Chef Bates’ Ultimate Prep Guide to Passing the ServSafe Exam

There are a lot of ways to prepare for taking the ServSafe Manager exam.

It can feel overwhelming, especially if you have put off studying till the week before the test. Never fear! This page contains a ton of links to videos, study guides, flashcards, and practice exams to get you ready. Here are my STRONG recommendations:

  1. Watch the videos. All of them. Each video is essentially an audio version of the ServSafe material with mini-powerpoints and videos built-in to help you retain the material.
  2. Review the Basics. It is a REALLY smart idea to make sure you remember all the easy things – like how many minutes you should wash your hands, the different ways foodhandlers can contaminate food, etc. Even if you’re sure you know it, a little review won’t hurt.
  3. Review Beyond the Basics. Once you’ve got a handle on the easy stuff, graduate to the harder concepts.
  4. Use the embedded Flashcards the RIGHT way. There are instructions on the flashcard page on how to use the study tool effectively. No need to endlessly review! Study SMART, not HARD.
  5. Take the practice exam. You will be tempted to jump to the exam right away. DON’T DO THAT. Do steps 1-4 FIRST, then take the practice exam to see what you need to work on.

VIDEOS

There are 17 videos on our YouTube Channel with detailed, concept-by-concept explanations of EVERYTHING you might find on the ServSafe Exam. Many, many students prepare for and PASS the exam simply by watching and rewatching the videos, over and over. Here’s a link to the playlist:

ServSafe Basics

The Absolute BASICS: Review These ServSafe Elements to Pass the Exam

ServSafe Study Guides

The Ultimate Guide to Studying for the ServSafe Exam: Beyond the Basics

Study Tools

Studying for the ServSafe Exam: Flashcard Extravaganza!

Practice Exam

Before you sit down to take the practice exam, remember these VERY BASIC test-taking reminders:

  • Be alert for words like better, best, most/mostly, main/mainly, major, highest, greatest, biggest, largest, priority, and primary/primarily in questions. They indicate that there might be other answers that could work, but the correct answer is the one that is the best of the choices given.
  • Be alert for words like not, cannot, except, false, incorrect(ly), least (likely), without, and other negative word forms in questions. These words change the purpose of your search for the correct answer.
  • Be alert for words like not, cannot, except, false, incorrect(ly), least (likely), without, and other negative word forms in questions. These words change the purpose of your search for the correct answer.
  • Be alert for words like not, cannot, except, false, incorrect(ly), least (likely), without, and other negative word forms in questions. These words change the purpose of your search for the correct answer.
  • Be sure to consider describing words like first, next, last, before, final, and after in questions. They indicate that there is one particular correct answer, even if the other answer choices may be related to the question.
  • Look for words like most nearly, (most) likely, usually, and probably in questions. They indicate that you should look for the best answer, not necessarily the only possible one.
  • Look for words like most nearly, (most) likely, usually, and probably in questions. They indicate that you should look for the best answer, not necessarily the only possible one.