Tips for taking the CPC exam

Want to pass your CPC exam the first time?

Test-taking tips and advice from those who have passed the CPC exam can dramatically boost your test score. Below are strategies CPCs consider most effective. If you’re gearing up for test day, you’ll also want to check out our CPC exam study tips to ensure you’re well prepared the CPC exam.

Before the Exam

To pass the CPC exam, you need to score 70% accuracy on 100 questions. You’ll want to do your best, of course, but you have wiggle room. Remember that. Perfection is not required.

• Review emailed exam instructions. Re-read the guidelines sent to you regarding your exam carefully.

• Watch AAPC's exam tutorial. This informational guide covers technical requirements, materials permitted, and how to navigate the electronic exam.

• Have your valid, government-issued ID ready. Remember that temporary, copies, paper, or digital IDs are not permitted.

• Prepare your space. If taking a Live Remote Proctored (LRP) exam, prepare your examination area and equipment according to the LRP guidelines, and ensure no distractions will occur during your exam.

The 2-Minute Goal

Most coding students preparing for the CPC exam say their biggest concern is time. Four hours gives you roughly 2 minutes and 40 seconds to answer a question. If you can keep a 2-minute pace, and don’t allow yourself to get stuck on too many questions, you’ll be able to answer all 100 questions without resorting to a last-minute dash. The electronic exam allows examinees to move from one section to another, so you may complete the sections you feel most confident in first.

Keep an eye on the clock. Our electronic exam has a built-in timer. This will help you track your time throughout the duration of the exam. If you brought a non-smart wristwatch or stopwatch, set it to vibrate in two-minute increments. This will let you know how much time you’re spending on a question and urge you to move on if you’re past the 2-minute mark.

Strategies for Dealing with Questions

• Start with the easy anatomy questions. These straightforward questions are quick but count the same toward your score. By tackling them first, you’ll have time to answer all of them and can work on the case study questions with a better sense of time remaining, as well as less pressure.

• Read the question before reading the long operative report associated with the question. Sometimes a question will refer to only a small part of the report, such as a discrepancy in date of service, and knowing this in advance can save you substantial time.

• Identify keywords in the question. Note words such as not, except, most, least and greatest, as these are often pivotal in determining the correct answer. You’ll also want to rule out anything in the case report that’s not relevant to the question. This can help you eliminate answers.

• Use the notepad feature within the exam to jot down notes just as you would use a paper notepad.

• Code notes are used to define terms, clarify information, or list choices for additional characters. Pay close attention to them when looking up codes, as this provides valuable information and can prevent you from making errors.

• Don’t second-guess yourself. Go through a question as quickly as you can and trust your first educated answer. The last thing you want is to get trapped in over-thinking. Remember — keeping the pace means answering more exam questions, which means a better score. You can go back to questions if time permits.

• Take your best guess on the tough questions. If you get stuck on a difficult question, answer using logical deduction and move on. Be sure to flag the question so you can come back to it if you have time.

• Never leave a question unanswered. A blank answer is definitely wrong, whereas you could get lucky with a guess. But save guessing for when you have no option, typically in the last 15 to 20 minutes of the CPC exam.

Narrow Down Your Answers

For lack of time, you can’t look up every code in all 4 multiple choice answers. You’ll need to take a strategic approach and eliminate as many answers as possible. If you’re able to eliminate two, then you only need to confirm which of the two remaining answers is correct.

How do you use the process of elimination? Again, read the question first, then scan the case, looking for key words to help you rule out two answers.

• Does the 1st character of the code align with the correct code range? If a question pertains to the musculoskeletal system, for example, you can eliminate all CPT^® codes that don’t begin with the numeral 2.

• Check sequencing. Is a secondary code listed as a primary code? If so, eliminate this answer.

• Can you rule out an answer based on EXCLUDES notes or other exceptions? How about an inappropriate modifier?

• Read notes under the codes. You can often eliminate answers based on note details.

• Is a code mentioned in two answers? If so, go directly to that code to see if it fits the op notes and eliminate two answers based on what you find.

If you’re able to eliminate two answers, you’re halfway to the correct answer and only need to check the guidelines for the CPT^® and ICD-10-CM codes in the remaining answers.

With any exam time you have left, go back and make sure you’ve answered every question. If you still have time, revisit your best guesses to see if you can come up with a more solid answer.

General Exam Day Advice

Get a good night's rest. Most examinees have found they perform better with a good night's sleep before the examination. Staying up all night studying for the exam can be counterproductive.

Eat a healthy breakfast (nothing too heavy) and bring water to keep you energized during the exam.

Layer your clothing in case room temperature fluctuates to ensure your comfort.

Plan to arrive early. If you're taking your electronic exam at a testing center, factor any construction, traffic, or possible inclement weather into your drive time and try to arrive 10-15 minutes early.

Stay positive. Breathe. Repeat your mantra - I can do this. I've got this. Take deep, slow breaths to calm your nerves.

Related to - How to Study for the CPC Exam | CPC Sample Exam Questions