On test day you will need some things. Let’s run through a quick checklist.
•Two forms of ID
⁃One picture with printed name and signature
⁃One with just printed name and signature
•The address of the testing center and printed directions (you never know) if you’ve never been there.
•Drink
⁃Water
⁃Something with a little glucose: You can stave off decision fatigue with some sugar.
⁃Gatorade
⁃Powerade
⁃Iced Tea
•Good snack
⁃Cliff bar
⁃Peanuts and raisins
⁃Walnuts
•If you are a caffeine user, you may want some form of caffeine you can keep in your locker and access at break time. Be careful here. You don’t want to be jittery – just a little more nimble.
•A pick me up escape playlist on your phone that you can listen to break you out of your anxiety if you need it during a break
•Some money to stop for a drink on the way home.
•A powerful secret weapon I share in Maximize Your Time and Efficiency.
•Think through anything else YOU might need: insulin, cookies, medicine, etc.
People tell me all the time that they bring The Final Step along as it’s perfect for last minute review – especially the audio in the car on the way to the testing center. Or that they listen to the podcast on the way to the exam.
I think these are terrible ideas. I don’t think you should be studying for a full day before your exam and definitely not the morning of your test. Your brain needs rest – not cramming in tiny bits of information. I think that uses up valuable thinking juice, and you need to save that for the exam.
The Final Step is an excellent resource, and the podcast is a complete PANCE review on your phone – but not the morning of and not the day before.
– The Final Step 2.0 – coming soon
– The complete PAER podcast, every topic, every episode – click here: https://www.physicianassistantexamreview.com/podcast
Brian Wallace
P.S. Dress in layers. You don’t know what the temperature is going to be like inside of that building.
