Passed my NCLEX with 265 questions - Uworld vs Kaplan! My story

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hello everyone! I just wanted to share with you my experience with the NCLEX. I have failed my NCLEX the first time with 265 last December and I was devastated and honestly lost some hope for a while. I had a job lined up so it was tough giving that up and telling the recruiter I failed my NCLEX. I decided to pick myself back up again and got my ATT and started studying. This time I had a phone call back from a residency program for new RNs i applied to in Morristown (New grad Hire learning residency, to be exact), and i got the job! - so 2nd job lined up, I COULDN'T pass this one up. I had to pass.

I purchased Uworld for a month and a half. And let me tell you what a difference that was! My first time I used Kaplan Qbank and Qtrainers1-7 and i did all of the questions, reviewed the rationales, but it still didn't seem to click much in my head. Uworld helped me so much! The explanations were so easy to grasp and pretty straight forward. I feel Uworld helps you with content as well - they refresh you with the content while helping you to think critically!

Long story short, both exams i had 265 questions! After i reached 265 on my second exam, i was preparing to fail because it was the exact same feeling and scenario as my first exam. I remember getting the dreaded fail results and didn't understand where i went wrong. I did a bit research on how the NCLEX works, and i was told by Kaplan reps that as you reach 265, the computer has trouble detecting if you meet the passing standard - thats why they keep feeding you questions as opposed to shutting down when their 95% certain that you meet the passing standards or if you dont. So as you reach 265 the outcome of the test is determined by the last question. Now let me tell you for those who really are confused with the 265 rule. The last question NEEDS to be a passing level question, you don't need to get it right, but the computer needs to see if your final question was at a level of competency to determine if you pass or not.

According to blooms taxonomy in regards to NCLEX nonpassing level are: knowledge/recognition/understanding and PASSING level is: Application/Analysis/Evaluation.

My last question was a SATA and it wasn't an easy recognition-type question, such as- 'what are manifestations of so-and-so'. Those can be easily memorized (hence recognition level - nonpassing). My last question was a plan of care Q, along the lines of - 'what would the nurse include in the plan of care for so-and-so?' (SATA). Questions like those help you think critically and they challenge you - so the Nurse would include what in the plan of care? - she would included "such-and-such" - why? - because so-and-so. Get my drift? In your head as you are picking your answers, you are answering these questions and rationalizing them as opposed to just clicking memorized manifestations that you really don't need to have a explanation to. Memorized answers are as they are - no explanation needed. You either know the answer or you don't. In terms of passing level questions, sometimes you may not know the content - but if you know what the question is asking you, and if you are good at thinking critically - you still may get an answer right even if you don't know that particular content. Because passing level questions never question your content knowledge; passing level questions already assume you know the content.

So after I got home, i checked the answer to my last question and unfortunately, i got it wrong. I selected 3/6 of the SATA but it was like 4/6, i missed one tiny detail, so i got no credit for it. But that was a very high level question so it was definitely an application/analyze question that was above the passing line. This is why i passed my exam. If it were a nonpassing question, and i got it right - i would've failed regardless because it didn't matter, i would be below the line of competency. Hope this helps anyone who is confused! You will pass at 265 as long as your last question is a passing-level question - analysis/application type question - doesn't matter if you get it right or wrong. Thank you to the entire nursing community, these forums have truly helped a ton and inspired me to share my story with everyone who is a nervous wreck, cause i sure was those 48 hours playing the waiting game were the worst for me! Bless you all and good luck!

PS - use UWORLD!

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the NCLEX forum

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Congratulations, I know the feeling. Failed the First time with 265 in December as well and Passed with 75 a few days ago. Like I said in the other post you wrote, that was indeed a Passing level question. I remember the actual question but someone edited your post and my response regarding the baby. I also did Kaplan and love the way they explain it all.

I swear On Kaplan and Uworld, first time I used Uworld. Second time I used Kaplan and Uworld. Kaplan is so good for critical thinking and knocking those SATA. I Used True and False when answering those and it helped tremendously.

One must complete those qbanks from Uworld, I did it twice.

Congratulations again, We did it!

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I think allnurses had to edit the post since it was too much information in relation to the NCLEX so just for my protection so i don't disclose too much information on their items. But yes Uworld by far has been very helpful! congrats on passing with 75 not many can say the same, but at the end of the day whether you pass with 75 or 265, we are all nurses who met the minimum entry passing standard!

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Congratulations

As usual UWorld came through.

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Hello,

I took the NCLEX too and went all the way to 265. I felt like I was cycling through the questions well but I guess not. Now I am waiting for my candidate performance report from my Board and my application to retest. I am thinking about testing in about 2 months. I was considering using Kaplan or Uworld. Since I rode the line through the 265, and i believe my content is somewhat strong, I think I am need more work in test strategy and practice. What do you recommend?

Thank you so much! :)

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I recently took my nclex today for the second time. I went all the way to 265 questions. The first time i took the nclex I had 265 questions too but I felt like I knew nothing and answered everything wrong. I knew I had failed walking out of that exam. When I took the exam for the second time I was exhausted but after the exam I didn't feel awful. I do not feel great about the exam but I do not feel that awful about the exam. idk how I am feeling. I just want to pass so badly. I changed my ways of studying and I really gave it my all. I am really hoping for the best. I do not have the heart to do the pearson trick so I will just have to wait for my results to come in a couple of days.

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NurseBabe1841 said:

I think allnurses had to edit the post since it was too much information in relation to the NCLEX so just for my protection so I don't disclose too much information on their items. But yes UWorld by far has been very helpful! congrats on passing with 75 not many can say the same, but at the end of the day whether you pass with 75 or 265, we are all nurses who met the minimum entry passing standard!

Thank you for posting your story. The same happened to me last week. I did all 145 questions with the last question being an analysis question. It was a priority question about a certain disease and what to implement first. ABC's were not involved in this case. It had to do with safety. Once my computer shut off I left feeling defeated thinking I had failed. I was a nervous wreck. On top of that my results were on hold all weekend so I couldn't even do the PVT. Thank God I came across your story. I swear, I must've read your story 20 times this weekend believing and manifesting what you said "You will pass at 265 as long (145 for me) as long as your last question is a passing-level question -analysis/application type question- doesn't matter if you get it right or wrong.” I did my research and my last question was an analysis question and boom, I found out today that I passed my NCLEX just like you did! I am so happy and super blessed. 

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