All NCLEX takers, on a scale of 1-10...

DolphinRN84, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 6, 2006

How difficult was the NCLEX compared to Kaplan?? The reason I ask is because some of my friends say that it was easier than the Kaplan questions, and some said it was more difficult than they thought. I just dont want to over/under estimate the boards.
Despite what people tell me, Im still going to study my butt off. I just want to see my Kaplan QT/Qbank scores are something to really stress about (cuz the last thing i need is more stress.........). I had a "boarderline" on my pretest, and im averaging around 50-60s on my tests. Thanks

Hi! I haven't taken the NCLEX yet (will take them a week from tomorrow). But I'm also studying (or have been studying my butt of since graduation!) using Kaplan and Saunders (using Saunders mostly for content review) and I would also like to know. I've been scoring 60's on the tests and the Q-bank 50's and 60's as well.

gone2meowi · Jul 6, 2006

Kaplan was very beneficial in reviewing every picky little fact about so many body systems. I found it annoying at times because I did not agree with many of their answers through my own life experiences.

However, it got to the point where I realized you have to train your mind how to answer the questions the way you will be tested at the NCLEX.

The NCLEX questions I had were represented in a different way than the Kaplan questions were. However I needed the Kaplan review and constant badgering of my mind to get to the point where I was thinking the way they want you to think to process the information they give you and then you make a selection based on that methodical thinking process. Does that make sense?

For instance, in Kaplan you have so many side effects and all that you have to be familiar with regarding medications, disease symptoms, etc. On my NCLEX exam, they asked a lot of questions which where based on your familarity of a disease (and it's symptoms) or a medication (and side effects) , & you had to select things like which was the most appropriate action to take, which medication should be given to which patient first, which phone call to return based on severity of symptoms, etc.

So you needed to soak up the little facts in order to get the big picture and make a wise nursing decision.

I hope that helps..

Izzie77 · Jul 7, 2006

I just took NCLEX yesterday, got 75 questions and passed. I also took Kaplan. I thought the NCLEX questions were much more straight-forward and easy to understand than the Kaplan ones by far. I didn't feel that NCLEX questions were there to trick me.

I also did the Question Trainers and pretty much scored between 61-69% on all of them (64% on the final).

Hope this helps! Good luck!

RNLisa · Jul 7, 2006

How does Kaplan compare to say Meds Pub? I haven't taken kaplan, I took the Med Pub and have been doing their practice questions online every day. Does anyone have any input? Thanks!

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 7, 2006

I just took NCLEX yesterday, got 75 questions and passed. I also took Kaplan. I thought the NCLEX questions were much more straight-forward and easy to understand than the Kaplan ones by far. I didn't feel that NCLEX questions were there to trick me.
I also did the Question Trainers and pretty much scored between 61-69% on all of them (64% on the final).
Hope this helps! Good luck!

That's good to hear. I've gotten Question Trainer Test scores of 64, 65.33, 63, 62.67 on Tests 1-4, in order. I figured the tests get harder as you go along, so keeping the same score means I'm improving, as a manner of speaking! I got 65 on the Readiness Test.

Sounds like from what you're saying, I might actually expect an easier time answering NCLEX questions after Kaplan! I swear, some of the Kaplan questions are so odd, I'm NOT sure what the question is asking. At least NCLEX is more straight-forward, huh?

BORI-BSNRN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2006

rns2brwe, what is the readiness test? thanks in advance... good luck to you on your test :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 7, 2006

rns2brwe, what is the readiness test? thanks in advance... good luck to you on your test :)

kaplan has a diagnostic test designed to be taken prior to starting their course, so you can see where you are at that time. a baseline. then, after completing the course, you take a readiness test. it's designed to see if you've improved, what areas you are weaker and stronger in. the idea is that if you pass their readiness test, you are ready to sit for nclex; that is, they feel you are most likely to pass once you've passed their readiness test. that said, i've heard of people who didn't pass (or come all that close, scores in high 50s when passing is 65) who did pass nclex. of course can go the other way, they don't promise you'll pass nclex after passing their test, you're just more likely to.

i got the test as part of the package i bought. i think you can also get the test in their prep book, bought by itself....? not sure.

thanks for the encouragement :)

Izzie77 · Jul 7, 2006

That's good to hear. I've gotten Question Trainer Test scores of 64, 65.33, 63, 62.67 on Tests 1-4, in order. I figured the tests get harder as you go along, so keeping the same score means I'm improving, as a manner of speaking! I got 65 on the Readiness Test.
Sounds like from what you're saying, I might actually expect an easier time answering NCLEX questions after Kaplan! I swear, some of the Kaplan questions are so odd, I'm NOT sure what the question is asking. At least NCLEX is more straight-forward, huh?

It is just my opinion, but I thought Kaplan's questions were "weird". Some I just didn't agree with and they irritated me. But the ones that were difficult on NCLEX were because I wasn't that familiar with the particular content not because I felt tricked.

Plus, in the NCLEX Candidate Booklet you get, it says that whether you pass or fail, most people only get 50% right. You just have to get 50% of the "hard ones" right. I think Kaplan says you should get 65% on their tests to REALLY ensure you are ready.

Good luck!

DolphinRN84, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jul 7, 2006

It is just my opinion, but I thought Kaplan's questions were "weird". Some I just didn't agree with and they irritated me. But the ones that were difficult on NCLEX were because I wasn't that familiar with the particular content not because I felt tricked.
Plus, in the NCLEX Candidate Booklet you get, it says that whether you pass or fail, most people only get 50% right. You just have to get 50% of the "hard ones" right. I think Kaplan says you should get 65% on their tests to REALLY ensure you are ready.
Good luck!

This post and your other post made me feel A LOT BETTER. Yeah I find the Kaplan to be a little weird at times. But in a way, it still helps with the critical thinking. I'm taking the NCLEX next thursday and I'm reviewing content and working on questions and i know Im going to run into questions where there's content that I'm not familar with. Thanks for the reassurance :)