CHES Exam Day Tips: 15 Strategies to Maximize Your Score

Pre-Exam Day Preparation

Success on the CHES exam begins well before you sit down at the testing center. The final week before your exam is crucial for setting yourself up for optimal performance. Your preparation during this period should focus on fine-tuning your readiness rather than cramming new material.

Strategy 1: Complete a Final Practice Test

Three to five days before your exam, take one final full-length practice test under timed conditions. This serves multiple purposes: it reinforces your knowledge, identifies any remaining weak areas, and helps you practice pacing. Use our comprehensive practice test platform to simulate the actual exam experience, including the 165-question format and 3-hour time limit.

When reviewing your practice test results, pay special attention to questions from the two largest domains: Assessment of Needs and Capacity and Planning, which each comprise 17% of the exam.

Strategy 2: Review Your Weak Domains

Based on your practice test performance and study notes, identify the domains where you feel least confident. Focus your final review on these areas, but don't neglect your stronger subjects entirely. Understanding the difficulty level of the CHES exam can help you gauge whether your preparation is adequate.

Strategy 3: Prepare Your Exam Day Materials

Gather all required materials the night before your exam. You'll need two forms of valid identification, with your primary ID being a government-issued photo ID that matches your registration name exactly. The secondary ID can be a credit card or other form with your name. Prepare these items in a clear bag for easy access during check-in.

Exam Morning Strategies

Strategy 4: Optimize Your Morning Routine

Start your exam day with a routine that promotes alertness and reduces stress. Eat a substantial breakfast that includes protein and complex carbohydrates to maintain steady energy levels throughout the 3.5-hour testing period. Avoid excessive caffeine, which can increase anxiety and lead to jitters during the exam.

Wake up early enough to avoid rushing, but don't wake up so early that you're tired by exam time. Most test centers offer morning and afternoon sessions, so plan accordingly based on when you typically perform best mentally.

Strategy 5: Arrive Early but Not Too Early

Plan to arrive at the testing center 30-45 minutes before your scheduled appointment. This gives you buffer time for unexpected delays while preventing excessive waiting that might increase anxiety. Use this time to review any last-minute notes or simply practice relaxation techniques.

Test Center Arrival and Check-In

Strategy 6: Navigate Check-In Procedures Smoothly

The CHES exam is administered through PSI testing centers, which have specific security protocols. You'll be required to store personal items in a locker, complete identity verification, and may undergo additional security screening. Understand that this process can take 15-30 minutes, which is factored into your arrival time recommendations.

During check-in, you'll receive scratch paper and writing materials. Take note of what's provided, as you cannot bring your own materials into the testing room. The test center staff will explain the computer interface and testing procedures.

Strategy 7: Familiarize Yourself with the Testing Interface

Before starting the actual exam questions, you'll have access to a tutorial explaining the computer interface. Don't skip this, even if you're comfortable with computers. The tutorial covers important features like how to flag questions for review, navigate between questions, and access the calculator tool if needed.

Time Management Techniques

Strategy 8: Implement Strategic Time Allocation

With 165 questions and 180 minutes of testing time, you have approximately 65 seconds per question. However, this doesn't mean you should spend exactly that time on each question. Implement a strategy where you answer easier questions quickly to bank time for more challenging ones.

Question Difficulty	Recommended Time	Strategy
Easy/Familiar	30-45 seconds	Answer quickly, build confidence
Moderate	60-90 seconds	Work through systematically
Difficult	2-3 minutes	Use elimination, flag if needed

Strategy 9: Use the Two-Pass Method

Consider employing a two-pass strategy for optimal time management. On your first pass, answer questions you know confidently and flag difficult ones for later review. This approach ensures you capture all the "easy points" before spending time on challenging questions that might consume disproportionate time.

During your first pass through questions 1-83, you'll reach the optional 10-minute break. Use this strategically - if you're ahead of pace and feeling confident, consider taking the break. If you're behind schedule, you might skip it to maintain momentum.

