What to Expect on Test Day
The CET exam is a 120-question, multiple-choice exam which scores 100 questions, leaving 20 unscored. Those 20 questions are experimental, meaning the test administrators are trying them out to assess difficulty.
The test is out of 500, with a score of 390 required to pass. That’s just under 80%. You have two hours to complete the test, and there’s no wrong-answer penalty.
The Key Domains and Topics to Study
To pass the CET exam, you must demonstrate your knowledge across three content domains, each covering related subtopics. They are:
- Safety, compliance and coordinated patient care: 32% of all questions, covering topics such as HIPAA adherence and infection control best practices
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) acquisition: 44% of all questions, addressing equipment use, patient preparation and monitoring
- EKG analysis and interpretation: 24% of all questions, testing your ability to read EKG test strips and recognize important results
Use this information, combined with your self-knowledge regarding your strengths and weaknesses, to plan your study time.
Practice Test Tips that Actually Work
Practice questions and exams are important tools for predicting how you’ll do on the real test. Here’s how to approach them.
1. Make Time for Structured Study
Candidates who take the test without structured study are more likely to feel unprepared, especially on EKG Analysis questions.
2. Take Timed Practice Tests
Time doesn’t just fly when you’re having fun – it also flies when you’re taking a timed test. Two hours go by faster than you think, especially on questions that require you to interpret results. Take practice tests under exam conditions for a better idea of how you’ll do.
3. Focus on Weak Areas
Trust your strengths. Use your study time to boost your knowledge where you’re less comfortable. Analyze incorrect answers to understand why they’re wrong, then review related content.
Test-Day Strategies to Help You Perform Your Best
Your approach to the test matters. When the day comes, remember to:
- Read every question carefully: Many CET questions feature clinical scenarios. Differences in a single detail, such as patient positioning and lead placement, can distinguish a correct answer from an incorrect one.
- Focus on EKG acquisition, analysis and interpretation: These questions make up more than two-thirds of the test. Take time to review key areas like ventricular rhythms, artifact recognition and AV blocks.
- Answer the easy questions first: Skip questions you aren’t sure about, and go back to them after you’ve completed the rest.
You’ve prepared, and you know your stuff. Take the opportunity to show it off.
Invest in the Right Career Prep Program
MedCerts’ EKG Technician and Cardio-Phlebotomy Technician programs teach essential EKG skills in an engaging, multimedia format. Study online with dedicated student support and your exam fee covered. Talk to an Education Consultant to learn more.
