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TIPS on how I passed PANCE on the 2nd attempt. I went from 300 to 500 score

By finallypaC
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kd4029

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Careful, PACKRAT PDF says:

"Copyright © 2010. Physician Assistant Education Association. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy or recording, or any information and

retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Physician Assistant Education Association. "

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katy0328

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TIPS on how I passed PANCE on the 2nd attempt. I went from 300 to 500 score

I really want to thank PA Forum a million times over for giving me advice and support. I want to return the favor and help all worried PA ‘s with the PANCE.

I failed the first time I took the PANCE. It killed me inside. My worst nightmare had come true! I was crying and went into major depression mode. I was truly rethinking of changing careers and saying goodbye to the PA field forever. My first time studying I did the CME Resources in Chicago and the AAPA purple book and some former PA notes. I did not truly understand the concept of each disease but just memorized the facts. I have a photographic memory and I can memorize charts and diagrams really well but that’s not enough to pass PANCE. My biggest setback was the lack of confidence and extreme panic for the test. I was so extremely terrified of failing that I focused on that so much it is what I ended up doing…failing. On top of taking the PANCE too early, in which I studied for about 6 weeks right after I graduated while still working part time, planning my wedding, and other distractions. I didn’t fully commit the time and work like I should had.

 

Tips for success:

  • Take the test after 2-3 months of studying at least 4-6hrs. Don’t do more than 8 hours. I liked what Iain1028 said. I made a plan on how to cover all the 13 topics which are on the blue print. I read each system from both books Usmle step 2 and Van Rhee on one day, took the test on those and then read them the next day and took the test again. It did really help. I read a lot and also practiced lot of questions.
  • Get your hands on Datachem, packrats (I have some just email me), I liked the Appleton &Lange Yellow itouch application, the Green Van Rhee book, AAPA pretest, Exam masters (this is KEY) and USMLE STEP 2.
  • Take your first month and study according to NCCPA Blue print and get through the USMLE STEP 2 review book. Review what you just learned before moving on. Make sure that you can write on a blank sheet of paper exam signs and sym, key lab values and tx for each disease. It’s a lot of work but it will help you at the end.
  • After studying a organ system from Van Rhee or USMLE step 2 do a practice test from Appleton and Lange/DataChem/Exam masters that is relevant to what you’ve just study. Go over your wrong answers and figure out why you got it wrong. Also, look at the PA forum for PANCE BUZZWORDs/WORD ASSOC. These were helpful during the test, it triggered words that were precise to the disease.
  • The second month you should do questions and then do more questions. Do the practice tests on Datachem and Appleton and Lange, and especially Exam masters! (Some questions were much harder than PANCE Qs but its critical thinking and it will help you understand concepts. Exam masters is really hard I only scored 65%-75% but keep using this because it will prepare you for PANCE. If I had exam masters the first time then I would have passed. Exam masters is all about critical thinking which is key to passing PANCE.

Here are my scores:

 

AAPA book pretest: 75.% pance exam had questions from the pretest

AAPA book posttest: 79%

Datachem: Scored between 80% and 85% on each subject area (average of the entire CD was about 82%)

Lange Q&A: Scored between 70% and 75% in each subject area.

Exam master: Did 85% of the questions: Scored between 59% and 75% on each subject area (average of what I did was 65%)

NCCPA self-assessment: Scored “high” proficiency in all areas except Cardio and GI going a into into the “borderline” proficiency block 2 weeks before the PANCE. So I concentrated on those 2 subjects.

Packrats-I was scoring above 80% when I felt confident in taking the PANCE exam.

 

  • You will get to the point when you are close to your test date and you will panic that you have not learned enough or you are running out of time. Relax and assess your strengths and weakness. Focus on Cardio, GI, MUSK, Pulmo and HEENT and Repro. You have 24hrs to postpone your test if you feel you are not ready. Although do not keep rescheduling your exam. Really commit to a date.
  • If you are still scoring at or below 60% on your practice tests you need to do more reviewing. If you are at least a 75% in Datachem and AAPA pre and post exam you might do okay on PANCE. I was scoring 75% AAPA post test and 85% Datachem, 7 days before I took PANCE.
  • The most important advice I can give you is to have confidence in yourself! Remain calm so you can think clearly without second guessing yourself. Don’t overanalyze! You came this far and you will achieve your goals. Don’t give up, stay positive before and after, and especially during! Pray if you have to (this is what got me through). Believe in yourself. You made in through PA school and its just one more day of hard work and focus! Don’t let anything stand in your way not even this exam, you can do it. Good Luck!

I took my exam on Monday and didn’t sleep because I didnt feel confident! Finally on Thursday at 5:30am I found out I passed! It’s the best feeling in the world! I really feel like a ton of bricks has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like the gray cloud of worry and doom is no longer looming over the top of my head.

 

 

First off, congratulations on passing the 2nd time! Secondly, do you mind sending me the Packrats you have @ katy0328@yahoo.com and what AAPA book did you use? Was it "Zarbock?" And can you also explain what is "Datachem?" I have Exam Master, Zarback, and Van Rhee and just get overwhelmed with how to divide everything up. The last month before the test did you only do questions from all of these sources? Any advice and help is greatly appreciate! Thank you so much for your wisdom & sharing your experience...it gives me hope. Thank you.

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