1. Critical Thinking: One Minute per Question for Exams
Jim Jankowski, MT(ASCP), M. Ed., MPAS PA-C
Michael A. Taylor, MPAS PA-C
Christina Robohm-Leavitt, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA
TTUHSC SHP PA Program

2. NCCPA guidelines
The five-hour PANCE exam includes 300 multiple-choice questions administered in five blocks of 60 questions with 60 minutes to complete each block. There is a total of 45 minutes allotted for breaks between blocks and you will be responsible for managing your break time.

3. Testing advise
Penn State Learning - “do not linger too long on any one question”
St. Mary’s (CA) – “focusing on the answer you think is correct and to not stop and waste 3 minutes on a question that may be worth two points”.
- “If you have time, go back and answer questions you checked. Do not change the answers to those already completed”

4. PANCE In 2011, PANCE failures polled on their performance;
- Four of five cited time management

5. TTUHSC SHP PA Program Prior examples of time allotted per exam;
- Pharm I, 50 questions, 2 hours
- Clin Lab, 50 questions, 90 minutes
- Clinical Medicine courses, (Variable) but 100 questions, 2 hours

6. Students interviews I would go back and change answers
I would take the test up to five times
Hoping the answer would “pop’” in their head
Would use all time allotted because I had time
Started to doubt self/answer choice

7. Why change time?
Prepare for Certification exam

8. Method 1st semester; - reduce time per exams
a. Pharm I reduce to 75 minutes
b. Clin Lab reduce to 75 minutes
2nd semester
- certain courses to one minute/question
a. Pathology
b. PE
c. MI

9. Method 3rd semester and moving forward
- all exams: ~ one minute per question
- including EOR
Class of 2012
- beginning 4th rotation
Class of 2013
- 3rd semester

10. Findings Class of 2013 - only one failure did not cite time management
Graduate survey
a. “Did one minute/question improve test taking skills for your PANCE exam?
- 33 responses
- 97% - YES

11. Findings Subsequent class to graduate an take PANCE who failed
- have not cited time management as an issue

12. References
PANCE Eligibility Requirements. Available at: Accessed April 27, 2017.
PennState Undergraduate Education, Penn State Learning. Available at: Accesses April 27, 2017.
Saint Mary’s College of California, Academics, Test Taking Strategies. Available at Accessed April 27, 2017.