{"id":14950,"date":"2019-09-01T20:42:54","date_gmt":"2019-09-02T01:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=14950"},"modified":"2020-09-11T20:41:01","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T20:41:01","slug":"5-tips-for-pance-test-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/pance\/5-tips-for-pance-test-day\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for PANCE Test Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >PANCE TEST DAY Tip 1<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Several weeks before the exam, list on an index card several of your greatest personal\u00a0<\/span>strengths and attributes, such as, \u201cI\u2019m an intelligent person who reacts well under pressure,\u201d or, \u201cI know I\u2019m going to be a great physician assistant.\u201d Keep this card handy so that whenever negative thoughts intrude while you are studying or practicing with questions, you can pull the card out, read the statements, and reflect on their truth. Luxuriate in the calm, positive feelings you associate with each of these statements. Fairly soon, you won\u2019t even need the card because you will know all the statements by heart and will be able to mentally review them as an antidote to negative thoughts and self-doubt.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >PANCE TEST DAY Tip 2<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">Keep a master tally sheet nearby each time you sit down to <a title=\"4 Tips for Effective PANCE Studying\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/pance\/4-tips-for-effective-pance-studying\/\">study<\/a>. Make a mark each time you\u00a0<\/span>find yourself engaging in negative thinking, daydreaming, or otherwise mentally escaping from the study situation. For many, the very act of counting the frequency of mind-wandering or lapses in concentration actually reduces the frequency of these behaviors, and they find that their daily tallies decrease over time. This is a mild form of behavior modification that you can apply to your own study behavior.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >PANCE TEST DAY Tip 3<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">Months (or at least a few weeks) before the exam, spend some quiet time thinking back\u00a0<\/span>over your life experiences to select one event in which you were the \u201chero\u201d of the situation. Perhaps you walked in on a serious fight between two friends and were able to bring about a peaceful resolution. Perhaps you administered CPR successfully to someone or orchestrated a successful fund-raising event for a charitable cause during college. Whatever life event you select, it must be a situation in which your abilities and actions solved a problem or redeemed a bad situation. Spend at least 10 minutes each day in a quiet place reliving this event, trying to bring back the memory in as much detail as possible. What time of year\/day was it? What were you wearing? What was the setting like? As you practice this, it will take less and less time for you to retrieve the memory in graphic detail. The purpose of this exercise is to allow you to mentally revisit the event quickly, because stored with this remembered event are all of the associated psychological feelings of being in control, a successful problem solver, confident, and, in general, winning over adversity. When anxious feelings arise during the exam and you take a brief time-out to retrieve this memory, these positive emotions serve to counteract the negative emotions associated with the test-taking process.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >PANCE TEST DAY Tip 4<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">Pacing problems will be far less likely if you work through lots of <a title=\"Strategies for Mastering Exam Questions\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/pance\/strategies-for-mastering-exam-questions\/\">sample tests<\/a> during your\u00a0<\/span>preparation. With practice, you will sense the right pace and will be able to walk in on test day confident in the knowledge that you can handle it. The test setting will feel less strange\u2014and the more familiar it feels, the less anxious you will feel. During the actual test, use the same pacing plan that you used in practice testing in the final week or two. Before you begin, determine the items that correspond with 1\/4, 1\/2, and 3\/4 points. When you take the test and reach a time-marker item, check your time. For example, in a 60-item test, you might write numbers 16, 31, and 46 on the marker board. When you reach Question 16, you should have used roughly a quarter of the total time; by Question 31 half of the time; and so on. Worrying about running out of time contributes to anxiety and often leads to time-wasting behaviors, such as checking the clock every couple of minutes\u2014a nervous habit that continually interrupts your thought process and often results in the need to re-read once you return to the question. If you do run short of time toward the end of a session, use question \u201ctriage,\u201d that is, scan the remaining items to find the ones that are easiest and mark the answers to these first. Return to the remaining items and mark some answer for all of them. Remember that giving no answer is an <a title=\"Common PANCE Errors\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/pance\/common-pance-errors\/\">automatic error<\/a>, so never leave items blank. The item-review option allows you to easily check to see what you have done with all items in the section, so always use this feature before exiting the test session.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue816' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >PANCE TEST DAY Tip 5<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">If you feel anxiety during the exam that is interfering with your ability to concentrate on the\u00a0<\/span>questions, take a brief mental \u201ctime-out.\u201d Shut your eyes, lean back, and slowly rotate your neck and roll your shoulders to relax them. Take several slow, cleansing, deep breaths and exhale each breath slowly. This time-out helps break the cycle of anxiety and will usually help you focus with a greater sense of calm and improved concentration.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_iconlist  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Signs of Anxiety That May Require Professional Help<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\">If you experience significant anxiety symptoms, such as muscle twitching, chronic insomnia,\u00a0<\/span>nausea, hyperventilation episodes, or chest tightness when you think about taking exams or while taking them, then self-help tactics may not be enough. If you experience several of these symptoms and they are severe, seek professional help from either a psychiatrist or a cognitive psychologist who is experienced in helping people overcome situational anxiety. Therapies may include anti-anxiety medications, behavioral retraining, or a variety of other interventions. Do not delay making an appointment\u2014each of these treatment modalities requires time to become effective.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Managing Time During the Exam<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\">Don\u2019t skip around frantically searching for easier items. Doing this can result in missing items and will leave you feeling out of control in the test situation\u2014something you definitely want to avoid. Also, because you won\u2019t easily be able to estimate how many items you have left to answer at any given point, skipping around makes following any pacing plan very difficult.<\/p>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_hr  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Decision Rule One<\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\">Use decision rules to make the most of your testing time. Everyone needs at least two deci<\/span>sion rules. Rule One is used when you are able to narrow the possible answers to two options. At this point, self-honesty is paramount. If you have already used recall and any strategies appropriate to such a question, it\u2019s time to choose and move on. Rule One prevents you from ineffectually reading and re-reading the item. Mark the upper of the final two choices and move to the next question. The second half of Rule One says that the next time you are faced with the same \u201cfinal two choices\u201d dilemma, you should mark the\u00a0<span class=\"s1\">lower\u00a0<\/span>of the final two choices and then move on. This is actually a time-management rule, designed to prevent you from obsessing between those two options.