APEA 3P Exam Predictor 100% Correct Answers &
Best Predictor Exam Study Guide (A+)2026-2027
Section 1: Physical Assessment (HEENT, Cardiovascular, & Respiratory)
Q1: A 55-year-old male presents with a complaint of sudden,
painless vision loss in his right eye that lasted about 10 minutes
and was described as a "curtain coming down." He has a history
of hypertension and atrial fibrillation. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Retinal detachment
B) Amaurosis fugax
C) Acute angle-closure glaucoma
D) Temporal arteritis
CORRECT ANSWER> B) Amaurosis fugax.
Rationale: Amaurosis fugax is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)
of the retina. The classic description is a painless, sudden
"curtain" descending over the visual field. It is highly associated
with emboli from carotid artery stenosis or cardiac thrombi
(e.g., atrial fibrillation).
,Q2: When assessing the fundus of a patient with papilledema,
which of the following findings is expected?
A) Optic disc is pale and atrophic with sharp margins.
B) Optic disc margins are blurred, and veins are distended and
engorged.
C) Optic disc has a crescent-shaped area of white sclera visible.
D) Optic disc has a cup-to-disc ratio of 0.8.
CORRECT ANSWER> B) Optic disc margins are blurred, and veins
are distended and engorged.
Rationale: Papilledema is optic disc swelling caused by
increased intracranial pressure. This causes the margins to
become blurred and the retinal veins to become engorged and
torturous due to blocked venous return.
Q3: During a cardiovascular assessment, the nurse practitioner
notes a high-pitched, blowing, decrescendo diastolic murmur
heard best at the left sternal border, 3rd intercostal space, with
the patient sitting up, leaning forward, and holding their breath
in deep expiration. Which valvular abnormality does this
indicate?
A) Aortic stenosis
B) Aortic regurgitation
,C) Mitral stenosis
D) Mitral regurgitation
CORRECT ANSWER> B) Aortic regurgitation.
Rationale: Aortic regurgitation causes a diastolic murmur due to
blood flowing backward from the aorta into the left ventricle. It
is best heard at Erb's point (3rd ICS, left sternal border) with the
patient leaning forward and exhaling.
Q4: A patient presents with dyspnea. The NP notes a loud P2
(pulmonic) component of the second heart sound (S2) during
auscultation. This finding is most indicative of:
A) Systemic hypertension
B) Pulmonary hypertension
C) Aortic stenosis
D) Right bundle branch block
CORRECT ANSWER> B) Pulmonary hypertension.
Rationale: A loud or accentuated P2 indicates high pressure in
the pulmonary circuit. Normally, A2 (aortic) is louder than P2
(pulmonic). A loud P2 is a hallmark of pulmonary hypertension.
, Q5: When assessing tactile fremitus, the NP asks the patient to
say "ninety-nine." If the fremitus is increased, this indicates:
A) A pleural effusion
B) A pneumothorax
C) Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia)
D) Severe COPD with hyperinflation
CORRECT ANSWER> C) Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia).
Rationale: Solid tissue (consolidated lung from pneumonia)
transmits sound vibrations better than air or fluid. Therefore,
fremitus increases over consolidated lung tissue. Fluid (effusion)
or air (pneumothorax) decreases fremitus.
Q6: Which of the following breath sounds are normally
auscultated over the peripheral lung fields?
A) Bronchial
B) Bronchovesicular
C) Vesicular
D) Tracheal
CORRECT ANSWER> C) Vesicular.
Rationale: Vesicular breath sounds are soft, low-pitched, and
heard over peripheral lung fields. Bronchial sounds are loud and
Best Predictor Exam Study Guide (A+)2026-2027
Section 1: Physical Assessment (HEENT, Cardiovascular, & Respiratory)
Q1: A 55-year-old male presents with a complaint of sudden,
painless vision loss in his right eye that lasted about 10 minutes
and was described as a "curtain coming down." He has a history
of hypertension and atrial fibrillation. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A) Retinal detachment
B) Amaurosis fugax
C) Acute angle-closure glaucoma
D) Temporal arteritis
CORRECT ANSWER> B) Amaurosis fugax.
Rationale: Amaurosis fugax is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)
of the retina. The classic description is a painless, sudden
"curtain" descending over the visual field. It is highly associated
with emboli from carotid artery stenosis or cardiac thrombi
(e.g., atrial fibrillation).
,Q2: When assessing the fundus of a patient with papilledema,
which of the following findings is expected?
A) Optic disc is pale and atrophic with sharp margins.
B) Optic disc margins are blurred, and veins are distended and
engorged.
C) Optic disc has a crescent-shaped area of white sclera visible.
D) Optic disc has a cup-to-disc ratio of 0.8.
CORRECT ANSWER> B) Optic disc margins are blurred, and veins
are distended and engorged.
Rationale: Papilledema is optic disc swelling caused by
increased intracranial pressure. This causes the margins to
become blurred and the retinal veins to become engorged and
torturous due to blocked venous return.
Q3: During a cardiovascular assessment, the nurse practitioner
notes a high-pitched, blowing, decrescendo diastolic murmur
heard best at the left sternal border, 3rd intercostal space, with
the patient sitting up, leaning forward, and holding their breath
in deep expiration. Which valvular abnormality does this
indicate?
A) Aortic stenosis
B) Aortic regurgitation
,C) Mitral stenosis
D) Mitral regurgitation
CORRECT ANSWER> B) Aortic regurgitation.
Rationale: Aortic regurgitation causes a diastolic murmur due to
blood flowing backward from the aorta into the left ventricle. It
is best heard at Erb's point (3rd ICS, left sternal border) with the
patient leaning forward and exhaling.
Q4: A patient presents with dyspnea. The NP notes a loud P2
(pulmonic) component of the second heart sound (S2) during
auscultation. This finding is most indicative of:
A) Systemic hypertension
B) Pulmonary hypertension
C) Aortic stenosis
D) Right bundle branch block
CORRECT ANSWER> B) Pulmonary hypertension.
Rationale: A loud or accentuated P2 indicates high pressure in
the pulmonary circuit. Normally, A2 (aortic) is louder than P2
(pulmonic). A loud P2 is a hallmark of pulmonary hypertension.
, Q5: When assessing tactile fremitus, the NP asks the patient to
say "ninety-nine." If the fremitus is increased, this indicates:
A) A pleural effusion
B) A pneumothorax
C) Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia)
D) Severe COPD with hyperinflation
CORRECT ANSWER> C) Consolidation (e.g., pneumonia).
Rationale: Solid tissue (consolidated lung from pneumonia)
transmits sound vibrations better than air or fluid. Therefore,
fremitus increases over consolidated lung tissue. Fluid (effusion)
or air (pneumothorax) decreases fremitus.
Q6: Which of the following breath sounds are normally
auscultated over the peripheral lung fields?
A) Bronchial
B) Bronchovesicular
C) Vesicular
D) Tracheal
CORRECT ANSWER> C) Vesicular.
Rationale: Vesicular breath sounds are soft, low-pitched, and
heard over peripheral lung fields. Bronchial sounds are loud and
