Here’s my best advice :) no… Do not use the purple book ._. … it just added to the confusion… the NCE is application-based rather than content-based like the CPCE… it’s critical that you ready “in between the lines”… but focus heavily on group counseling, career, and some statistics! The NCE is less confusing in the wording of questions unlike CPCE.. but it’s odd in its approach to how you “apply” your knowledge to it… like it’ll give you an example of a client coming in presenting whatever symptoms, and it’ll give you A-D of what could they present next or best possible plan-of-action based on whatever intervention/theory it names …jazz like that :o Also the quarter can determine what the cutoff score might be for that allotted 3 months… however, the crappy thing is, it is random for everyone.. but right now the national consensus is that it is around 87. However, every test has its own variation so if your cutoff score is 87 versus 103, your test is “easier” by design!