AANP Exam Study Tips 2020

Nurse789 · Oct 11, 2020

Hi Everyone!

I promised myself if I passed the AANP Exam I would write a post on here about my study plan, and I just passed!

First off, don't wait too long to take your exam after graduating. I gave myself 2 weeks off and then started studying. I studied for four weeks exactly! I saved up all my PTO/Sick time and used it during this time so I barely worked. I studied everyday for 4-8 hours. I created a calendar study plan on day 1 and stuck too it pretty well.

To study, I used Fitzgerald for content learning. I paid $375 for the class and it took me 2.5 weeks to get through it. She's very detailed, but it's a great way to re-learn the material. After each system, I would do every question on that system on Boards Vitals in study mode. I found Boards Vitals to be really hard, but the rationales were so great in learning content! I ended up doing all 1400 questions.

Next, about 1 week before my exam, I signed up for Venecia Clarke Review. I HIGHLY recommend this review!! I swear I saw 30-40 questions from her review covered on my exam. BUT you have to take this class towards the end of your studying as she does not review into details. She is a little disorganized but her class is 100% worth it! I typed everything she said during her 6 hour zoom class and read my packet of notes at least 30 times out loud, multiple times a day, for the 7 days until my test date.

Along with reading the packet, I made flashcards of topics that were pure memorization from Fitzgerald (ex: OB stages, Tanner stages, MSK tests). I reviewed these 1 week before my exam too.

My friend gave me access to her Leik app and I LOVED these questions. I felt they were a little easier than the exam but they provided a good rationale and so easy to complete quickly/while watching tv, etc! I did every question twice and think this was HUGE in my study plan. I did these after I finished Boards Vitals and found them so much easier. I've heard great things about her book, but I never used it.

Finally, the week before my exam I took all three PSI Exams. I highly recommend these as they were very similar question formats to my exam. I did not score well (high 60s, low 70s) so don't be discouraged! I know they are expensive at $50/each, but they're worth it! I looked up each question I got wrong and saw some similarities in my actual exam.

During the test I flagged about 35-40 questions which I returned to. Thats my advice/study plan! I think 4 weeks was plenty of time to study, and I promised myself I wouldn't push back my test date. GOOD LUCK!