Discouraged

maleNurseGB · Apr 30, 2014

Get the "anatomy and physiology for dummies" book from your local library. it actually helped me to get to the basics and know the right information. This exam wasn't that hard for me and i also took EC practice exams!! i should say about 5Q from EC practice exams came on the actual exam.

ChrisRicci · Apr 30, 2014

Delle - do one section at a time. Read the first section, do some quizzes, if you do well on those move to the next section. Don't go past the section you are working on, you will just frustrate yourself and get disorganized. Set a goal or make a calendar - schedule each section and give yourself up to a week on each. I used the sg101 and got an A - they have instructions on one of the first few pages, you really should follow them.

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 3, 2014

EC practice exams for sure. You can study forever for this one and not feel ready! The practice exams will be a good gauge for you. I finally just had to make myself go take the darn thing. It was the first exam I did in 2007, and I got a B on it. :)

Medic85907 · May 4, 2014

I passed A&P in February with an A after a lot of studying. The materials I used had me over-prepared and I honestly felt like the exam was easy. When I was done I knew I had made an A prior to getting my score. I've since made a C on Health Safety, so obviously I'm no genius.

Here's what I used...

Vango Notes for Anatomy and Physiology from Audible. This was invaluable. I do lots of cardio exercise and I would listen to Audible every time I was on my bike, usually an hour a day. The key to using this is to focus, if you daydream it's a waste. Pay close attention, listen to the rationales after the quiz and it will help.

Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers has a series on A&P and I used this extensively as well. It used to be free but they've since switched to a pay service. If you're a visual learner this will work well for you, if not, don't bother with it. If you still have microbiology to do it would be worth the cost of membership as their Microbiology series was excellent as well.

I also used Anatomy and Physiology Cliffs Notes Quick Review. I thought it was a good supplement to the two previously mentioned sources.

Obviously I can't tell you what was on the exam but I can tell you what areas to focus on. The Endocrine system, specifically hormones & glands, what they do, how they interact with their intended body system and what happens with hormonal imbalances. The renal system is also a must know and ties in with endocrinology so doing them simultaneously will help you comprehend the material better. If you don't know those two subjects very well, you will struggle and do badly. I can't emphasize that enough. You have to know those subjects up and down and backwards and forwards. I didn't focus on cardiovascular & respiratory to much because I have a strong background in those areas but you gotta know it as well.

The anatomy section of the exam was pretty light but there were a few anatomy questions that really made me think. Physiology is the focus, spend the majority of your time learning that and you should do fine.

Now, about being discouraged. I know that feeling, it sucks, it hurts and we all feel it sometimes but you have to work through it and get past it. You need to go into each study session focused on success. That will help you retain information, which is the key to successful studying. If you begin a study session full of negative thoughts, they will overcrowd your mind and inhibit learning. You need to be telling yourself that you aren't racing anyone but yourself, you aren't competing against anyone but yourself and you have the ability to do this. Tell yourself positive things and keep telling yourself positive things. You didn't fail in the past because you're stupid, you failed because your mind wasn't in the right place when you prepared and if you aren't prepared, you will fail. You have to be the person that believes you can master this test because in the end, you're the one that takes that test. Successful people are positive thinkers. Be a positive thinker and you will be successful.

DelleBrock · May 7, 2014

I passed A&P in February with an A after a lot of studying. The materials I used had me over-prepared and I honestly felt like the exam was easy. When I was done I knew I had made an A prior to getting my score. I've since made a C on Health Safety, so obviously I'm no genius.
Here's what I used...
Vango Notes for Anatomy and Physiology from Audible. This was invaluable. I do lots of cardio exercise and I would listen to Audible every time I was on my bike, usually an hour a day. The key to using this is to focus, if you daydream it's a waste. Pay close attention, listen to the rationales after the quiz and it will help.
Take Online Courses. Earn College Credit. Research Schools, Degrees & Careers has a series on A&P and I used this extensively as well. It used to be free but they've since switched to a pay service. If you're a visual learner this will work well for you, if not, don't bother with it. If you still have microbiology to do it would be worth the cost of membership as their Microbiology series was excellent as well.
I also used Anatomy and Physiology Cliffs Notes Quick Review. I thought it was a good supplement to the two previously mentioned sources.
Obviously I can't tell you what was on the exam but I can tell you what areas to focus on. The Endocrine system, specifically hormones & glands, what they do, how they interact with their intended body system and what happens with hormonal imbalances. The renal system is also a must know and ties in with endocrinology so doing them simultaneously will help you comprehend the material better. If you don't know those two subjects very well, you will struggle and do badly. I can't emphasize that enough. You have to know those subjects up and down and backwards and forwards. I didn't focus on cardiovascular & respiratory to much because I have a strong background in those areas but you gotta know it as well.
The anatomy section of the exam was pretty light but there were a few anatomy questions that really made me think. Physiology is the focus, spend the majority of your time learning that and you should do fine.
Now, about being discouraged. I know that feeling, it sucks, it hurts and we all feel it sometimes but you have to work through it and get past it. You need to go into each study session focused on success. That will help you retain information, which is the key to successful studying. If you begin a study session full of negative thoughts, they will overcrowd your mind and inhibit learning. You need to be telling yourself that you aren't racing anyone but yourself, you aren't competing against anyone but yourself and you have the ability to do this. Tell yourself positive things and keep telling yourself positive things. You didn't fail in the past because you're stupid, you failed because your mind wasn't in the right place when you prepared and if you aren't prepared, you will fail. You have to be the person that believes you can master this test because in the end, you're the one that takes that test. Successful people are positive thinkers. Be a positive thinker and you will be successful.

Adelle Brock

DelleBrock · May 7, 2014

Wow medic85907.....thanks so much for your comment!

Adelle Brock

**mya612, BSN, RN** · May 7, 2014

I took the A&P exam in February after using Study Group 101 as my primary prep material. I agree with you that the information is not the best organized, but it is comprehensive. I got a "B". I used the Excelsior exam content guide to determine which areas to study first based on what percent of the exam those areas covered. Then I took the practice exam and spent even more time reviewing the areas I scored the weakest in. The Excelsior practice exams are an excellent study resource and I highly recommend them because not only will they help you learn the material covered on the exam, but the question format is very similar to the exam format.

DelleBrock · May 8, 2014

Thanks mya612. I'm finding that taking the quizzes in the sg101 is discouraging me because I'm getting those answers wrong. Maybe I should purchase the practice exam and see what I score first?

Adelle Brock

Editorial Team / Moderator · May 8, 2014

Maybe I should purchase the practice exam and see what I score first?

The EC practice exams are a must!! Definitely.

UlanaD · May 14, 2014

Whatever questions you get wrong go back and find the answers! The exam was more physiology than structure so you don't need to know what bone connects to what bone exclusively. The study guide instructions suggest that you take the paid practice exam first anyway. On the practice exams you won't score high either, I have never scored over 74 on any of them so far, but the study guide instructions tell you that anyway. The anp exam was not as hard as I thought it would be :cat: