Do you find yourself putting on background music while studying to help you focus? Well, there’s actually science to back it up!
Instrumental music can do more than just fill the silence—it can help you absorb and interpret new information, boost your mood, and keep motivation alive on the days when studying feels like…a lot. (And if you’re preparing for your NP board exam, you already know how quickly focus can disappear when anxiety kicks in. 😵💫)
When studying for your upcoming AANP/ANCC board exam, you’ll have different needs along the way: 1-hour sessions before dinner plans, a few practice questions on your mobile app while waiting in line, or longer study sessions leading up to your exam. That’s why SMNP Reviews is excited to share our timed, instrumental study playlists on Spotify (for free) that fit any study scenario!
In this post, we’ll break down each playlist and how to use them to study more efficiently (and with a lot less stress). 🤩🎧
3-Hour Deep Work Studying
For when you need to lock in before your AANP/ANCC exam. 🔒 These cinematic songs will keep you in flow state for an afternoon to get some serious studying done!
The vibes:
Cinematic, orchestral, motivational
Best for NP students who:
Have a dedicated time block and want to maintain focus throughout a longer study session
How to use it while studying:
“Deep work” is a term coined by Cal Newport that refers to the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task, allowing you to accomplish more practice questions in less time. This playlist helps you sustain deep work and quickly find your “flow state,” which mean you’ll be fully immersed in your Qbank without the mental load of trying to muster up the motivation to study—because let’s face it, you won’t always be in the mood to complete practice questions during your afternoon slump.
You’ll find instrumental movie soundtracks that heighten your energy and sustain your momentum throughout your longer study session. The ebb and flow of this playlist creates an ideal mental environment to stay alert but not distracted by the music, making it your new go-to for study sessions at any time of day.
90-Minute Practice Exam
Use the “Timed” feature on your SMNP Reviews Qbank to create an exam perfectly tailored to your schedule. Tune in with some calming background tracks to keep focus up and test anxiety down. 🧘♀️
The vibes:
Ambient, meditative, immersive
Best for NP students who:
Want to build confidence and reduce anxiety while taking Qbank practice exams
How to use it while studying:
Your SMNP Reviews Qbank allows you to create your own (timed) practice tests in Exam Mode, allowing you to simulate your actual exam as closely as possible.
With practice questions written specifically for your exam’s content blueprint, you can feel confident that you’re studying the right material and ready to pass your exam with flying colors.
If you’re experiencing test anxiety leading up to your exam, we recommend listening to calming music while you take your practice exam. This playlist includes a blend of ambient and chill music with slower tempos and softer melodies, creating a tranquil auditory backdrop for a clear mind and relaxed focus while taking your exam.
While it’s true that you won’t have music while taking the actual exam, creating a calming environment during your practice exam will help you better absorb the information and boost your confidence on your actual exam day.
For a walkthrough of your SMNP Reviews Qbank, check out this demo:
On-the-Go Studying
For those moments you find between errands, on the bus, or waiting for your dinner to finish cooking. Best paired with the SMNP Reviews mobile app!
The vibes:
Electronic, dynamic, techno
Best for NP students who:
Use the SMNP Reviews mobile app to study in quick bursts throughout the day
How to use it while studying:
There are surely days where you don’t even have a full hour to spare in your schedule—you’re running from one place to the next between work, errands, meals, and sleep. Even if you do have time in your day, the hassle it takes to haul your laptop around for a few practice questions isn’t worth it.
This is where the SMNP Reviews mobile app comes in. You can complete a few practice questions while taking the bus to work, waiting in line at the grocery store, or prepping dinner. (No Internet connection? Use “Offline” mode!)
During these mundane tasks, queue up this playlist to keep the energy high and make Qbank studying a fun activity to pass the time. Think of it as a replacement for the time you would be spending scrolling on social media—instead of opening Instagram, you can start replacing the habit with completing a few practice questions on your Qbank app. Plus, you’ll feel an extra sense of accomplishment after an already-busy day!
