NCLEX: What I did to pass in 75Q

Published Dec 14, 2015

37 Posts

I was all over these forums just before and for the days after my NCLEX exam so I figured I owed it an update. So i got my ATT on a Friday about 2 weeks after i graduated (end of Nov) and decided to be VERY courageous and signed up to test for the first time the following Tuesday (First week of Dec), worried that I wouldn't be prepared or have enough study time. I had taken the Hurst review prior to my last quarter of school and retook the course immediately after graduation (you are allotted two live classes). Between signing up on Friday and testing on Tuesday I ate, lived, breathed NCLEX prep. I did the Hurst questions, read the book, and watched the videos. To be honest I did not feel as if that was doing what it needed to so I bought for $49 Kaplan qbank questions for one month. I found these to be extremely helpful and I even watched myself improve. Overall I did about 3000 questions give or take and went over every rationale carefully. I also utilized two apps with large question banks.

Also not only is it okay it is normal to score in the 50's, 60's, 70's in these exams and never see an 80, 90, or 100. This is okay, normal, and led to me passing and many of my classmates.

From when I woke up to going to bed I studied (I had to with only 5 real days of prep), but more than anything I did the questions and that was great. When NCLEX day came, I went to the facility early and made sure to have breakfast. The process to actually get into the testing room is intense with a lot of checks to make sure you are you. Once you are in your cubicle you get an option of ear plugs and headphones, I used both to cancel out sound. I ended up getting 75 questions with about 1/3 being SATA. I got no math, no drag and drop, no fill in the blank, no pointing to affected body parts/hot spots. I was out in about 45 minutes.

The 48 hours after the exam are the worst 48 hours one will probably ever have to endure. I was sure I failed, I prepared my family for failure, I looked up the Hurst moneyback policy for failing, etc. At 8 AM on the 2nd day after the exam I paid to get quick results and who knew-I PASSED and began crying immediately. It can be done! I found the test to be tricky and I definitely noticed that it would start off easier, get harder and stay difficult and then ease up (I believe that it stays difficult if you are doing well and eases up as you get some wrong).

Good luck for those 48 hours. Occupy yourself...Good luck! It can be done! My advice is to of course know content but also know what is most important/what will kill your patient first/who do I need to attend to first!