CPC® Exam: Test Taking Strategies to Pass the First Time (2024)

FAQs

CPC® Exam: Test Taking Strategies to Pass the First Time? ›

Don't second-guess yourself.

To complete the CPC exam in the allotted 4 hours, you need to answer questions in about 2.4 minutes or less. Practice like an athlete to improve your pace. Keep practicing for test-taking skills. Eliminating answers is an effective strategy for both accuracy and time management.

There's no doubt about it, the CPC^® exam is tough. A variety of sources show that ONLY about 50% of coders receive the necessary 70% score to pass the CPC^® Exam on the first try. That means that half of all test-takers need a second shot at passing. Who wants to take this test more than once?

Is the CPC exam hard to pass? The CPC exam is a challenging test, so it's not easy to pass. It's also not necessarily difficult if you're prepared. In order to pass the exam, you need to have a minimum score of 70%.

The test is made up of 5 topics from the Driver CPC syllabus. You can score up to 20 points for each topic. To pass you have to score at least 15 out of 20 in each topic area and have an overall score of at least 80 out of 100.

Separate the questions into blocks of time, and work on one block of questions for a fixed amount of time before moving on to the next set. For example, you can divide the CPC exam into five groups of 30 questions. Take one hour for every thirty questions. Or you could try and take on 10 questions every 20 minutes.

In answer to your question, you could potentially pass the exams this way, but the best way to pass these exams without obtaining a two- or four-year degree is to take the AAPC's or AHIMA's online or classroom setting preparation courses.

You'll have to rely on your knowledge of code sets, medical terminology, best practices, and the coding process in general to pass. Individuals who earn a score of 70 percent or better (105 correct questions) will pass the CPC exam. If you fail your first test, you are allowed one free retake.

You should plan to study for the AAPC CPC exam for at least two months. The more you know without having to utilize the books during the exam, the better. You'll ensure that you finish all of the questions in the allotted time frame to achieve the highest possible score.

What is the best study guide for the CPC exam? ›

AAPC's Official CPC^® Certification Study Guide is designed to help you prepare for the CPC exam. Twenty chapters will provide you with a thorough review of anatomy and medical terminology, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, and CPT^® coding, as well as appropriate use of modifiers.

Handwritten notes are acceptable in the coding books only if they pertain to daily coding activities. Questions from the Study Guides, Practice Exams or the Exam itself are prohibited.

It is common practice to write notes and highlight in the books as long as it isn't something like questions and answers word for word from practice exams. Don't write out long sentences and paragraphs. What you cannot have is any type of sticky note or paper taped or glued in the book.

Preparing for the CPC test involves studying the course material, taking practice tests, and attending revision classes. While the test can be challenging, with proper preparation, most drivers are able to pass it.

The CPC exam is a test of medical coding proficiency consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions that assess 17 areas of knowledge. Most questions present a coding scenario to test proper application of CPT^® procedure codes, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes, and ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes.