The short answer for the CPC exam is that they aren't going to test you on the order of the procedure codes because that information is not available in the manuals that they let you bring to the exam. The order of the ICD codes is often spelled out in the guidelines, so when it is, be sure to follow the guidelines for the diagnostic codes.
In the real world of coding you need to look up the RVUs for the procedure codes in a data base such as in an encoder like findacode.com. The RVUs can vary from one geographic location to another, and whether you are coding for a facility (such as a hospital) or non-facility (such as an office). Knowing the RVUs will allow you to code the procedures sequencing them from highest RVU to the lowest RVU. But the CPC exam cannot really expect you to know such details.
I don't have a current AAPC Study Guide so I cannot actually study the questions you are asking about but I'm guessing that the excision of a malignant lesion is more difficult than the repair, but the repair of a benign lesion is more difficult than the excision of the benign lesion. Unless you have access to RVU info you cannot know what the order of CPT codes should be, in general.
Remember your job during the CPC Exam is to choose the best of the 4 possible answer choices. Good luck on your exam!