<\/p>\n<p><div  style='height:15px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_icon_box '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n<article  class=\"iconbox iconbox_left    avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_heading  \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class=\"iconbox_content\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><div class=\"iconbox_icon heading-color\" aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue83f' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'  ><\/div><h3 class='iconbox_content_title  '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Test Day Tip<\/h3><\/header><div class='iconbox_content_container  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span class=\"s1\">Throughout\u00a0<\/span>the exam, change an answer only if you realize that you initially misread the question or because new and specific recall occurs that now allows you to answer the question correctly.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h4  blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_icon_box  el_before_av_hr  '><h4 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Decision Rule Two<\/h4><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\">The second time-management rule pertains to questions about material that you\u2019ve never\u00a0<\/span>come across before. You are unlikely to encounter many of these \u201cclueless\u201d items. Most test takers report that on standardized examinations, they encounter only a handful of items that they truly have no idea how to answer. If you encounter a question dealing with totally unknown content, then have a favorite letter between A and E in mind, mark the choice that corresponds to the favorite letter, and move on. There is little to be gained from re-reading the item multiple times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><div  style='height:15px' class='hr hr-invisible   avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_icon_box '><span class='hr-inner ' ><span class='hr-inner-style'><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p>\n<p><article  class=\"iconbox iconbox_left    avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_hr  el_before_av_promobox  \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class=\"iconbox_content\"><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><div class=\"iconbox_icon heading-color\" aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue83f' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'  ><\/div><h3 class='iconbox_content_title  '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Test Day Tip<\/h3><\/header><div class='iconbox_content_container  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><span class=\"s1\">Remember\u00a0<\/span>to answer all questions on the PANCE. Every blank item counts as an error, so you might as well take a guess.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><br \/>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_icon_box  avia-builder-el-last '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><strong><span class=\"s1\">Concentration, Anxiety Prevention, and Pacing Routine\u00a0<\/span>Checklist<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Have\u00a0<\/span>you created\u00a0<span class=\"s1\">self-affirming\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">index\u00a0<\/span>cards?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Have\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">you\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">identified,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">monitored,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">changed\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">your\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">mind-wandering\u00a0<\/span>behaviors?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Have\u00a0<\/span>you\u00a0<span class=\"s1\">mastered\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">a\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">memory\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">that\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">provokes\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">self-confidence\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">during\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">anxious\u00a0<\/span>moments?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Have\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">you\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">implemented\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">practice\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">of\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">marking\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">time\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">junctures\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">during\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">ex<\/span>ams?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Have\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">you\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">found\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">a\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">quick\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">relaxation\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">routine\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">(e.g.,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">deep\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">breaths,\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">shoulder\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">rolling)\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">that\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">works\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">for\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">you\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">during\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">high-stress\u00a0<\/span>moments?<\/li>\n<li class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s1\">Have\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">you\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">established\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">and\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">mastered\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">\u201cdecision\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">rules\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">to\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">save\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">time\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">in\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">answering\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">questions\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">that\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">you\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">don\u2019t\u00a0<\/span>know?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you experience significant anxiety symptoms, such as muscle twitching, chronic insomnia,\u00a0nausea, hyperventilation episodes, or chest tightness when you think about taking exams or while taking them, then self-help tactics may not be enough. If you experience several of these symptoms and they are severe, seek professional help from either a psychiatrist or a cognitive [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28131,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[371],"tags":[372],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14950"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14950"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34534,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14950\/revisions\/34534"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}