Love2BePAC Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 Someone asked why we felt so bad after we walked out. I actually thought about that for awhile. I think it's because you study and study and study and then the exam is only 300 questions. You have to know enough to pass, but you can't possibly know everything they will ask. I thought about how I studied over 3000 questions in preparation and I was doing well on those before I took the exam. I think what caught me off guard on the exam was that I didn't get asked a lot of questions I actually studied...but a lot of my answers came from when I had read explanations to questions for the practice exams. So, I was a little unsure as I had never seen a question on it, but I knew I had somewhat studied it...if that makes sense. I was prepared for stuff I saw all the time and material that I deem extremely important to know. Either I didn't have a lot of those questions or I flew through them really quickly. I believe that if you have studied and did well in PA school, you will pass. It was just a weird exam. Completely strange. I also think you have a tendency to focus on the ones you know you got wrong. I kept going over like 10 questions in my head. I looked them up and realized I got most of them wrong. I was like, "OMG, that was terrible!" But it was seriously 10 questions (out of 300) I could remember looking up. Congrats to everyone who has passed! And to the others waiting and those who haven't yet taken the exam: obviously, most of us did not think we did well, but it turned out okay. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love2BePAC Posted September 9, 2012 Author Share Posted September 9, 2012 I was just wondering....why is everyone leaving the exam thinking they failed? I am sure none of you went in there and winged it, so it freaks me out that so many of you felt that way. I am taking mine on Sept 10th. I've been using mainly the AAPA book, PAEasy, the review course my school gave, and a little of Exam Master. I THINK I am feeling more confident, especially with a lot of the more common things that are popping up in all the resources. If all the resources kind of hit the same main topics, can anyone give insight as to why you leave kind of feeling 'blind-sided'? I am aware of the 'rules' of talking about the exam, so I'm not asking for specifics-just overall insight because I, too, feel I am joining the same pool of semi-confident test-goers and would like to avoid feeling like I should apply to Walmart on the way home after... I don't know if you can prevent feeling like that, sorry. :( But the good news is, we all passed. :) As I mentioned, I think we have a tendency to focus on what we don't know instead of what we do -- which is a lot more than what we give ourselves credit for. I used the same materials as you and I passed. My one piece of advice is to make sure you understand every practice question you answer and why you got it right or wrong. In other words, read the explanation for every question and don't just bypass it because you got it right. Those explanations probably helped me more than I even realize. In reality, the practice question explanations are the ddx, as usually each answer has a small component of the of the actual diagnosis. But one answer will be related to all components of the pt's presentation. For example, you have a lady with a fever, cough, and rusty sputum. The answer choices could be influenza, CAP, common cold, and acute bronchitis. All the choices have components of the presentation, but only one is spot-on. Know how they differ and you'll be able to pick out the right answer most of the time. (Not that I'm a good test question writer, obviously...that was just off the top of my head.) I hope this makes sense. Good luck! It appears you're taking the exam on Monday, so you should know Thursday hopefully! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FancyPAntsy Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 OMG! This is my same experience! I did very well on pulmonary/GI/CV in PAEasy/Packrats and did not do so well on this exam in those! I got 100% in ID and endocrinology, which is really strange because ID has always been something awful like 40% for me. I don't know about you, but based on my practice exams/Packrats, etc, I was expecting a higher score. But the exam I took was really strange. Oh well, whatever! I am so excited I passed! I was really worried. This was my experience too! Did best on some of my worst subjects and poorly on some of my best. Also my score was a lot lower than expected based on paeasy and nccpa practice test. My friends had the same experience too. I'm a little suspicious given that huge mix up they had last year... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N701DS Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 What mix up? Edit: disregard, I found what you were referencing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcman1539 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Didn't get my PANCE score this AM, did anyone on here wait 2 weeks for their scores =( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike5002 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I took mine Monday and still waiting. Heard somewhere that Monday is early enough to hear back that same week - but no idea. Other classmates that took there PANCE last week still haven't heard back today, so am thinking they're going to send them out this afternoon...I CAN'T SIT STILL!!! AGHHHHH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felikuo Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 I've been waiting too! I took it last Friday, and am feeling the exact same way! Hope we all pass!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike5002 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Weird. Nothing yet...looks like maybe have to wait anther week?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcman1539 Posted September 13, 2012 Share Posted September 13, 2012 Yeah! looks like the 2 week waiting is coming true for us =(. I don't know if they release scores on any other day but thursday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbelluga Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 I took my exam on Monday and was hoping I would have heard today but I have not. I know that all of my classmates who took it on a Monday found out the following Thursday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbcaringpa Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Same here, took mine Monday and the suspense is killing me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pa2be Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Took mine Sept 4th, still have not heard anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmh05 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 I took my PANCE on September 4th as well. My classmate spoke to someone at the NCCPA that said they release scores W-F with the majority being released on Thursday. My school also told us that if we took it on a tuesday, we would find out the following thursday. That didnt happen. Thought I would find out this past thursday too...Again, that didn't happen. Hopefully today, but im not going to press my luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted September 14, 2012 Administrator Share Posted September 14, 2012 They're probably behind with the August graduation rush. It would be interesting to see a trend of the number of PANCE exams per week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pa2be Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Scores just released at 4:15 on Friday afternoon. PA-C!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcman1539 Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Pa-c!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panj168 Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Pa-c !!!! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felikuo Posted September 15, 2012 Share Posted September 15, 2012 Yayyy congrats everyone!!! PA-C!!!!!!! :))) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbcaringpa Posted September 16, 2012 Share Posted September 16, 2012 Me too!!!! PA-C Yayyyy :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike5002 Posted September 18, 2012 Share Posted September 18, 2012 ditto...PA-C baby!! Congrats everyone...glad we don't have to wait until next Thursday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gebaldwi Posted September 21, 2012 Share Posted September 21, 2012 Someone asked why we felt so bad after we walked out. I actually thought about that for awhile. I think it's because you study and study and study and then the exam is only 300 questions. You have to know enough to pass, but you can't possibly know everything they will ask. I thought about how I studied over 3000 questions in preparation and I was doing well on those before I took the exam. I think what caught me off guard on the exam was that I didn't get asked a lot of questions I actually studied...but a lot of my answers came from when I had read explanations to questions for the practice exams. So, I was a little unsure as I had never seen a question on it, but I knew I had somewhat studied it...if that makes sense. I was prepared for stuff I saw all the time and material that I deem extremely important to know. Either I didn't have a lot of those questions or I flew through them really quickly. I believe that if you have studied and did well in PA school, you will pass. It was just a weird exam. Completely strange. I also think you have a tendency to focus on the ones you know you got wrong. I kept going over like 10 questions in my head. I looked them up and realized I got most of them wrong. I was like, "OMG, that was terrible!" But it was seriously 10 questions (out of 300) I could remember looking up. thank you for this post... i just took the pance and i've been a wreck since... going over the 10 answers i looked up and were wrong and then one i forgot to go back and change. and i was completely surprised by, this is so not like all the practice exams/questions banks/study books. soo different. i feel horrid, but hopefully turns out ok. in the wait period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andipooh99 Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 I had that same feeling walking out of my exam which I took on 9/10/12. I walked out thinking "what the heck was that". Found out 4 days later that I passed! Finally after 3 attempts I passed! Now I just have to find a job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gebaldwi Posted September 22, 2012 Share Posted September 22, 2012 good job andipooh!! at least i'm not alone in thinking, wtf.... LOL. Will know hopefully this coming week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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