How I got an A on the EXCELSIOR Anatomy Physiology Exam in 2 weeks study!

Nursing Students Excelsior

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This is one of the best feelings I have ever felt in life. I not only passed the notorious A&P exam. I got an A! I almost cried when I found out my score... since I registered for this exam and left only 2 weeks study time when also I work full time at a research company. I was extremely overwhelmed at the amount of information that I needed to cram in just 14 days. (10 of which I was working from 8am - 5pm in a highly challenging and high stress working environment, coming home drained) The amount of stress I felt was worse than any stress I had experienced in college so far. I had also taken a 2 year break from college so I was not used to having a study load.

Here's what I did:

1. Rented the Martini book from Amazon.com rentals

2. paid $20 for the MyStudyGuide101 helper

3. Printed only the study guide pages (less than 200 pages) and put in a binder.

4. Wrote a schedule of what I needed to study and when I could dedicate time

5. Went on youtube.com to ANATOMYGMC channel and watched a video class on each section, and took notes/made flashcards/drew pictures. This was crucial.

6. AFTER watching each video - I went though the same info in MSG101 and highlighted/made more flash cards/re-worked the info into my head.

7. Once all the chapters were covered, (11 days) I went to the official Pearson Site for review--- http://wps.aw.com/bc_martini_fap_8_oa/93/23991/6141951.cw/-/t/index.html

8. I looked over all the tutorials (2 min each) and labeling exercises, and more importantly I took the chapter practice tests. These tests have similar questions to the exam.

9. Any questions I got wrong, I corrected in my mind by making a flashcard.

10. Day before exam - spend all day reviewing flashcards and notes/pictures I drew

I was exhausted and miserable for those 2 weeks. I almost ruined my relationships and was cranky, and even studied to the point of making myself sick. (not recommended)

Here was my schedule generally:

Week 1

M-F: 4 hours each night 6pm-10pm (2 chapter videos, and 1 hour SG101 per chapter vid)

Sat/Sun (8 to 9 hours of study, 3 or 4 chapter videos, and 1 hour of SG101 for each)

Week 2

M-F: 4 hours each night 6pm-10pm (2 chapter videos, and 1 hour SG101 per chapter vid)

Sat/Sun (8 to 9 hours of study, Pearson website, practice tests, flashcards)

DO NOT FORGET TO EAT and hydrate. I had no time to cook or clean so I ordered thin crust veggie pizzas (not too bad for you) and drank meal replacements. Some days I forgot to eat... and started feeling very sick. I was miserable, and am lucky to have supportive friends and family that reminded me that I could do this.

I would recommend arranging the full 15 weeks to study, but for those who don't have the luxury of time - it's possible to pass this test. Hope this helped.

Tammy

Responding to someone's question regarding microvideos I found Dr. Parker on YouTube to be amazing and also would watch the amoeba sisters before bed. I scored an A on micro. Khan acadamy also helped with krebs cycle and glycosisis. 55 on practice A and 65 on B. I can't wait to try all the suggestions for a and p!!!

Which practice exams are you guys talking about? The excelsior practice exams that you have to pay $75 for?

Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
Which practice exams are you guys talking about? The excelsior practice exams that you have to pay $75 for?

Yea, the practice exams through Excelsior. You get two of the, A and B. Usually people take A right away, figure out where they are at on the study curve, Study, then take B and see how much they learned.

Yea, the practice exams through Excelsior. You get two of the, A and B. Usually people take A right away, figure out where they are at on the study curve, Study, then take B and see how much they learned.

Thank you! So you pay $75 each for test A & B FOR A TOTAL OF $150?

I admire your persistence! Good for you!

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
Thank you! So you pay $75 each for test A & B FOR A TOTAL OF $150?

No, it's $75 total for both Form A and Form B.

I am trying to find out how long the exam results take to be reported? Can anyone shed so light on this, I have tried to search online but could not find an answer. Also once requested, how long do the exam results take to get to a school or program?

Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
I am trying to find out how long the exam results take to be reported? Can anyone shed so light on this, I have tried to search online but could not find an answer. Also once requested, how long do the exam results take to get to a school or program?

You get results before you leave the test center. As far as how long it takes to go to a non-Excelsior school, I don't know. Just a day or two to show up in the Excelsior gradebook for its students, though.

Can someone please provide the link to the $75 practice exams that everyone is talking about?

Excelsior.edu Log in and go to register for exams and choose the practice exam registration

Tamkin, I know this post is now a few years old but it comes up towards the top when I google searched "Excelsior A&P exam" So I literally followed your exact cram plan to the T, 2 weeks to test and everything. I just wanted to say thanks for laying out the ground work and giving my hope.

Edit: Forgot to add, I got an A as well!!!

@Tamkin

Hi, I know this post is older, but I have been following your outline on how to study for the A&P excelsior exam. I took exceIsiors practice exam A, bought my study guide helper 101, printed the pages and reviewed them after watching a video on each chapter on ANATOMYGMC youtube channel. I am having a hard time finding the pearson website you used to review (http://wps.aw.com/bc_martini_fap_8_oa/93/23991/6141951.cw/-/t/index.html) this link takes me to a page that isn't valid and the MSG101 website to take practice tests says "its under maintenance." After all of the chapters were done, I took excelsiors practice exam B and scored a 41%. I am still studying, but looking for some extra tips. If anyone could provide me with the correct pearson link to review as well as any other helpful resources, I would greatly appreciate it.

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