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Exam Format Deep Dive & Question Strategy

Duration: 40 min · Level: Advanced · Module: 10. CEHRS Exam Strategy & Final Review · Focus: exam-strategy, test-taking, NHA, CEHRS, time-management

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to explain and apply:

  • Question types
  • Answer all questions
  • Elimination strategy
  • Keywords to watch
  • Scenario questions

Why this matters​

The CEHRS exam is 130 questions in 2 hours 40 minutes — that is 74 seconds per question.

Overview​

The CEHRS exam is 130 questions in 2 hours 40 minutes — that is 74 seconds per question. With strategy, that is more than enough time. Understanding how NHA writes questions — and how to approach the ones you are unsure about — is as important as knowing the content.

Key concepts​

Key idea

Question types: knowledge (recall definitions/facts), application (apply knowledge to a scenario), analysis (evaluate a situation and choose best action); most CEHRS questions are application-level

  • Answer all questions: there is no penalty for guessing on the CEHRS exam; never leave a question blank; if uncertain, eliminate and choose the most defensible answer
  • Elimination strategy: HIPAA questions — eliminate any answer that violates patient rights or shares more than minimum necessary; documentation questions — eliminate any answer that involves deleting or altering documentation without an addendum
  • Keywords to watch: "most appropriate," "first," "best," "should": these words signal the question is asking for the priority action, not just any correct action
  • Scenario questions: read the last sentence first to know what is being asked; then read the scenario for relevant facts; avoid reading in assumptions not stated
  • Pacing: flag difficult questions and move on; answer flagged questions in a second pass; aim to complete all 130 questions 15-20 minutes before time expires for review

Check your understanding​

Try to recall each answer before expanding it.

Q1. What do you know about Question types?

knowledge (recall definitions/facts), application (apply knowledge to a scenario), analysis (evaluate a situation and choose best action); most CEHRS questions are application-level

Q2. What do you know about Answer all questions?

there is no penalty for guessing on the CEHRS exam; never leave a question blank; if uncertain, eliminate and choose the most defensible answer

Q3. What do you know about Elimination strategy?

HIPAA questions — eliminate any answer that violates patient rights or shares more than minimum necessary; documentation questions — eliminate any answer that involves deleting or altering documentation without an addendum

Q4. What do you know about Keywords to watch?

"most appropriate," "first," "best," "should": these words signal the question is asking for the priority action, not just any correct action

Q5. What do you know about Scenario questions?

read the last sentence first to know what is being asked; then read the scenario for relevant facts; avoid reading in assumptions not stated

Next: C10.2 High-Yield Review: Domains 1-3 (Documentation, Terminology, HIM) →

Part of Module 10: CEHRS Exam Strategy & Final Review.