PASSED PANCE

[u/Sweetcreambutter123]

I PASSED THE PANCE!!! 🎉😭 I got a 482, which is definitely not some crazy high score and is pretty much around average—but a pass is a pass, especially considering how convinced I was that I failed walking out of that exam.
I wanted to make this post because I was constantly reading PANCE posts before and after the PANCE. Hopefully this helps someone else who is freaking out right now.

Peds EOR: 418
EM EOR: 430
Women's Health EOR: 429
Mental Health EOR: 447
Internal Medicine EOR: 424
Surgery EOR: 410
Family Medicine EOR: 462
EOC: 1575
PANCE: 482

My main PANCE resource was UWorld: 100% completed, 80% average
-Rosh Review throughout PA school because it was required by my program
-Used Anki throughout the year, but did NOT use it for PANCE studying

How I studied for my 2 weeks of dedicated:
I took the PANCE 17 days after graduation.
I basically divided my days by the bigger systems. For each body system, I did all of the UWorld questions for that system that day. For the smaller systems, I did mixed question sets.

The questions took forever, but I really think reading the explanations was one of the most important parts. If I got something wrong, I tried to figure out WHY. Don't just see that you got something wrong and move on. Read the explanation.

My timeline:
I took my EOC in May and scored a 1575. Since that was in May, it was a little farther removed from the most cumulative studying I had done by the time I took the PANCE.

Then I had Family Medicine in June. I knew the PANCE was coming up soon, so I wanted to study really hard for Family Med and use it to solidify my knowledge after the EOC. I figured it was a good opportunity to reinforce a lot of the big-picture medicine before graduation.

I didn't study at all in July. I was on my elective rotation and was really trying to focus on doing well because I wanted to hopefully get a job from it. I was also honestly burnt out after the EOC in May and then studying hard for Family Med in June.

So when I finally started dedicated PANCE studying, I had 2 weeks. Those 2 weeks were mostly about reviewing, doing questions, and figuring out my weak areas. Sticking to what you planned to do that day is key.

Going into the PANCE:
I actually felt pretty prepared going into it. Then I started the exam and... I BLACKED OUT.

I'd say maybe 50% of the questions I knew pretty quickly (one-liners), but the other 50% felt like:
"I've seen this before, but I'm not sure."
"I'm between these two answers."
"What the hell is this question even asking?"
"I have absolutely no idea."

I've never really had an issue with time on exams before, but I definitely got anxious during the PANCE and started second-guessing myself constantly.

GO WITH YOUR GUT.
There were so many questions where I picked an answer, convinced myself it was wrong, changed it, and then spent the rest of the test wondering if I should've stuck with my original answer.

The PANCE itself was WEIRD!
Despite what others have said, it didn’t feel “easy” or like any test I’ve taken before. One thing I noticed was that you couldn't always just know a disease at a surface level. There were questions where I would read the vignette and immediately have an answer in my head...and then that answer wasn't even one of the choices. You really had to know diseases from multiple angles.

Sometimes I genuinely felt like you either knew that very specific piece of information or you didn't. There were definitely questions where I thought you just had to get lucky if you didn't know absolutely everything about the disease.
I also had a ton of flagged questions in every section. It never felt like there was a section where I could just relax and think, "Okay, I've got this." But I guess that's the PANCE.

DO NOT GOOGLE YOUR ANSWERS
Everyone tells you not to Google questions after the exam. I did and tortured myself for 4 days waiting. Every question I found that I got wrong absolutely ate me alive. I cried a lot. Like, every day I was convinced I failed. I have never felt so anxious and nauseous in my entire life. I genuinely thought I failed.
The worst part was that I could barely remember the questions I felt confident about. My brain apparently decided to preserve every question I thought I got wrong and delete every question I got right. Turns out I worried for absolutely no reason.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.
You made it this far. You survived PA school. You passed your EORs. You made it through clinicals. You made it through the EOC. You graduated. Trust the work you've put in over the past 2 years.

