests weighted to the blueprint, a full 110-question, 90-minute mock, and a named misconception for every wrong answer, with a drill to fix it.
What's the best app to study for the cosmetology exam?
That depends on what you need. Board Ready is built for the written cosmetology theory exam and focuses on why you got a question wrong: every wrong option maps to a named misconception, and one tap drills it. It has 986 practice questions, a full 110-question timed mock, flashcards and spaced review, and it works offline. You can try it with the free starter questions and compare it with your textbook and other apps.
Does Board Ready cover the practical exam?
No. Board Ready prepares you for the written (theory) exam. It doesn't cover the hands-on practical exam.
Which exam is Board Ready based on?
The NIC National Cosmetology Theory Examination, the written exam most states use: 110 questions in 90 minutes, weighted Hair Care 45%, Scientific Concepts 35%, Skin 10% and Nails 10%. Check your state board's candidate information to confirm which written exam you'll take.
Is Board Ready free?
It's free to download, with free starter questions that include full mistake-naming. Board Ready Pro is an optional auto-renewing subscription that unlocks every question, the drills and the full timed mock exams. Plans, prices and any free trial are shown in the app before you buy, and you can cancel any time in your App Store settings.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Questions, explanations, drills, flashcards and mocks all work without an internet connection.
Is Board Ready on Android?
No. Board Ready is an iPhone app on the App Store.
Is Board Ready affiliated with NIC, a state board, Milady or Pivot Point?
No. Board Ready is an independent study app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NIC, any state board, Milady, Cengage or Pivot Point.
Support
Contact us
Questions, problems, or feedback: email bbappsolutions@gmail.com. Tell us your device model and what happened, and we'll get back to you.
Subscriptions
- Manage or cancel: App Store subscriptions, or on iPhone go to Settings › your name › Subscriptions.
- Restore purchases: tap Restore on the upgrade screen in the app.
- Refunds: request one from Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Your data
Your study history lives on your device, and deleting the app removes it. For anything else, see our Privacy Policy or email us.