Resolved Difficult Time Passing The CPC Exam

[CCO_Bot]

Question:
Imecca Welsh:
Hello,

My name is Mecca and I took the CPC exam twice and failed!!! The first time I failed by 4 points and this time i failed by 1 point. It broke my heart the 2nd time around because I studied very hard and made notations in my coding books. I walked out of the exam room feeling confident, knowing i passed. Now, I have to take it for the 3rd time. It is very important that I pass this exam..... I am ready to get in the world of coding and start a promising career.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I will not give up until I pass.

Answer Thread:
Laureen:
Hi Imecca,

This is the standard advice I give to my Blitz students if they are coming to me after not passing. If you are not a Blitz student that is step number 1.

Retake Strategy

1) Video Clips
Bubbling & HighlightingTM
Handling Multiple Code Answers

2) CPC Practice Exams (Recommended in this order)

1. AAPC Practice Exams
2. 150 Question Practice Exam
3. CPC Coding Exam Review

3) CCO Club Sign-Up

ACTION STEPS:
1) Bubble & Highlight ENTIRE manual (watch video link above)
2) Watch EM vides with emphasis on use of tables in book (Separate purchase)
3) Watch video on how to handle multi code answers
3) Take AAPC Practice Exams
one at a time, 2 minutes per question in one sitting
score your self # correct divided by total questions (50)
go over all answers and think about how you could have attacked the question differently to be faster.
4) Do more practice exams until you score an 85%
5) Schedule a call with me to go over any questions you got wrong and don’t understand. See schedule link in student membership area.

Misty Dohrm:
Hi Mecca,

I'm glad that you aren't giving up! I failed my first exam by 1 point and passed my second one. I followed the same advice that Laureen gave you. The only other suggestions that I might offer would be to start at the back of the exam and work forward. The shorter questions are toward the back. Also, I tabbed my books at the bottom. This seems to save me time because I'm not stretching or picking up my books to see the tabs. I also saved time by tabbing my HCPCS book with the alphabet. If I needed to go to the Js, I could locate it quickly instead of flipping through pages to get to the J section.

Good luck! You will definitely pass this time!

bwil12:
Mecca, I also failed my first time and will be taking it again this Saturday. I sure hope you pass it this time.

Carolyn Heath:
Good luck, bwil12. Mecca and bwil12, I failed the first time, but I passed the second time. I used the AAPC practice exams and Carol Buck's CPC Coding Review Guide. I also used the AAPC Study Guide.

Ruth Sheets:
Good luck to every one taking the exam!

I think most people need extra support and practice to take the exam successfully. That is why I recommend the Blitz Review videos and taking practice exams! Well worth the expense!

bwil12:
Well, Carolyn and Ruth, I didn't pass the exam. The frustrating thing is that I followed some of the suggestions that Laureen suggested. I can't afford to take the exam until sometime next year. Thanks for the encouragement though.

Carolyn Heath:
Don't give up. Keep studying and reviewing and you will pass the exam. After you pass the exam next year, you will keep on learning.

Ruth Sheets:
Great advice, Carolyn. Bwil12, if you like medical coding then more study and more mastery of the subject will be worth the time and effort. The CPC exam is a tough one, so it takes a lot of preparation. Best wishes for you on your journey...

 

[AnneB_81435]

Question:
Imecca Welsh:
Hello,

My name is Mecca and I took the CPC exam twice and failed!!! The first time I failed by 4 points and this time i failed by 1 point. It broke my heart the 2nd time around because I studied very hard and made notations in my coding books. I walked out of the exam room feeling confident, knowing i passed. Now, I have to take it for the 3rd time. It is very important that I pass this exam..... I am ready to get in the world of coding and start a promising career.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I will not give up until I pass.

Answer Thread:
Laureen:
Hi Imecca,

This is the standard advice I give to my Blitz students if they are coming to me after not passing. If you are not a Blitz student that is step number 1.

Retake Strategy

1) Video Clips
Bubbling & HighlightingTM
Handling Multiple Code Answers

2) CPC Practice Exams (Recommended in this order)

1. AAPC Practice Exams
2. 150 Question Practice Exam
3. CPC Coding Exam Review

3) CCO Club Sign-Up

ACTION STEPS:
1) Bubble & Highlight ENTIRE manual (watch video link above)
2) Watch EM vides with emphasis on use of tables in book (Separate purchase)
3) Watch video on how to handle multi code answers
3) Take AAPC Practice Exams
one at a time, 2 minutes per question in one sitting
score your self # correct divided by total questions (50)
go over all answers and think about how you could have attacked the question differently to be faster.
4) Do more practice exams until you score an 85%
5) Schedule a call with me to go over any questions you got wrong and don’t understand. See schedule link in student membership area.

Misty Dohrm:
Hi Mecca,

I'm glad that you aren't giving up! I failed my first exam by 1 point and passed my second one. I followed the same advice that Laureen gave you. The only other suggestions that I might offer would be to start at the back of the exam and work forward. The shorter questions are toward the back. Also, I tabbed my books at the bottom. This seems to save me time because I'm not stretching or picking up my books to see the tabs. I also saved time by tabbing my HCPCS book with the alphabet. If I needed to go to the Js, I could locate it quickly instead of flipping through pages to get to the J section.

Good luck! You will definitely pass this time!

bwil12:
Mecca, I also failed my first time and will be taking it again this Saturday. I sure hope you pass it this time.

Carolyn Heath:
Good luck, bwil12. Mecca and bwil12, I failed the first time, but I passed the second time. I used the AAPC practice exams and Carol Buck's CPC Coding Review Guide. I also used the AAPC Study Guide.

Ruth Sheets:
Good luck to every one taking the exam!