Question Answering Strategies

Strategy 10: Master the Process of Elimination

The CHES exam uses multiple-choice questions with typically four answer choices. Even if you don't immediately know the correct answer, you can often eliminate obviously incorrect options. This strategy is particularly effective because the exam tests practical application of health education principles rather than pure memorization.

When using elimination, look for answers that are too extreme, contradict basic health education principles, or don't logically fit the scenario presented. Often, you can eliminate two options immediately, giving you a 50% chance even if you need to guess between the remaining choices.

Strategy 11: Apply Real-World Health Education Experience

The CHES exam is based on the Health Education Specialist Practice Analysis II (HESPA II 2020), which reflects real-world competencies. When faced with scenario-based questions, think about what you would actually do as a health education specialist in that situation, considering ethical guidelines and best practices.

Questions often test your understanding of the logical sequence of health education processes. For instance, assessment typically precedes planning, which precedes implementation. Use this understanding when analyzing questions that ask about appropriate next steps or sequencing of activities.

Strategy 12: Handle Complex Scenario Questions

Many CHES questions present complex scenarios requiring you to apply knowledge across multiple domains. For these questions, break down the scenario into components: identify the target population, the health issue, available resources, and what outcome is being sought. This systematic approach helps you select answers that address all relevant factors.

Pay attention to keywords in questions such as "most appropriate," "first step," "primary concern," or "best example." These qualifiers are crucial for selecting the correct answer when multiple options might seem reasonable.

Managing Exam Anxiety

Strategy 13: Implement Stress-Reduction Techniques

Exam anxiety can significantly impact performance, even for well-prepared candidates. Develop and practice stress-reduction techniques before exam day so they become automatic responses when needed. Deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and positive self-talk can all help maintain focus and calm during the exam.

If you encounter a particularly difficult section or find yourself dwelling on a challenging question, take a moment to reset. Close your eyes, take three deep breaths, and remind yourself that you've prepared thoroughly. Remember that you don't need to answer every question correctly to pass the exam.

Utilizing the Optional Break

Strategy 14: Make Strategic Break Decisions

The optional 10-minute break after question 83 can be a valuable tool if used strategically. Consider your mental state, physical comfort, and time remaining when deciding whether to take the break. If you're feeling focused and are on pace with timing, you might choose to continue without interruption.

However, if you're feeling mentally fatigued, physically uncomfortable, or stressed, the break can provide important restoration. Use break time to stretch, use the restroom, eat a small snack if permitted by the test center, and practice relaxation techniques.

During the break, avoid discussing exam content with others or checking your phone for unrelated matters that might create additional stress. Instead, focus on preparing yourself for the second half of the exam.

Final Review Strategies

Strategy 15: Conduct Systematic Final Review

If you finish answering all questions with time remaining, conduct a systematic review of flagged questions and any answers you want to double-check. Prioritize reviewing questions where you used elimination or made educated guesses, as these represent your best opportunities for improvement.

When reviewing answers, only change them if you have a clear reason for doing so. Research consistently shows that first instincts are correct more often than changed answers, unless you identify a clear error in your reasoning or remember additional relevant information.

Use any remaining time to review questions from high-weight domains. Since Assessment of Needs and Capacity and Planning each represent 17% of the exam, ensuring accuracy on these questions provides the best return on your review time investment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even well-prepared candidates can undermine their performance through common exam day mistakes. Avoid spending too much time on individual questions early in the exam, as this can create time pressure later. Don't let difficult questions derail your confidence or momentum - flag them and return later if time permits.

Reading questions too quickly is another frequent error. The CHES exam often includes important qualifying information that affects the correct answer. Take time to read each question completely, including all answer choices, before making your selection.

Finally, don't second-guess your preparation on exam day. If you've followed a comprehensive CHES study plan and performed well on practice tests, trust your preparation and focus on executing your exam day strategies.

Understanding the CHES pass rate trends can provide perspective on exam difficulty, but remember that your individual preparation and performance matter more than general statistics. Focus on demonstrating the knowledge and competencies you've developed through your health education background and dedicated study.

For additional practice and familiarity with question formats, continue using comprehensive practice tests that mirror the actual exam structure and difficulty level. This ongoing practice reinforces your knowledge while building confidence in your test-taking abilities.