Hi. I just wanted to share my journey with NCLEX and encourage everyone not to give up. First of all, I have been lurking and sometimes posting on this forum for how many months now. And I want to thank everyone for sharing their stories which inspired me every single day.
I graduated BSN in 2007. So it's been 5 years now. I'm 26 years old, and I have not had a major exam like this one for years. So going back to studying was a little bit challenging for me.
The first exam I took was on 2008 and I failed at 75 questions. My 2nd attempt also stopped at 75 Questions. 75 is now my favorite number =p
Reviewers I used:
Saunders Comprehensive Review 4th Edition Book - 1 month
I only studied Med-Surg in this book. Studied it really well, and made sure I understood everything. Read all the chapters in Med-Surg only once. Based my lab values in this book too.
Saunders Comprehensive Review 4th Edition CD - 1 ½ months
Read all the rationales, and followed up some more reading with the book especially if I forgot something or if I have trouble understanding something. Sometimes I even look it up on the net.
NCSBN Learning Extension
The content is heavy! And I wasn't able to finish reading content because I was pressed for time. So I prioritized answering the questions. Answered all the questions in NCSBN 3x. It came to a point wherein I didn't have to look at the item question to know the answer lol. So I stopped. I think NCSBN questions were harder compared to NCLEX.
Kaplan QBank
I felt that Kaplan questions and NCLEX questions were similar. The other posts weren't kidding. I felt like I was answering Kaplan QBank during NCLEX. Also prioritization questions in the NCLEX for me were similar to Kaplan QBank's Sample Test 3.
Prioritization, Delegation, Assignment by LaCharity, Kumagai, Bartz
This book gave me a headache. But I finished all chapters including case studies. Will post my scores after, together with my Kaplan scores 
Definitely buy this one, you won't regret it. The questions in this book are harder for me compared to NCLEX. Rating: 5/5. Finish all chapters and case studies you won't regret it. It's even better if you read it more than once
Saunders Q&A 5th Edition - borrowed from the library
I was so glad that my library had so many reviewers available. I borrowed this one but didn't finish it. Only answered around 200-300 questions in the book.
NCLEX 4000
I think this is really good for reviewing content and for practicing your SATA questions. For me, SATA questions in here were harder than the ones in NCLEX.
Kaplan 2011-2012 Strategies - BORROWED FROM THE LIBRARY
I was getting paranoid and wanted even MORE books to read. So I borrowed this and was happy to find out that it had a CD with it. However, I found the questions here easier compared to the ones in Kaplan QBank so I stopped when I finished all chapters. But I learned a lot from this book too, and if you have this don't worry. It's a good book. I wasn't able to answer the questions though in the CD or the last exam in the book.
Kaplan Question Trainers - sent to me by a good friend
I was hesitant to study the trainers because I saw the year they were published, which was 2009. I just did 3 trainers and I'll post my scores after this. I don't think the trainers were really necessary. But a lot of people recommend it especially trainers 4 to 7. There is a free version found on scribd
Study Guide
There is a study guide floating around here, they're around 30 pages or so. They're not by AllNurses or endorsed by them. I downloaded I think different versions of this guide but was not even able to finish reading half of it.
NCLEX time preparation: 4 months. 1 month content, 3 months answering questions from CDs, QBanks, and books. I made sure I studied every day but not tire myself out.. Every day I would answer questions. The most I answered was 600 questions in a day. The minimum was 30 in a day. I don't know how I did 600 in a day, it was probably an adrenaline rush? I know someone else though who answers 500 questions a day. I remember praying to the Lord and asking Him if he could help me do 600 ques/day, and He did. It even happened in the following days after. It's not impossible, with Him you can do anything, I'm serious. Just make sure to read rationales, and NEVER TIRE YOURSELF OUT. If you feel tired, stop. Rationales are more important.
So here are my scores for Kaplan, NCSBN, LaCharity, Saunders:
Saunders 4th Edition CD - 60's - 80's
NCSBN Learning Ext - 1st round 50's to 90's. 2nd and 3rd round after a few weeks: 70's to 100.
PDA by LaCharity, Kumagai, Bartz - lowest 33.33% highest 91.67%
Kaplan 2011-2012 - lowest 70% highest 78%
NCLEX4000 - lowest 68% highest 84%
Kaplan QBank overall score 58% (answered everything); scores ranged from 46% to 72% every 50 item test
Kaplan Sample Test #1- 56%
Kaplan Sample Test #2 - 54%
Kaplan Sample Test #3 - 87% ( I did all chapters and case studies in LaCharity first before this test )
Kaplan Question Trainer 1 62.66%
Kaplan Question Trainer 2 80%
Kaplan Question Trainer 3 67%
Kaplan Question Trainer 4 - 7 wasn't able to answer these because I didn't have time
I think that's about it. I'm just the typical average person who had average scores in high school and college so I was very shocked to know that I passed at 75 questions. If you really put your mind to it you can do anything. I also prayed to St. Rita, St. Joseph, and St. Jude every single day for 3-4 months. I prayed that they would help me in my examination and help me pass at 75 questions. I would also pray the rosary before I start my day (the moment I wake up), and the Franciscan rosary (7 decades) before I sleep.
I had 10 SATAs, 2 ECGs, 2 computations, 2 meds, 1 arrange by order..I memorized lab values, but I think only 1 came out.
Each NCLEX experience is different and the things that I said above are just based on my experience.. Others might say NCSBN is the most similar to NCLEX, or Saunders was the best reviewer. Some might have used only one reviewer, and others like me used a lot but never really finished one reviewer completely. Everyone has different studying methods, all I can say is stick to your own study plan. You know yourself best, and what works for you. If you learn best with videos, then you should go try online classes. If you learn best through reading, read as much as you can. Or if you learn best with a study buddy, find one. I found one here in allnurses and she's the best.
Hope I was able to help. If you're not getting very good scores in your reviewer, don't give up. Practice. And keep the faith. I did. Don't forget to pray, not just during your exam or before you take your exam but also when you study. I always asked God to let me retain the information that I had studied on that day. I'm very poor at memorizing, and only relied on understanding. I really want to emphasize this: Have a good relationship with the Lord. With Him you can do and be anything! TRUST HIM. Never doubt. He will help you.
I would also like to pray for people who are about to take their examinations. If you can, feel free to message me in private and tell me the time and date that you're going to take your exam. And what type of exam you'll be taking. A lot of people prayed for me, and I would like to pay it forward.