I think most people need extra support and practice to take the exam successfully. That is why I recommend the Blitz Review videos and taking practice exams! Well worth the expense!

bwil12:
Well, Carolyn and Ruth, I didn't pass the exam. The frustrating thing is that I followed some of the suggestions that Laureen suggested. I can't afford to take the exam until sometime next year. Thanks for the encouragement though.

Carolyn Heath:
Don't give up. Keep studying and reviewing and you will pass the exam. After you pass the exam next year, you will keep on learning.

Ruth Sheets:
Great advice, Carolyn. Bwil12, if you like medical coding then more study and more mastery of the subject will be worth the time and effort. The CPC exam is a tough one, so it takes a lot of preparation. Best wishes for you on your journey...

Most importantly, keep practicing, keep it fresh in your mind.

 

[Alicia]

I agree with Anne, keep it fresh in your mind and don't stop practicing. There is a muscle memory to taking exams. We are here to support you and look forward to a future post saying you passed. All the work you are putting in WILL pay off.

 

[AnneB_81435]

I agree with Anne, keep it fresh in your mind and don't stop practicing. There is a muscle memory to taking exams. We are here to support you and look forward to a future post saying you passed. All the work you are putting in WILL pay off.

I learned the hard way! Now I'm signed up to take weekly online classes 5 years after graduating from a full blown in person program. Stick with it!

 

[Alicia]

Understanding how you learn is important in my opinion as well.

 

[TiffanyC_81095]

Hello! Although I know it is discouraging to not reach the passing score of this exam, I personally do not consider this as a failure. I think it is very commendable of you to continuously show a persevering and enduring attitude regarding the CPC exam. In my opinion, one of the most important qualities a coder needs is having a tenacious personality, and it appears you have that

I definitely think that taking practice exams is a great way to building that muscle memory Alicia mentioned in her comment.

Something that helped me was meticulously going through the Index section of the CPT book, and highlighting not only "common" procedures so I could find them quicker, (e.g. "Blood Tests," "Dialysis," "Endoscopy,") but also highlighting the terms that I tend to forget about (e.g., Cardiac Assist Devices, Laminectomy, Manipulation).

Something else that helped me was trying to create acronyms to help me remember what section to find certain ICD-10 codes (example - F codes = Freud (psychological related codes) ; B codes = Bugs (viruses/bacteria) ; C codes = Cancer ; H codes = hearing (ears)

I look forward to seeing a future post from you saying that you passed. We're all rooting for you!

 

[ManaleK_85648]

Hello! Although I know it is discouraging to not reach the passing score of this exam, I personally do not consider this as a failure. I think it is very commendable of you to continuously show a persevering and enduring attitude regarding the CPC exam. In my opinion, one of the most important qualities a coder needs is having a tenacious personality, and it appears you have that

I definitely think that taking practice exams is a great way to building that muscle memory Alicia mentioned in her comment.

Something that helped me was meticulously going through the Index section of the CPT book, and highlighting not only "common" procedures so I could find them quicker, (e.g. "Blood Tests," "Dialysis," "Endoscopy,") but also highlighting the terms that I tend to forget about (e.g., Cardiac Assist Devices, Laminectomy, Manipulation).

Something else that helped me was trying to create acronyms to help me remember what section to find certain ICD-10 codes (example - F codes = Freud (psychological related codes) ; B codes = Bugs (viruses/bacteria) ; C codes = Cancer ; H codes = hearing (ears)

I look forward to seeing a future post from you saying that you passed. We're all rooting for you!

Thanks Tiffany. I really like the idea to create acronyms and the ones that you gave examples are very easy to remember. Would you please be able to give more examples for the other sections. Thanks in advance for your help.

Hello! Although I know it is discouraging to not reach the passing score of this exam, I personally do not consider this as a failure. I think it is very commendable of you to continuously show a persevering and enduring attitude regarding the CPC exam. In my opinion, one of the most important qualities a coder needs is having a tenacious personality, and it appears you have that

I definitely think that taking practice exams is a great way to building that muscle memory Alicia mentioned in her comment.

Something that helped me was meticulously going through the Index section of the CPT book, and highlighting not only "common" procedures so I could find them quicker, (e.g. "Blood Tests," "Dialysis," "Endoscopy,") but also highlighting the terms that I tend to forget about (e.g., Cardiac Assist Devices, Laminectomy, Manipulation).

Something else that helped me was trying to create acronyms to help me remember what section to find certain ICD-10 codes (example - F codes = Freud (psychological related codes) ; B codes = Bugs (viruses/bacteria) ; C codes = Cancer ; H codes = hearing (ears)

I look forward to seeing a future post from you saying that you passed. We're all rooting for you!

Hello! Although I know it is discouraging to not reach the passing score of this exam, I personally do not consider this as a failure. I think it is very commendable of you to continuously show a persevering and enduring attitude regarding the CPC exam. In my opinion, one of the most important qualities a coder needs is having a tenacious personality, and it appears you have that

I definitely think that taking practice exams is a great way to building that muscle memory Alicia mentioned in her comment.

Something that helped me was meticulously going through the Index section of the CPT book, and highlighting not only "common" procedures so I could find them quicker, (e.g. "Blood Tests," "Dialysis," "Endoscopy,") but also highlighting the terms that I tend to forget about (e.g., Cardiac Assist Devices, Laminectomy, Manipulation).

Something else that helped me was trying to create acronyms to help me remember what section to find certain ICD-10 codes (example - F codes = Freud (psychological related codes) ; B codes = Bugs (viruses/bacteria) ; C codes = Cancer ; H codes = hearing (ears)

I look forward to seeing a future post from you saying that you passed. We're all rooting for you!

Thanks Tiffany. I really like the idea to create acronyms and the ones that you gave examples are very easy to remember. Would you please be able to give more examples for the other sections. Thanks in advance for your help.