CHES Exam Day: Manage Stress and Maximize Your Score

You have spent weeks or months preparing for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam. You have reviewed the Areas of Responsibility, practiced scenario-based questions, and built a solid foundation of knowledge. But preparation does not stop when studying ends. How you handle exam day itself can have a meaningful impact on your final score. The strategies you use to manage stress, pace yourself, and stay focused during the test matter just as much as the content you have memorized.

This guide walks you through what to do before, during, and after the CHES exam so you can walk into the Pearson VUE testing center with confidence and a clear plan.

The Night Before the Exam

The evening before your exam is not the time for a cramming session. If you have been preparing consistently, a last-minute study marathon is more likely to increase anxiety than improve recall. Instead, use the night before to set yourself up for a calm and focused morning.

Prepare your materials ahead of time. Lay out your valid government-issued photo ID, your confirmation email or appointment number, and anything else you need for the testing center. Knowing everything is ready removes one source of morning stress.

Avoid heavy meals and excessive caffeine late in the evening. Get to bed at a reasonable hour, even if you do not fall asleep immediately. Rest matters more than you think. Your brain consolidates information during sleep, so giving yourself adequate time to rest is one of the most productive things you can do the night before.

Pro Tip: If your mind is racing the night before, write down your remaining worries on a piece of paper and set it aside. This simple act of externalizing anxious thoughts can help quiet your mind enough to fall asleep.

Morning of the Exam

Start your morning with a routine that feels normal and grounding. Eat a balanced breakfast that includes protein and complex carbohydrates to sustain your energy over the three-hour testing window. Avoid anything that might upset your stomach or cause an energy crash mid-exam.

Give yourself more time than you think you need to arrive at the testing center. Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Arriving early gives you a buffer for unexpected traffic or parking difficulties, and it allows you to settle in without feeling rushed. Feeling rushed before the exam even begins is one of the fastest ways to elevate your stress levels.

At the Testing Center

When you arrive at the Pearson VUE testing center, you will go through a check-in process that includes presenting your photo ID, having your photo taken, and storing personal belongings in a locker. You will not be permitted to bring phones, notes, food, or most personal items into the testing room. Understanding this process ahead of time helps you avoid any surprises. For a detailed breakdown of the exam structure, see our guide on the CHES exam format and what to expect.

The testing room itself is a quiet, monitored environment. You will be seated at a computer workstation with noise-reducing headphones or earplugs available. Take a moment to adjust your chair, put on the headphones if you find them helpful, and take a few slow breaths before beginning.

During the Exam

This is where your strategy matters most. The CHES exam consists of 165 multiple-choice questions, and you have three hours to complete them. Of those 165 questions, 150 are scored and 15 are unscored pilot questions. You will not know which questions are pilot items, so treat every question with equal attention.

Time Management

Three hours for 165 questions gives you roughly one minute per question. That is a comfortable pace, but only if you stick to it. Spending three or four minutes on a single difficult question can create a time crunch later in the exam that leads to rushed answers and avoidable mistakes.

Consider checking your pace at regular intervals. After every 40 to 50 questions, glance at the clock and make sure you are on track. If you are running ahead of schedule, that is a good sign. If you are falling behind, it is time to pick up the pace and resist the urge to overthink.

Flagging Questions for Review

The Pearson VUE testing software allows you to flag questions for later review. Use this feature strategically. If a question is taking too long or you are genuinely unsure, select your best answer, flag it, and move on. You can return to flagged questions after completing the rest of the exam.

The key is to always select an answer before moving on. There is no penalty for guessing on the CHES exam, so leaving a question blank is never the right choice.

Dealing with Difficult Questions

Difficult questions are inevitable. When you encounter one, do not panic. Read the question stem carefully and identify what is actually being asked. Many CHES questions are scenario-based, meaning they present a situation and ask you to choose the best course of action. Focus on what the question is asking rather than getting distracted by details in the scenario that may not be relevant.

Eliminate answer choices that are clearly wrong and work from there. If you have practiced with scenario-based questions during your preparation, this process will feel familiar. For more on this approach, review our article on practicing CHES scenario-based questions.

Managing Test Anxiety in the Moment

Even well-prepared candidates experience moments of anxiety during the exam. If you feel your stress rising, pause for ten seconds. Close your eyes, take two or three slow, deep breaths, and remind yourself that one difficult question does not define your entire exam. Then return your focus to the next question.

Physical tension is another common response to test stress. If you notice your shoulders tightening or your jaw clenching, consciously relax those muscles. Small physical resets like these can help you maintain focus over the full three hours.

Pro Tip: If you hit a stretch of difficult questions and feel your confidence dropping, remember that some of those questions may be unscored pilot items. Do not let a tough section convince you that you are failing the exam.

After the Exam

When you finish the exam, you may receive a preliminary pass or fail result on screen before you leave the testing center, depending on current NCHEC procedures. Official results are typically available within a few weeks. During that waiting period, resist the urge to replay every question in your mind. You cannot change your answers after submitting, and dwelling on uncertain questions only increases stress.

If you pass, congratulations. You will receive information about maintaining your certification through continuing education. If you do not pass on your first attempt, know that many successful health education specialists needed more than one try. Review your score report to identify your weaker areas and adjust your study plan accordingly. Our guide on common CHES exam study mistakes can help you refine your approach for the next attempt.

You Are More Prepared Than You Think

It is normal to feel nervous on exam day. That nervousness is not a sign that you are unprepared. It is a sign that you care about the outcome. Trust the work you have put in. You have studied the content, practiced applying it, and now you have a plan for managing the exam itself.

Walk into the testing center with the knowledge that you have done what you needed to do. Stay calm, pace yourself, and take it one question at a time. The CHES credential is within reach.

This content is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCHEC. CHES and MCHES are registered trademarks of NCHEC.