Everyone probably has their own experiences with this. When I took it, there were few standard preparatory courses/textbooks to help specifically with the exam (that was 3-1/2 years ago when they started their new version of the exam). So I can't comment on the efficacy of those tools. I have been doing acute-care transcription for 15+ years, and work experience does help. I set aside 3 months to study for the exam (at that time, it just was easier -- over the summer type of thing -- 2 months could work also). I used the Language of Medicine (read/studied the entire book) and worked through that and also did some exercises in the Medical Transcription Workbook from HPI. If I remember correctly, it is not directly stated what a passing grade is. At the end of the exam, you simply see "pass" or "fail." I believe the AAMT (or whatever it's called now) website will specifically address the percentage portion of the exam devoted to multiple-choice questions and the portion to actual transcription. And these are carefully crafted multiple-choice questions. I remember sort of freaking out at the beginning when I decided to pass over any questions that I did not immediately know the answer to, and it became apparent there were way too many that I was passing over! But I did pass the exam. I recall just trying to keep calm and accessing what little useful brain I have remaining to try and get the answers, and they eventually came.