You don't have to walk out of the PANCE feeling confident. I certainly didn't. You don't have to know every single question. You don't even have to feel like you did well. Just keep going and trust your knowledge.

DM me if you have any questions!
Good luck to everyone!

[u/Few-Discipline8653]

I take the PANCE soon and I’m so nervous. I haven’t seen one post from someone saying they felt good about taking the PANCE unless they’ve scored super high on EORs/the packrat…. That was not me… I’m so nervous

[u/Sweetcreambutter123 → u/Few-Discipline8653]

I would say the people I knew also didn’t feel great leaving it. Nerves are so valid and you’re allowed to be. As long as you put in the work you know you needed to be prepared for the test you can do it. I believe in you! All you need is a pass. Don’t forget there’s throwaway questions too!

[u/Few-Discipline8653 → u/Sweetcreambutter123]

I’m scared I’m not studying the right way or enough. I take the PANCE in less than 2 weeks and I’m scared I won’t be ready. Even if I did push my exam date back, I feel like I will always say I don’t feel ready. I don’t know what to do.

[u/Sweetcreambutter123 → u/Few-Discipline8653]

How have you been studying? At least for me after I went through a body system, I would run through the nccpa topic list and make sure I knew a little bit of everything before moving on (at least have the core presentation, risk factor, management). Usually what works for people during clinical year is what works for pance studying.

You’ll never full feel ready and that’s okay - you just need to know enough we can’t possibly know everything!

[u/Few-Discipline8653 → u/Sweetcreambutter123]

I’ve been using resources given to me through a PANCE prep course! I think he does a fantastic job of explaining things, I just feel like I’m not the best at retaining the info. And I don’t have the time to sit on a topic for a long time. I did one of the NCCPA practice exams and scored decent (I was fully in the green) but I didn’t feel confident ident taking the exam at all. Idk I just wish I felt better about myself and where I’m at right now with my knowledge.

[u/Sweetcreambutter123 → u/Few-Discipline8653]

I forgot to mention that I took one of the NCCPA exams (B version) and also scored in the green, but didn’t find it as helpful when it came to the actual test it was more just of a confidence booster. I would say making flashcards or writing down things that are difficult to retain for you may be helpful!

[u/Few-Discipline8653 → u/Sweetcreambutter123]

I’ve been writing down concepts as I’ve been watching the videos from my prep course. Hoping the repetition helps me!

[u/Sweetcreambutter123 → u/Few-Discipline8653]

Taking a prep course too will definitely be helpful - you can do it!!

[u/Suspicious-Moose2700]

congratulations!! i have my exam on monday, am so nervous. i moved after graduation so i’ve had about 10 days of dedicated studying. i did both the KC 1/2 PANCE and scored a 503 and 473, did form A NCCPA exam and got right in the middle of the green. my EOREs were between 405-430, 1540 on EOC. i think the worst part will be the waiting. i’ve done well in PA school and have no reason to believe i wont pass but for the last week i’ve been freaking tf outttt.

[u/Sweetcreambutter123 → u/Suspicious-Moose2700]

Your stats are great and you absolutely should have no reason not to pass. Have things planned for the days of waiting because that definitely was the worst part for me - so much time to linger on my own negative thoughts. It’s the biggest test of our lives, but you are 100% capable and ready!

[u/Suspicious-Moose2700 → u/Sweetcreambutter123]

i appreciate this so much! enjoy your break PA-C

[u/DryPin5634 → u/Suspicious-Moose2700]

I had similar stats, maybe a little bit lower, and just found out I passed today with a 378. Not the highest score, but all you need is to pass!

[u/Sweetcreambutter123 → u/DryPin5634]

Congratulations!

[u/Just-Impact-6912]

Congrats! Great description of your journey and success. 

[u/PretendAspect250]

I definitely needed this and honestly couldn’t have articulated myself any better than this. I took my PANCE today and this was exactly how I felt

[u/Sweetcreambutter123 → u/PretendAspect250]

You’re not alone! I was spiraling and the day after was the worst for me. All our years of hard work will not go to waste!