Hii, everyone! I just passed the ASCP and it still feels surreal.
This was my 2nd attempt, and I promised myself that if I pass, I’d come back here and share everything I did differently. Trust me, I know how it feels to scroll on Reddit looking for hope after failing.
This will be long, but I hope my experience can help you in some way.
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First Attempt – Why I Failed
Looking back, I understand it now.
I thought I was studying well, but I was actually:
- passively watching lectures
- reading notes over and over
- memorizing without understanding
I finished all the materials from my review center. I even became a regular at the coffee shop where I studied every day, but none of that mattered because;
- I didn’t analyze why answers were right or wrong
- I avoided practice exams until 2 weeks before my test (I was scared)
- I basically crammed everything at the end
I was busy, but not effective.
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Second Attempt – I Changed EVERYTHING
For my second attempt, I went full self-study mode for 3 months. I slowed down and told myself: “I’m not moving on until I ACTUALLY understand this.”
My main tools:
- LabCE (daily)
- ChatGPT (for simplifying & quizzing me)
- Review books (CLSI, Polansky, Harr)
My supplementary tools:
- Sketchymed (Micro & Immuno, free trial only)
- marilynthescientist on YouTube (her ratchet study tips & study sessions helped me A LOT)
- Quizlet
What I did differently:
- I focused on understanding, not memorizing
- I studied every single day (even 1 hour counts)
- I actively reviewed EVERY question explanation
ChatGPT honestly felt like a tutor, it made concepts much easier to understand.
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My LabCE CAT Progress (REAL)
At first, I was stuck at:
- 49-51% average
I couldn’t even hit 55%, and it was honestly discouraging. But I didn’t stop.
Gradually:
- 55% → 60% → 70%
- Highest: 86% (7.4 difficulty)
Final weeks:
- Consistently 70%+ with 6-7 difficulty
I read that a 55% score at a difficulty level of 5 is enough, but I aimed higher because I was just so scared of failing again.
I only hit 80+ twice, but that was enough to show me I was improving.
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My Study System (this made the BIGGEST difference)
1. Deep Review > Just Answering
After EVERY practice test (25q or 100q), I reviewed EVERYTHING. On my google sheet, I wrote down:
- wrong answers (always)
- right answers (only if I felt like I needed to remember it)
Then I reviewed those notes weekly.
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2. Weak Subject Targeting
After each 100q CAT:
- I checked my 2 lowest subjects, then did a 25q quiz JUST on those subjects
I also tracked everything in Google Sheets:
- 100q CAT subject breakdown
- weak vs strong areas (color coded)
My goal was for every subject to be ≥60% every time.
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3. Structured Content Review
- 4-5 days per subject
- Then 25q quiz on day 5
Finished:
- CLSI (fully, with ChatGPT explanations)
- Polansky (most subjects, skipped my strongest one)
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4. Practice Routine
- 2-3 CAT exams (100q) per week
- Plus targeted 25q (review mode) everyday
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Study Time (Important)
I studied:
- 4-6 hours/day average
- Minimum: 1 hour (on low days)
- Max: 7 hours
I realized that once I go past 7 hours, my performance drops the next day. So I found my limit and respected it.
Also:
- I tracked REAL study time (I used a 1hr timer and paused it during breaks)
- I logged my total study time each day on a calendar
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Study Environment
- Mostly studied at home (better focus)
- Coffee shop: only 2x (near exam)
Also:
- I didn’t completely remove fun (TikTok, movies during breaks)
- But I paused things that required energy (e.g., going out, hobbies)
Balance matters. It helped me avoid burnout.
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The Turning Point
I kept delaying booking my exam out of fear. Until one day:
- I got 86% (7.4 difficulty) on LabCE
I felt like that was my sign to commit. That same day, I booked my exam (4 days before the actual test date)
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Harr Self-Assessment Exam
- First try (1 month before test date): 51% → I panicked!
- Second try (3 days before exam): 82%
That jump gave me confidence.
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Mindset + Faith
A week before my exam and even on the actual day, I felt…calm.
Not anxious. Not pressured.
Every day for 3 months, I prayed:
- before studying
- before practice tests
- before and during the actual exam
When I didn’t know the answer, I prayed.
When I was stuck between choices, I prayed.
I asked God to replace my fear with peace, and He really did.
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Exam Day
I was terrified to click “End Exam”
But then…
PASS appeared on the screen. I just stared at it.
Then I cried and thanked God. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t have done it without Him.
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Final Advice
- Don’t just study, understand deeply
- Review explanations like your life depends on it
- Track your weak areas
- Be consistent (even 1 hour matters)
- Know your study limits and your best study environment
- Trust your progress, even if it’s slow
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To Anyone Who Failed (like I did before)
You are not the same person who failed in the past.
If you change your strategy, I promise you’ll get a different result.
I was once someone who doubted herself every day, wondering if I was capable.
Now I’m here, telling you:
You are capable. You can pass this exam. Just trust the process. Trust God.
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If you have questions, I’ll try to help. You’re not alone in this 🙏🏼🤍