I passed AANP!! Thoughts on exam and how I studied..

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Well, I passed yesterday. So relieved to be done studying~! :D About my studying; I graduated early May so gave myself 6 weeks for study. I used Fitzgerald audio CDs and the accompanying workbook probably three times though along with her Q&A book twice though. A couple weeks ago I purchased the AANP practice exam for $50 and scored 74. Several days ago I started looking though an APEA Q&A book but the material was in such detail. I was scoring in the 60's on the practice test which totally killed my confidence. At that point though I didn't want to change my date so I tried to disregard those scores and focus on what I felt least comfortable with in the last couple days, for me this was childood illnesses/rashes and BP medications who should and shouldn't be taking them..

The exam, in my opinion, was extremely straight forward with lots of big concepts and not too difficult. There was a good mix of questions, all of which were convered in my Fitz material. I finished in about 2 hours. There were of course a bunch (maybe a dozen) which I had no idea, couldn't even narrow it down to two, but that was rare.

I'd suggest not getting too granular when you study. Know the big concepts, the reccomendations and treatments by drug class for the select popluation. Also, I wouldn't suggest opening a entire new study guide two days before your exam ;)

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Specializes in nephrology.

Congrats :up:

Thanks for advice !

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Congrats! I'm graduating in Dec as well. I have a few questions, if you don't mind answering them. I'm going to school full-time and this coming fall is my last semester so I was thinking of making the most out of all my free time and am planning on reviewing all throughout the fall semester.

-Do I really need 6 weeks to review?

-Did the test involve calculations?

-I bought the 3rd edition (that's pretty old right?) Fitzgerald workbook withOUT the CDs. Is the content of the CDs different from the content of the workbook itself?

-I'm on a budget right now so what would you recommend for review aside from the Fitzgerald package which should run up to $400, right?

-Oh and where did you purchase the AANP practice exam? Can you post a link?

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Congrats! I'm graduating in Dec as well. I have a few questions, if you don't mind answering them. I'm going to school full-time and this coming fall is my last semester so I was thinking of making the most out of all my free time and am planning on reviewing all throughout the fall semester.

-Do I really need 6 weeks to review?

-Did the test involve calculations?

-I bought the 3rd edition (that's pretty old right?) Fitzgerald workbook withOUT the CDs. Is the content of the CDs different from the content of the workbook itself?

-I'm on a budget right now so what would you recommend for review aside from the Fitzgerald package which should run up to $400, right?

-Oh and where did you purchase the AANP practice exam? Can you post a link?

Hi There! I gave myself 6 weeks mainly because I was working 30hrs/week so was only able to dedicate a few days a week to studying. I have friends that I graduated with that took after 4 weeks of studying and passed too.

The test, mine anyways, did NOT include calculations. I think that would be mean, haha.

I really would encourage you to buy the audio CDs. Although the content follows the workbook I found them to be really helpful and keep me on track. Otherwise if I had just been studying completely on my own my mind would have wandered and I don't know what I would have retained. Also, since I listened a few times I could hear her voice in my head during the exam, talking about specific questions posed on the test, and that was really helpful. My audio CDs and workbook were a loan from a friend and I think mine were 3rd edition too but since you won't be taking them until December, you may want a newer version. But you definitelt don't need to be paying $400 for them. Another friend bought hers off of Amazon used for $150 so keep an eye out for something like that.

Here's the link for the practice test. You're getting a good headstart if you're already thinking about it now, wish I had started sooner. Good luck!

Practice Test

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im happy to hear and thanks for the info :up:

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Thirteengirl, did you feel the certification exam was similar to the AANP exam? And I saw you said you took some APEA exam...did you take the readiness exams as well on her site? Thanks! Trying to gear how ready I am for this exam :)

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Thirteengirl, did you feel the certification exam was similar to the AANP exam? And I saw you said you took some APEA exam...did you take the readiness exams as well on her site? Thanks! Trying to gear how ready I am for this exam :)

I though the practice AANP exam was pretty similar question style to the real thing. As for the APEA, i just took the 150 question practice exams in the Q&A book, nothing on her website..

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Thanks! This anxiety thing is getting the best of me. I have never been so nervous and scared to take a single test and I don't like not knowing what to expect and that its a random set of questions that gets thrown at you. I just hope that I know what i need to know to get through...I have taken 2 APEA online tests that scored me at a 73% and 75% and then an 82% on the AANP practice test of 75 questions....just scared this isn't enough!

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