EC A&P How many weeks did you study?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Aug 21, 2007

How many days a week/hours each week do you devote to studying? That's a big factor.

I bought the EC recommended text -- it's huge, as I'm sure you know. I doodled around, reading it slowly, for months, and did some of the study guide, too ... I think I got halfway through? Maybe? Then I realized that the publishing company study guides existed (Chancellor's, The College Network, etc.), and I bought a copy of The College Network's A&P guide on eBay. I read through that in about a month, took the test, and got a B. :) I already had a pretty good A&P foundation -- I had taken a "Human Biology" course for my paramedic degree, and that was pretty much a mini A&P, but having the TCN study guide was a big help.

rh39 · Aug 23, 2007

How many days a week/hours each week do you devote to studying? That's a big factor.

I guess that would be the question. 1 hour a day for 3 weeks (more or less) for Ethics may have been adequate, but I don't think an hour will do for A&P. I'm using a TCN guide, Lisa Arends CD and my textbook from my previous course. I'm finding Lisa's guide very helpful, and I will definitely be using them for future courses.

Its just difficult to decide what to commit to memory, and what to just get a grasp of the big concepts. You were right when you said about this exam being huge. I need to take EC's practice exams so I have an idea of how I'm doing.

Time to buckle down I guess, 6 weeks should be long enough if I get serious.

thanks for the input,

Lisa

chaxanmom · Aug 24, 2007

I'm working on it currently with the TCN guide and the Physiology Coloring Book (HIGHLY recommend this!! I'm a visual learner and TCN guide is lacking in pics I think). It's been almost 8 weeks for me at a couple hours a day but I've also had a move, taken care of a dying family member and lots of family stuff going on too.

You're right about being so much info. Ugh! I haven't found most of it to be too bad except neuro. Spinal cord and all those pathways is totally kicking my butt.

Boston-RN, RN · Aug 24, 2007

I used A & P the easy way (not incredibly easy) ISBN 0764119796 exclusively and studied for approx 1 month but I had already taken A&P1 at a CC and had already taken human body with my LPN program and already had studied the systems as part of my LPN program. I got an A.

The one thing I recommend to everyone that asks is the excelsior practice exams. It's like $60 for 2 practice tests and is a good gauge on whether or not you're ready. If you score in the low to mid 70's you're ready. If there was something I didn't grasp I would look it up on the internet.

chaxanmom · Aug 24, 2007

I used A & P the easy way (not incredibly easy) ISBN 0764119796 exclusively and studied for approx 1 month but I had already taken A&P1 at a CC and had already taken human body with my LPN program and already had studied the systems as part of my LPN program. I got an A.
The one thing I recommend to everyone that asks is the excelsior practice exams. It's like $60 for 2 practice tests and is a good gauge on whether or not you're ready. If you score in the low to mid 70's you're ready. If there was something I didn't grasp I would look it up on the internet.

Low to mid 70's? Isn't that barely passing? Or are these scored differently?

rh39 · Aug 25, 2007

Chaxanmom,

When I took the EC practice exam for Ethics, I got a whopping 71%. I didn't think Ethical theory was that damn hard, I figured my study efforts were obviously lacking. I redoubled my study efforts for the next 10 days before the test, and passed with an A. It was only later that I read on another post that its normal to get in the low to mid 70's on those practice exams. So obviously they must be scored differently, can't say exactly how though.

MAnurseHopeful,

I intend to use EC's practice exam, I found it very helpful in discovering weak areas with my first test. I agree that it is money well spent. And some of the practice questions were on the exam.

thanks for the info,

lisa

Boston-RN, RN · Aug 25, 2007

Low to mid 70's? Isn't that barely passing? Or are these scored differently?

Yes, the practice scores base it for 1:1 (unscaled). The actual exams are scaled. I found this out after a couple exams. When you get your score after you test it shows how you did in each area. I was shocked when I would get a report showing in the mid 70's and getting an A and when I did lifespan development I got in the mid 80's a few 90's and some 70's (in different areas) and ended up with a B.

Ronnie22 · Aug 25, 2007

I think it depends on how you study, and your personal study habits. I studied for a month, but that was quick for me. If you have good retention, and can study as often as you need, or feel you should study, then you will have no problem. The traditional college A&P is easier because you have a better idea of whats on the test, or what your teacher is expecting; with the EC test, you have to try to study everything, and retain as much as possible. It can be done, and you can do it.

I actually study better when I have scheduled the test, because I know I have too.

Good luck.

For those that took EC's A&P exam, how long did you study for it??
OMG I don't think I am ever going to get through it all much less retain all this info. I even had 1 semester of A&P at my local college, and found it much easier than this huge volume of info.
Ppl do pass this exam (obviously) but I scheduled to take it Oct 2 and I'm wondering if thats too soon. I want to finish this program quickly, but I don't want to retake this bear of an exam. I studied for the Ethics exam 3 weeks and got an A. I started A&P in early Aug, but I'm not sure 2 months is long enough.
Any thoughts on the subject?
Lisa