It’s understandable to feel disappointed if your initial Career Step Medical Coding Final Exam results weren’t what you hoped for. However, it’s crucial to reframe this as a valuable learning opportunity rather than a setback. Think of the final exam as a practical assessment of your current medical coding skills, highlighting areas where you can refine your expertise before entering the professional field. Receiving a “no pass” simply indicates specific areas in your coding abilities that would benefit from further development to ensure you are fully prepared for a successful career.
Career Step mandates a minimum two-week period for focused review before you can retake the final exam. This period is intentionally designed for you to thoroughly analyze your performance, pinpoint your weaknesses, and develop a structured review and practice plan to specifically address these areas.
This guide is designed to support you in successfully passing the final exam on your next attempt. We highly recommend carefully reviewing the following information, as it includes proven strategies for improvement. Remember, the ultimate objective is to acquire the necessary skills to confidently pursue a career as a medical coder. Passing the final exam is a significant milestone in this journey. While your initial results suggest some refinement is needed, don’t be discouraged! Most students find that with targeted practice, they quickly gain the proficiency required for success.
The following three-step approach will guide you in identifying your areas for improvement and creating a targeted action plan to strengthen those skills and prepare effectively for the retake exam.
Three Steps to Final Exam Success
1. Utilize the Skills Assessment Worksheet.
This essential exercise is designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of your error patterns. By identifying recurring mistakes, you can directly focus your preparation efforts for the retake exam. The Skills Assessment Worksheet acts as a roadmap, guiding you to the specific areas that require your attention and practice. This focused approach ensures efficient and effective use of your review time, maximizing your chances of success on the retake.
2. Schedule a Final Exam Consultation.
Take advantage of the 30-minute consultation offered to review and discuss your final exam with a dedicated skills assessment advisor. This personalized session provides direct, constructive feedback and actionable strategies for improvement. Statistics demonstrate the significant benefit of these consultations: students who participate in a final exam consultation after their initial score achieve an average score increase of 9% on their retake – nearly double the improvement seen in students who forgo this valuable resource. To schedule your consultation, please call 1-888-657-5752. This is a crucial step in understanding your performance and gaining expert guidance.
3. Develop a Targeted Action Plan.
Based on the weaknesses identified through the Skills Assessment Worksheet and your consultation, create a comprehensive action plan to address these areas. If you need assistance in formulating your action plan, don’t hesitate to contact Skills Assessment for tailored advice and proven techniques. A fundamental component of any effective action plan should involve transcribing (or re-transcribing) additional medical reports from your course materials. Aim for a benchmark of three or fewer point deductions per report, using the Final Exam Grading Point Scale, as you engage in practice transcription. Consistently achieving this range in your practice is a strong indicator of exam-ready proficiency.
Please maintain open communication with us as you prepare for your retake. We are committed to providing ongoing support, additional guidance, and encouragement throughout your preparation. Career Step Skills Assessment is readily available by phone at 1-888-657-5752 or via email at [email protected]. We are here to help you succeed in your medical coding career journey.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What if I didn’t pass the final exam initially? Can I retake it?
Yes, Career Step learners are granted up to three opportunities to successfully pass the final exam and earn their Certificate of Completion. We are dedicated to supporting you in achieving your certification.
2. If I passed one section of the final but not the other, do I need to retake both?
No. If you successfully passed one portion of the final exam, you are only required to retake the section you did not pass. However, you have the option to retake both portions if you prefer. Regardless of the portion(s) you choose to retake, you will have a full 48 hours to complete the exam.
3. Will the retake exam have the same questions and medical reports as the first exam?
No, each final exam is constructed with randomly selected questions and medical reports. Therefore, your retake exam will not be identical to your first attempt, but it will maintain the same format and level of difficulty. All medical reports used in the final exams are standardized to ensure consistent assessment rigor. While you will encounter different reports, they will be comparable in complexity and scope to those in your initial exam.
4. Is there any negative impact if my score is lower on the retake exam?
No, a lower score on a retake exam will not negatively affect you in any way. However, a decreased score should be interpreted as a clear signal that you need to dedicate more time to reviewing and refining your medical coding skills. It’s an indicator to refocus your study efforts.
5. How do I schedule my retake exam?
You can conveniently submit a retake request online through the Final Exam Information section within your online course platform or via the Learner Support page on the Career Step website: www.careerstep.com/train-with-us/learner-support/. Please remember that Career Step requires a minimum two-week review period before you are eligible to retake the final exam.
6. Do I need to have an active student status to be eligible for a retake?
Yes, you must be an active, current student to retake the final exam. If your enrollment period has expired since your last exam attempt, you will need to purchase an extension to regain access. Maintaining active student status ensures you have continued access to your course materials and Learner Support resources, which are essential for effective review and preparation for your retake.
7. What if I am unable to pass the final exam within the three allotted attempts?
At Career Step, our primary goal is to support you in reaching graduation. We are committed to making every reasonable effort to help you achieve this objective. If you are encountering significant difficulties in passing the final exam, please reach out to us promptly for personalized advice on enhancing your medical transcription skills and strategies for passing the final exam before you exhaust all three attempts. Career Step has a dedicated, highly qualified support team ready to assist you in achieving your graduation goals within the given exam attempts.
8. What if some medical reports from my final exam are not graded?
If your final exam score falls below 60%, the grading process is discontinued at that point. If there are ungraded reports on your exam, you can utilize the Final Exam Grading Point Scale to self-assess and identify potential errors in those sections. This allows for a comprehensive review even if the official grading was stopped.
9. What are the best ways to prepare for retaking the final exam?
Please refer to the detailed information provided before these FAQs for comprehensive instructions and recommended steps on how to effectively prepare for your retake exam. The three-step plan outlined earlier is your best guide to focused and successful preparation.
