How many weeks did you all study for the test?

I didn't study all that much. Maybe 4-5 days. I looked over Hurst review book from a friend, did questions from Saunders and ATI. Passed with 80 questions. The test was pretty awful and I didn't think I passed.

Passed in 75 questions with 2 weeks of REAL studying- setting aside 4-5 hours a day to literally read, take notes, quiz myself, find out what I was deficient on. Then, add in about an hour or 2 extra of doing questions at the end of the day with rationales.

Additionally, my program provided us with a 3 day, 8 hour per day live review. I used the Pearson-vue NCLEX exam cram book and the mosby's flashcards to study.

LOL, I'm not that smart. I just couldn't bother myself to study. I didn't even really know HOW to study. And I won't lie, I was FREAKED OUT the two or so days before I tested. But I know how I am, and the second an exam is in front of me, I stop stressing, I just go with my gut and pick an answer. I was done with my NCLEX in 35 minutes. You basically just have to go with your instincts on NCLEX, a ton of studying isn't going to help much.

Which books do you guys feel are better for content? Saunders, Hogan or Kaplan?

What books do you guys think are best for strategy & questions??

Any help would be great! Thanks :)

How would you guys compare the NCLEX test questions to Saunders, NCLEX 4000, etc. I have been studying from Saunders, NCLEX 4000, and Kaplan NCLEX-RN Strategies, Practice, and Review. I find that Saunders is helping me to retain the information far more than any of the other guides; however, I'm a little concerned that by using Saunders exclusively, I won't be prepared for more difficult questions on the actual NCLEX itself. Any thoughts from those who have taken the NCLEX? Thanks.

I keep running into threads where people say Saunders is "too easy", but I actually felt like the questions were pretty on-par with what I encountered on the NCLEX. I did almost exactly what you are doing: the NCLEX-3500, and Saunders. And that was about it.

@rachnurse how long did it take you to study the Maryann hogan book

I studied for 2.5 weeks (that was all the time I had), I used Kaplan On Demand Course for practice with questions - completing the Diagnostic & Readiness tests, all Question Trainers, and 30% of the Q Bank. I studied content using the 5th Edition Saunders Comprehensive Review (reading almost all of it). I reviewed the study guide from all nurses - which was invaluable for the isolation questions I had on the NCLEX. I completed the Kaplan Strategies, Practice and Review 2011-2012 Edition book. I also completed the first half of La Charity's PDA book (the chapters, rather than case studies). I studied 6-8 hours a day in about 3 hour blocks of time. I passed (according to the PearsonVue "good pop up") with 75 questions in 3 hours. I'll attach the study guide here for anyone who wants it :)

Nclex-Study-Guide.pdf

To me Saunders was too easy, and Kaplan was on par with the actual NCLEX (it even has the same looking screen), but Saunders is much better for content review. They are both excellent when paired together.