Here is a little bit of background. I went through coding training in 2017, landed a coding job at my local hospital in January 2018. My new job requires that you get your CPC before your 1 year mark. I took my first attempt in March and got a 65%. I ran out of time and had to speed guess on 18 questions. Yeah, 18 questions. It was horrible, I left in tears.

My next try is in the middle of July. I bought the practice AAPC exams, I have been highlighting my guidelines, I also bought the CPC exam review. So here is my plan for this next try: I am going to start at the end. I am slow with some CPT sections but really quick with everything else so I was told my best bet would be to start in the back and work to the front. I am also going to NOT wear earplugs this time because last time I didn’t hear the proctor say the 30 minute mark. I also got a hotel room right next to the hospital where the test is because I live an hour and a half away and I DO NOT want to risk anything going wrong. I have been seriously trying to study everyday. It’s hard because I go to work at 6am and don’t leave until 4:00pm and then after making dinner and packing lunches, I am absolutely exhausted so I really do try. I’ve been studying for months. So I have a few questions for you all:

1. How often did you study for your exam?
2. I keep seeing people recommending to read the answers first then the question. I am worried if I do that, I will forget which code is which and I will have to go back and look at the answers again after I read the question. Am I not understanding this tip right?
3. Any other advice?

I am absolutely petrified. I am a HORRIBLE test taker. All through high school and college all the way to now, my late 20s. I can’t let my boss down, I cannot let my family down. Can you all tell I am sorta a mess? lol I took one of the 50 question AAPC exams and got a 72% so now I am even more worried. Granted I took the test right in the middle of horrible allergy attack and I couldn’t see out of my right eye lol.

Thank you for any suggestions or calming me down 😛