Taking the CO exam in 6 weeks — what's actually worth studying?

by marcus_t 8 views4 replies
M
marcus_tOP
May 24, 2026

I've been working toward my CO certification for almost two years and I'm finally scheduled for the written exam. I passed my clinical hours requirement last fall but the written portion has been hanging over me. Feels good to have a date locked in, honestly.

I've gone through about 60% of the recommended study materials but I'm not sure how much weight to put on pharmacology versus ocular motility. My practice scores are hovering around 68% overall, which isn't where I need to be with 6 weeks left.

Anyone who's sat for this recently — how did the question distribution break down for you? I've heard the anatomy section can be tricky if you haven't reviewed cranial nerve pathways in a while, and that's definitely me right now.

M
marcus_t
May 25, 2026

I took it 8 months ago. Ocular motility was the heaviest section by far — probably around 35% of what I saw. Make sure you can describe and differentiate strabismus patterns cold before going in.

F
fatima_y
May 25, 2026

Don't sleep on the pediatric vision section. I underestimated it and it cost me several points. There's more depth to it than the study guides suggest.

C
chloe_g
May 26, 2026

Pharmacology is manageable — mostly topical agents and their mechanisms. Two or three focused sessions should cover it. I'd prioritize motility and anatomy over pharm any day.

M
marcus_t
May 26, 2026

68% at 6 weeks out is actually not bad. I was at 65% at that point and passed with a 77%. Just stay consistent and don't skip the practice questions.

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