10 CPC Exam Day Tips That Actually Make a Difference

TL;DR — Sleep, don't cram. Do a 90-minute first pass answering everything you're confident about, never spend more than 3 minutes on one question, and use your tabs instead of fishing through the index. Fill in every answer — there's no penalty for guessing.

You've studied for months. Don't lose the exam in the last 24 hours. Here are the tips that consistently separate passers from re-takers.

#Before the exam

1. Sleep, don't cram. Your brain needs to consolidate. A full night beats one extra chapter.

2. Pack the night before. ID, approved code books (ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II), highlighters, snack, water.

3. Eat a real breakfast. Protein + complex carbs. Avoid sugar crashes.

#During the exam

4. Do a 90-minute first pass. Answer everything you're confident about. Mark the rest. This builds momentum and banks time.

5. Never spend more than 3 minutes on one question during the first pass. Mark it, move on, return later.

6. Use your code books — but don't fish. If you're flipping for more than 60 seconds, your tabs need work. (Too late now — but remember for next time.)

7. Read the question, then the answer choices, then the question again. Many wrong answers come from misreading a single word ("excluding", "without", "initial encounter").

8. Trust the guidelines, not your gut. The exam tests official coding rules, not what your office actually does.

9. Eliminate first. Cross out two clearly wrong answers. Now you're at 50/50 instead of 25/25.

10. Watch for the "code also" trap. If two answers look right, the more complete and specific one usually wins.

#Final 30 minutes

• Review every marked question
• Check that you've filled in every answer (no penalty for guessing)
• Don't change answers unless you found a clear reason — your first instinct is usually right

You're ready. Walk in calm, work the system, and pass. For the full study roadmap that gets you here, see /blog/how-to-prepare-for-cpc.