BEFORE THE EXAM:
  Tab and highlight codebooks: ICD-10-CM, CPT, HCPCS
  Create quick reference tabs: anatomy terms, modifiers, E&M table
  Practice with timed mock exams (2 min per question maximum)
  Review: official ICD-10-CM guidelines (free PDF from CMS)
  Review: CPT guidelines at beginning of each section

DURING THE EXAM:
  Read question completely before looking at codes
  Eliminate obviously wrong answers first
  Never code from index alone — always verify in tabular list
  For surgery: find the procedure, determine if add-on codes needed
  For E&M: identify patient type and level from documentation clues
  
  TIME MANAGEMENT:
    Flag hard questions, skip and return
    Easier questions: anatomy, definitions, basic codes
    Harder: surgical coding, complex E&M, auditing questions
    No penalty for guessing — answer every question
  
  COMMON TRAPS:
    "Most appropriate" — one code may be acceptable, another is best
    Bilateral procedures — check modifier -50 applicability
    Bundled services — check NCCI before billing separately
    Incomplete diagnosis — code to highest specificity available

OPEN BOOK STRATEGY:
  Do NOT look up every code — too slow
  Know common codes by heart (top 50 E&M, common surgical, key ICD-10)
  Use book for: verification, unusual codes, checking guidelines
  
PASSING SCORE: 70% (105/150 for CPC)
RETAKE: if fail, can retake after 30 days (additional fee applies)

TOP E&M CODES (memorise):
  99213: office visit, established, low complexity (most common)
  99214: office visit, established, moderate complexity
  99232: hospital subsequent, moderate complexity
  99283: ED, moderate complexity

TOP ICD-10 CODES (memorise):
  E11.9: Type 2 DM without complications
  I10: Essential hypertension
  J18.9: Pneumonia, unspecified
  Z00.00: Adult health exam without abnormal findings

TOP CPT CODES (memorise):
  99213/99214: office visits
  45378: diagnostic colonoscopy
  47562: laparoscopic cholecystectomy
  27447: total knee arthroplasty