[pandaluck]

You only had one practice exam? I'm glad you took the practice test, I was a bit too cocky too about the NET, except I had to learn my lesson the hard way from failing the actual test, leaving me with only two more chances at the real thing because I'm no longer eligible for the school of my choice.

Was the alligator article hard to understand? That's my problem with ERI, since they're the makers of the tests, why do they make their practice exams (on the study guide) so much easier than the ones on the actual test? It makes me want to get my money back!

But go and do a search for all the GRE and ACT reading comprehension exams you can find, and you will find loads. They're all free online.

[carebear890]

Ive been wondering is their a difference between the NET test and the HOBET test? The college I go to requires us to take the HOBET test and I was wondering if I could just get a NET study guide and study with that because I havent been able to fine a HOBET study guide.

[FutureNurse23]

Everyone is having trouble with the reading portion so do not get distracted all. These are some of the notes I have taken from the ERI study guide. The reading portion consist of the Main Idea, Inference, Theme, Purpose, and Predicting Outcomes. So relax everyone! Once again these are some of my notes. Hope this helps and lets wish everyone luck!

Main Idea- A answer that summarizes the details of a paragraph. The answer will support the details in the paragraph.

Main Idea- Serves as a umbrella structure for many details of the paragraph.

Two errors made in identifying the main idea is Two Narrow & Too General.
Choose Broadest Answer

Inference- A answer expressed as a unwritten and unstated relationship among the details of a paragraph. "Inference", is a conclusion supported by the details in a paragraph.
EX: A) Three basic grasses feed most of the world in the 1800's.
B) Northern Europe sought corn as a food group.
C) The original American ate bread similar to the chinese.
D) Indo-Chinese ate bread from the same grasses as other people.
The Answer is A supports the details and supports different countries and is broad.

Theme- A symbolically stated topic of the story. A statement of a overall title of the paragraph.

Purpose- Answer that states why a paragraph was written.
The broadest point or purpose.

EX: A) Proteins are the spare parts of the human body.
B) Proteins is made of nitrogen and other minerals.
C) Grasses supply important protein for the body.
D) Nitrogen can be found by plants in the earth.
The Answer is A the details in the answers show that protein is the focus of the paragraph. Also the answers show how everything in the pragraph is conected to protein/the body.

Predicting Outcomes- A answer made from reasoning supported by the main idea and based on possible inferences from the details of the paragraph.

EX: A) All owls vary slightly from each other in color and size.
B) Human prisoners rarely see the great horned and the barred owls.
C) Screech owls can have a wingspan nearly as great as a man's height.
D) Owls come in a variety of species and are found throughout the world.
The Answer is D the details in the answer it supports that their is more than one type of owl. Also it makes a inference on owls supporting that owls are found throughout the world.

Predicting Outcomes has two paragraphs compared. A inference question is a true statement based on one paragraph only.

Predicting Outcome Questions : 1. Which statement is true based on these two paragraphs? 2. Based on these two paragraphs, which is a true conclusion? A conclusion supports a answer that MUST be broad.

Truely it is tricks to the reading portion of the reading portion. What I have found out in my practices is that if you have a BROAD answer that supports your paragraph your answer can't be wrong! This is for all Main idea's, Theme, Purpose and Predicting Outcomes. Inferences questions are broad but reflect also to a reasoning expressed in a unwritten and unstated relationship among your details in the paragraph.

[threejayes]

are there any books to prepare for the test? the study guide just gives you practice questions. I have been away from these problems for quite a while now and I need some background

[Solvita]

Hi, FutureNurse23!

I did not have problems with the inference or outcome prediction. I understood all about a paragraph in theory. I used my knowledge on the test, but I did not have time to summarize all the paragraphs in the passage to extract the main idea of the passage, even though I tried to reason looking at the title of the passage and skimming the first paragraph and afterwards a whole text. There was not enough time.
However, I'm on the program now because I took NLN and did well. The accumulative score on NLN made a difference . I took NET 2x and did not pass a reading part. Good luck to all you guys!

[pandaluck]

Originally Posted by threejayes

are there any books to prepare for the test? the study guide just gives you practice questions. I have been away from these problems for quite a while now and I need some background

you can purchase the NET study guide from Eriworld (I believe), they have website just google them. You can probably find the book in your college book store.

You can also purchase NET study guides from other publishers on amazon.com. Problem with this is that they have lots of sections that are not on the NET like sciences, word problems and such. But the benefit is to get more reading comprehension samples.

Lastly, if you look at the first page of this thread, there are links to free sample questions for the NET online.

Hope that helps.

[FutureNurse23]

Solvita well it is impressive that you passed the NLN instead since the NLN is mostly given to RN pre-nursing students as a entrance test. I also hear that the NLN is harder, due to the indepth math and science it has verses the NET. The NET has a easier level of math and critical thinking reading portion. Nevertheless, congrats to you and main ideas are just a answer that is supported by all details in a paragraph.

[Polska]

I have talked to different people who have taken the Net and all of them told me that computerized version of the Net is much easier than the pen and pencil version. On the computer the passeges are shorter and easier to understand. If you can pick between computerized and pen and pencil version definitely go for computerized version.

[pandaluck]

thank you so much for that info!! Last year when I took the NET we had to do a paper section. I ran out of time before I even got to the last section!

I'm hoping that this year since it's on a computer that i'll do better. I love the fact that I can get my results right away instead of waiting for two weeks like last time!

[Solvita]

Update for FutureNurse23

Today I got a letter from the school for which I took NET exam, THEY ACCEPTED me for the fall 2008!! What a surprise! I still have an opportunity to decide which nursing school to attend(???)