If you’re an aspiring health care professional, you’re no stranger to exams and preparing for tests. But some exams are certainly more challenging than others. If you’re looking to pass your certified pediatric nurse practitioner exam (on the first try), then read on for 5 handy tips that will help you get exam ready! 

Create a Study Plan

Life often gets in the way of the best intentions, so if you want to set yourself up for success, you need a solid study plan. Break down how much time you’ll set aside for studying each week and each day. These are non-negotiable. If you need to mix it up and study in the afternoon instead of first thing in the morning, that’s fine. But the amount of studying you need to do can’t change! Be realistic with your expectations of yourself, but ensure you’ve set aside enough time to cover material for the PNCB exam. 

What Do you Need to Study?

Before you begin studying, you’ll need to find exactly what you need to study. Use question banks that include questions from the pediatric primary care nurse practitioner certification exam and others. Practice test questions as much as possible, as not only will they give you a refresher of the topics, they’ll get you ready for the style of the exam. Once you’ve completed a good amount of CPNP PC review questions, you’ll be able to identify any gaps in your knowledge, so you can continue to focus on the areas that you’re lacking. It’s also a good idea to get in touch with people who’ve completed the exam in previous years. They might be able to give you some insight into what to expect on the day.

Take Breaks! 

In addition to studying hard, it’s also important that you take breaks. Little and often seems to be the best rule of thumb when studying. If you fail to take any breaks, you’re likely to get burnt out and stop registering any information. Set timers throughout your study session to remind yourself to get up and stretch, take a walk, drink some water and eat some healthy brain foods.

Optimize your study Environment 

Now your study plan is ready, you’ve planned your time efficiently and scheduled your breaks, it’s worth considering what kind of study environment is best for you. Do you study better in a group where you can ask questions and discuss topics? Do you prefer to study alone with music on? Do you thrive in the library with limited distractions or even in a coffee shop? Being mindful and where are how you study is sure to help you get motivated.

Prep the night before! 

If it’s the day before your exam, it’s time to take a breather. There’s nothing more you can do study-wise at this point, so take some time to set yourself up for exam day. You’ll want to feel calm and collected in the morning, so set out your clothes the night before, prepare yourself a healthy lunch, some water, and anything else you’ll need to take with you. Good luck!