You’re ready to move up in nursing and want to become a Certified Emergency Nurse, but you have to take the CEN exam first! While taking any exam can be nerve-wracking, here are a few tips and tricks that you should know that can help you pass the CEN exam.

1.Create a Study Plan
You need to have some sort of plan when it comes to studying. Having a plan starts with what areas of the CEN you need more help on and tackling that area. You also need to schedule out 2 to 3 hours each day where you can study and practice one section of the exam at a time. Doing this will help prevent cramming which can help you remember things in the long run.

2. CEN Study Guide
Using a study guide can be a big help when you’re preparing for an exam, and the same can be said about using a study guide for the CEN exam. Using a study guide to prepare for the CEN exam will help you brush up on any key concepts that you may not remember as well as helping you dig deeper into the content of the exam itself.

3. Learn the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN) Exam Outline
Of course, you’ll be studying the content of the exam, but what about the actual test itself? You need to understand what is to be expected such as the details of the exam. Taking time to look at the exam itself will help you to understand more about the details and the format of the exam.

Here’s what you need to know:

• There are 175 multiple choice questions on the exam.
• 150 are scored questions and 25 are unscored pretest questions.
• You are given 3 hours to complete the exam.

4. Take Notes
This is something that you learned back in high school and probably carried it with you throughout college. When you’re reading your study guide, have a notebook that you can write notes in. Writing out notes from your study guide will help you organize your thoughts as well as your material. You’re able to write out how key concepts tie into other pieces of information. Also, having notes written out will give you something that you can quickly look over the night before the exam.

5. CEN Flashcards
Flashcards are another easy way to study for the CEN exam because you can use them when you’re on the go, such as if you have a little break at work. Not only are they convenient, but they’re a great way for you to remember details and concepts that will be on the exam. Flashcards are included in the online Mometrix University CEN Exam Prep Course.

6. It’s Okay to Guess
You’ll more than likely run across a question or two where you’re not completely sure about the answer, and that’s okay. If that happens, take your best guess and move on to the next question. You’re not penalized if you guess on the CEN exam but it’s important to try to answer every question on the exam. Making a guess on the CEN exam can increase your odds of answering the question correctly.

7. CEN Practice Test
Not sure which areas you need more work on? Taking a practice test can help you determine just that. Try taking a few practice tests to see which areas you excel in and which ones you need more work in. Then, sit down and study more on the areas that need more work. When you’re ready to try out a CEN Practice Test, visit our Academy website: https://www.mometrix.com/academy/cen-practice-test/

8. CEN Online Course
For a more comprehensive review, check out the Mometrix University CEN Prep Course. The course includes four full-length practice tests, 486 flashcards, 118 study guide lessons, and 70+ review videos.

9. Read Carefully
This goes with any exam; you need to read the directions and the questions carefully. If you just skim the questions on the exam, you may miss an important detail that can help you to answer the question correctly. Also, sometimes on exams, will through in a word or even a phrase to throw you off. You also want to make sure to review all of the choices before answering the question.

10. Know that a “C” is Enough
It’s understandable that you want to do your best on the CEN exam, but know that getting a “C” is enough to pass the CEN exam. There are 150 scored questions on the exam, and in order to be considered as passing, you will need to have 106 of those questions correct. This comes out to be around 70%.

If you need more information about the CEN, visit the BCENCertifications website: https://www.bcencertifications.org/Get-Certified/CEN

CEN FAQ