Keys To Pass The Exam
All students study the information to prepare to take the RHIT exam. It is part of the preparation process for any exam. And while knowing the information is essential, knowing HOW to pass the exam can be just as important.
You do not need 400 out of 400 to pass the exam. You do not have to be “perfect”. You just have to be good enough to pass. You only need 300 out of 400 (scaled scoring) to get your certification. That leaves some margin for error and how you manage that margin could be the difference between passing and going back to the drawing board.
Example: You know the answers to 60-70 percent of the questions just from studying the material. The first time through the exam you answer 90 to 100 questions with confidence. How you manage the other 50-60 questions will determine whether you pass the exam or not.
Again, you do not have to be “perfect” on the exam. Just answer enough questions correctly to get your certification.
That is where the following “keys”, or tips, on HOW to pass the exam can be extremely valuable to you. I dare say they are just as important to passing the exam as knowing the information.
Knowing one without the other is like taking the exam with one eye closed. You could do it and you might pass, but why chance it when knowing both the information PLUS strategies on how to pass the exam can increase your chances substantially.
How many people have you seen comment on social media or in forums saying they missed getting their certification by a few percentage points? Probably quit a few. I know I see many comments like this. If they only had the information included in the following pages it could have made the difference between passing and failing. Use every advantage, every tip, and it could make the difference for you too.
Key #1: Study and Preparation.
Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that you don’t have to study. That is not the case. You NEED to study, and study hard! There are no shortcuts to passing the exam. You must know the material. So put in the time and be prepared! Get as many practice exam questions as you can. The more you get used to answering exam questions the more confident you will be in your ability come exam time. There are 150 questions included in this book. Use them to get used to answering exam question. You can get more practice exam questions at RHITReady.com.
Key #2: Set Up A Study Schedule.
Don’t procrastinate! Set up a study schedule that is at least six to eight weeks in advance of taking the exam. Do this now! Set specific days and times to study. Don’t just leave it to chance or when you are not busy. You will always find something to do instead of studying. Set times and dates for study and make it part of your routine. You will feel much more relaxed and confident with six to eight weeks of practice under your belt than just leaving it to chance.
Study in two hour increments and no longer. Research shows that after two hours of studying your retention level falls significantly. Schedule two hours per day and stick to it. DO NOT CRAM FOR THE EXAM! You will stress yourself out and won’t be able to think clearly during the exam. Study on a daily basis and for a couple hours at the most, then close the books and do something else. If you need a practice schedule planner you can download one here: https://rhitready.com/my-schedule/
Key #3: Study With A Partner or Group.
When possible, study with a partner or in a group. Each of us have strengths and weaknesses. Your strengths may be another persons weaknesses, and their strengths could be your weaknesses. This will help grow your knowledge of the material. Plus, you can share test taking tips as well. this will also serve as a way to make certain you study. It is much more difficult to say no to a study partner or group when you don’t feel like studying than saying no to yourself. You can help them put in the time and they will help you.
The knowledge of a group is always larger than the knowledge of a single person. Use that knowledge to help yourself and help others in the process. Strength in numbers!
Key #4: Progress In Segments.
Don’t try to do too much right from the start. It can be overwhelming and lower your self confidence, drive, and excitement about getting certified. Take it a step at a time. Start out answering practice questions. Divide the 150 question practice exam included in this guide into three sections.
First 50 Questions: Work through the first 50 questions and take as much time as you need. Don’t worry about how long it takes. Just begin by relaxing and answering the practice questions correctly. It doesn’t matter if it takes two hours or more to answer them, take your time and get them right. This is the first step and it will help you build your confidence.
Second 50 Questions: Next, after you have spent several practice sessions answering questions without a time limit. Answer the next section of questions with a timer. Give yourself up to two minutes per question. This will be five hours for 150 questions, and certainly not our goal, but it is a good starting point. Keep shortening the time each session until you are below 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Third 50 Questions: Finally, on the last group of questions use the “keys” to help you get through the questions faster. Time yourself too. You should find that your confidence is growing and so is your ability to answer questions correctly and more rapidly.
Key #5: Two Complete Passes through the Exam.
During the exam you want to make TWO passes through the entire exam. The first pass is to answer the easier questions and the second pass is to answer the more difficult ones. Many people do not pass the exam because they get hung up on a few difficult questions in the beginning or middle of the exam and end up running out of time and not answering all the questions. Or worse yet, panicking and rushing through the final 20 or 30 questions while randomly choosing an answer. You will see below there is a method for answering questions that you do not know the answer to. Randomly selecting answers will not give you the BEST chance to get them right. The method below will. Please follow this “key” as it is your path to success.
Key #6: Answer The “First Pass” Questions in One Minute or Less.
Start by making a first pass through the exam. During the first pass through the exam, answer all the questions that you can complete in a reasonable amount of time (one minute or less). If you can’t answer the question in one minute, mark it and move on! Practice this technique during your exam preparation so you get used to it.
Key #7: Answer the “Second Pass” Questions in Two Minutes.
After you complete the first pass through the exam, go back and answer the more difficult questions. This time through the exam you can take more time to thoroughly review each exam question and the possible answers. Try to eliminate incorrect answers to increase your chance of selecting the correct answer. Then, carefully direct the remaining answers to see which on best answers the question.
Hopefully you know all the answers, But there is a good chance you will not know all of them. This is where Key #8 comes in…
Key #8: Guessing is a science.
Some guides suggest a guess should be a random choice. I do not agree. Why? Because even though the correct answer might not stare you in the face, chances are you will be able to eliminate at least one, if not more, of the incorrect answers. This will greatly increase your chances to “guess” the correct answer.
Example: There are four multiple choice answers. If you guess randomly you have a 25% chance of guessing correctly. If you can eliminate just one incorrect answer, with certainty, and you guess from the remaining three answers your chances of “guessing” correctly now increase to 33%. Now you have a one in three chance of “guessing” correctly. Eliminate two answers and the percentages go up to a 50% chance of guessing the correct answer. You should never randomly guess unless you have no idea whether ANY of the answers are incorrect or correct. Then close your eyes and pick one.
Key #9: Identify your weaknesses and practice, practice, practice!
Go through each domain and answer questions. Mark down the results and identify your strengths and weaknesses. Spend your study time proportional to your weakest domain to your strongest domain. Know what you know and what you don’t and allocate your practice time accordingly.
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