Test Preparation
I am preparing to take the coding certification examination by the AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders). I purchased the coding certification exam review text as suggested by one of the members of the AAPC. The exam text recommends certain steps to study for the exam. I reviewed these steps but felt that I needed to develop my own strategy to prepare for the exam.
The most important factor in studying for the examination is time. Time is a precious commodity that I have very little of. My days and evenings are full with the classes I teach and trying to keep pace with all the expectations. I am under contract with a couple of schools and it can be overwhelming to keep the train from derailing. Unfortunately, this is a fact that I cannot do anything about. I must make adjustments to get in enough study time.
I am at my best in the early part of the day. My brain seems to function better and I have more stamina to keep going. Studying in the evening will not work for me. I am usually zapped of energy by the evening. My focus is simply not good. Since my classes are in the mornings at the community college, I will have to study in the evening on these days. The online classes allow me to control the schedule.
On my days at the community college, I will study two hours in the afternoon before my kids come home from school. On my off days from the community college, I will study three hours in the morning. On Saturday morning I will devote three hours in the morning and take a break from studying on Sunday. The most important thing about this schedule is having the ability to stick to the schedule. This means developing a routine study schedule and following it no matter what. I plan on using a calendar to record my study schedule. This gives me a visual of the time I am spending studying or if I have missed days studying.
Next week I will discuss how this strategy is working and how I will tackle the various sections of the test.