25-Minute Pomodoro Studying
The Pomodoro method: 25 minutes work, 5 minutes break, repeat. 🔁 Perfect for completing blocks of practice questions in your Qbank!
The vibes:
Upbeat, post-rock, introspective
Best for NP students who:
Prefer shorter study sessions with smaller breaks in between
How to use it while studying:
The Pomodoro technique is a time-management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. Named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer that Cirillo used as a university student, the method breaks your work into 25-minute intervals (known as “Pomodoros,” which means “tomato” in Italian) separated by short breaks. These intervals are known to increase mental agility, improve focus, and maintain a high level of productivity.
This playlist is 25 minutes long (and 1 second, but who’s counting?), so you can use this study playlist as your timer—when the last song finishes, it’s your signal to take a 5-minute break. When studying for your NP school exams, you can apply the Pomodoro technique by dedicating each Pomodoro to a particular topic or set of questions in your Qbank.
Wash, rinse, and repeat over the span of your study session. We recommend taking a longer break every couple of hours or so to minimize fatigue!
1-Hour Study Session
You’ve got an hour before your next class—want to squeeze in some extra practice questions? These uplifting tracks will help you drop in and quickly find flow state to make the most of your time. ⏰
The vibes:
Inspirational, nostalgic, hopeful
Best for NP students who:
Have an hour between classes or meetings and want to make efficient use of this limited time
How to use it while studying:
One thing we know for certain about NP students is you don’t always have time to study in your busy schedule. Still, you can make good use of the shorter breaks you find in your day, which can make a big difference over the longer period of time leading up to your exam!
This playlist is perfectly tailored for these hour-long gaps in your schedule to help you drop into studying on a moment’s notice—between rotations, before work in the morning, or on your lunch break. With uplifting tracks to inspire you, you’ll find quicker focus to jump right into your Qbank.
This skill of rapid focusing not only boosts your productivity but also enriches your understanding, ensuring that each minute spent with the Qbank is a step forward in your exam preparation. Plus, practicing this skill can help you jumpstart your focus while taking your actual exam, too!
Look for an NP board prep option that you can actually balance with the rest of your life? Great news—our FNP/AGPCNP Live Study Group just got even more flexible!
It’s the same live review course that thousands of NP students love, now with even more live session scheduling options, flexible start and end dates, and easy rescheduling for board prep that works *with* your schedule, not against it. Join the fun today! 🤩
The Ultimate Deep Work Study Playlist
All of our study playlists, combined! Play on shuffle or listen all the way through to meander through different genres and keep you focused all day long. ✨
The vibes:
All of the above!
Best for NP students who:
Are within days of taking a high-stakes exam and want 10 hours(!) of music to get through long study sessions
How to use it while studying:
You’ve made it—you’re in the final stretch of taking your exam! You’ll likely be spending longer days studying with your Qbank and solidifying the knowledge you’ve been building over the past weeks or months.
This playlist is a combination of all of our previously mentioned study playlists, giving you nearly 10 hours of music to sustain your focus. With longer study days, even the most immersive study music can become repetitive, so this playlist offers a variety of genres to keep you engaged. We recommend listening to it from start to finish (not on shuffle) to give you an easier transition between genres.
Remember to take breaks during the days leading up to your exam! You already have what it takes to pass—use this time to solidify your existing knowledge and get plenty of rest before exam day. We believe in you!
Ready to get started?
Head over to SMNP Reviews to find the perfect NP board prep option for you! (And you can follow us on Spotify to have the playlists above ready to go whenever you start your study sessions. 😌)
For more (free!) content to help you prepare for your NP board exams, check out these other posts on the blog:
⭐ Am I Ready to Take My NP Board Exam?
⭐ Test-Taking Strategies: How to Conquer NP Board Exam Anxiety!
⭐ ANCC vs AANP: Which NP Certification Exam Should You Take?
⭐ The FNP Pass Rate Is Rebounding. Here’s What This Means for First-Time Test Takers
⭐ How to Create Your NP Boards Study Schedule
