my exam prep outline

im graduating in may in Medical Coding. i need to take a national certification exam in order to become official. it's 150 questions and you have 5 hours 40 minutes to complete it. this is an average 2.5 min on each question. it's by far the biggest test i've ever taken.

this is my outline for prepping for and taking the exam:

Start or edit my journal entry
Outline of my plan in a chronological order

1. Register for the Exam

I. Go to AAPC.com and find the location.
(Exam Date / Time : 06/10/2017 8:00 AM
Index: 82817-E171525
Proctor Name: Angela Buchanan Phillips, CPC-A
Address:
AB Tech-Asheville Campus Balsam Bldg. Room 216
340 Victoria Rd.
Asheville, NC 28801 USA)
II. Join AAPC, and pay fees.

III. Submit scholarship application and process.

IV. Purchase study guide, practice exams and up-to-date CPT manual.


2. Exam Prep

I. Figure out strengths/weaknesses
a. Strengths: Terminology
Anatomy
Navigating the manuals
Learning and retaining information
CPT

b. Weaknesses: Modifiers
Medical decision making
Selecting correct codes with the right details of Dx/procedure
Intermittent unmotivated tendencies, procrastination
ICD-10-CM
Reimbursement

II. Focus on increasing knowledge/skill over weaknesses. Devote time each day for review and fine tuning. Create a study outline and follow it.

III. Review strengths before exam.

IV. Prep manuals for the exam with notes taken from this course's assignments

V. Get enough sleep the night before. Remain relaxed and positive. Eat a good breakfast.

3. Taking the exam
I. Review each page by skimming questions. Pick questions I know the answer to off of the top of my head. Keep doing this until completing the whole test.

II. Go back to beginning and work on the harder questions. Be mindful of my time. If it is taking too long, move on to the next. Do not spend too much time getting hung up over one question. Go back after completing the exam, and select the best answer

III. Try to not get distracted. Try to be mindful during the test to eliminate distractions of anxiety, pressure, and others in the room. If I find myself drifting into my head/not focusing on the exam, I will remind myself to breathe, and focus on that, so I can get back to work

4. After the exam
I. Celebrate my accomplishments of achieving my goals thus far and completing the exam process!

does anyone have any other tips for taking huge exams?, and feeling under pressure???

1. Do you know if you will be taking the test by paper or on a computer? I think my nail tests were on a computer.

2. I would be surprised if you would be able to "go back" and answer skipped questions, esp if its on computer and not paper. I would just answer each question best i can and be done with it.

3. Bring bottled water, or they might even have their own to give you, or have some rules for the day of.

4. The rest of your plan looks good! Oh yeah, dont forget your picture id (drivers license).

Congratulations on making it up to graduation!

thanks!... that's a good question about the test... i assumed it was a paper test, maybe a scantron. i haven't taken a real exam before. (ive never taken the SAT or anything). maybe i'll email my teacher and ask.

if the test is a paper test, then i can most definitely go back . my plan is to skim the test and answer questions i know off the top of my head, or rather quickly. then go back and take my time on the more complex ones. the test is 75% coding situations and 25% medical terminology and anatomy

good idea about the water. i need to make sure i eat before and the day of the test.

Ive taken millions! More importantly, i did take the nail lady exam about ten years ago, so thats like after the internet was invented, so i have actual recent experience, not just ancient historical!

I just checked the website for the FAQS, it looks like the test IS online, as are the practice tests. No phones allowed in the room. Its good you get one free retest! Plus its kinda open book?

yeah it's open book, but you can only bring the approved manuals. you may write in the manual, but it has to be within guidelines

ugh wow its online? gross... on my school's website, when i take a test i can select different questions, go back and forth. it's not like i answer a question and hit submit and cant look back. i dont know which it will be on this exam though

from what i reading the test is a paper test...where did you see that it is online?

https://www.aapc.com/certification/

It was on this screen, click on prepare for the exam.

It says "future test takers" but doesnt say starting when?