An NCLEX Success Story (Kaplan & ATI... scores included!)

[anashenwrath, ASN, RN]

Lots of people post how they prepped for NCLEX if they did well, so I thought I'd add my story to the mix. My grades weren't great and I was kind of a wreck, but I passed at 75. So I thought I'd throw out some good vibes to those of you who might be freaking out a bit (which may be all of you!)

First, you should know that I am a very anxious person, so I have been freaked out for the past two months. Like, really freaked out: vomiting, diarrhea, nightmares, spontaneous crying, picking at my skin. I didn't tell anyone my date, and I basically stopped talking to everyone for the last month except my poor boyfriend, who had to deal with all the crazy. I say this bcs I know how scared you are. Whether you did well in school, did great on your practice tests, and have every single person telling you you're going to be fine, etc, you still may be freaking out, convincing yourself you're going to let everyone down. And then you might get even more freaked out that you're going to blow it bcs you're freaking out. But it's ok. I promise you, it's ok. It's just a test. A test you can always take again. Your life does not hinge on this: it's just a test. I wish more people had told me that, instead of being like, "You'll do great! We have faith in you!" We're all proud of you no matter what. And if the worst should happen, we'll be even prouder when you get back on that horse and try again!

That being said, you want to pass the first time and not have to endure this diarrhea anymore, right? Right. So let me tell you what I did and how my scores were. I passed at 75 questions.

I did ATI in school, which I hated. If you're doing ATI, my recommendation is just read the books; the questions are basically from there. We took a test at the end and it gave me a 94% prediction of passing. Then we did the live Kaplan, which was great. The coach was super engaging and we learned about the wonderful, infamous Decision Tree.

ATI, I think, prepares you more for basic concepts, while Kaplan is more about test-taking strategies. However, the ATI questions have more variety as far as style goes--not just Select All That Apply (SATA), but also picture answers, hotspots, reorganizing steps, and "open this 'chart' and then make a decision" questions. Kaplan does not have as many of these. I was surprised because NCLEX definitely had them.

Otherwise, Kaplan content and layout mirrors NCLEX almost perfectly. I would say the questions were exactly as hard. A lot of people say they're easier, and some say harder. But it was really easy to convince myself that I was just taking another Kaplan test.

I had about 2 months. My schedule was 50 Qbank questions a day, and one QT every week or so. I did QT 7 a week before my test. I reviewed every single question--although not always right after the test, if I felt burned out. I only watched one of the vids. It was so BORING. It basically was just a woman reading the book. So I just read the book. Cover to freaking cover. And I wrote in the margins. If a page mentioned hypokalemia, I wrote out the range and symptoms of hypokalemia. If the next page mentioned hypokalemia, I wrote everything out again. I also made up cute mnemonics. I circled or underlined stuff. I drew the GU system so many times, I see it in my sleep. Gross.

And here were my scores:

Qbanks: 62 average. It never got higher than a 64!

Sample tests: 68, 56 (!), 70. That 56 was two days before the test (you can imagine how great THAT made me feel) and the 70 was the day before. So how insecure was I with all this inconsistency?

Diagnostic: 62.2

QT 1: 57.3

QT 2: 61.3

QT 3: 51.0

QT 4: 56.7

QT 5: 61.3

QT 6: 60.5

QT 7: 66.8

Readiness: 61.1

Check those numbers out. I wasn't exactly rocking it.

For ATI, there were WAY too many tests for me to post all my grades here. If you're doing ATI and want to know my specific grade for a specific test, PM me and I'll tell you how well I did (for as long as I have access). I averaged in the low-70s maybe high 60s. MedSurg and Leadership were the hardest. I got another 94% on my second diagnostic, but I didn't feel great about it.

Here's the thing with these questions. You almost always narrow it down to two. And then, you kind of have to guess. And if you're like me, every time you guess, even if you get it right, you don't count it as such. There is a right answer, obviously, and you didn't really know it. You feel like a fraud. But really, if you're getting that close, then chances are you're dealing with upper level questions. So even if you're guessing right only half the time (which is statistically what you should expect), you're still going to be at or near passing level, because those right answers are keeping you afloat. And the thing is, you're probably not right half the time; you're probably right way more than that! Because even when you end up guessing, there is a future nurse in you who is feeding your subconscious brain info! You HAVE the knowledge! And if you remember to think abut your answer and think about the outcome of your choice, it will help direct you to choose well!

The day before my test, I went to the sauna. Sitting in a scorching room so I couldn't even THINK about NCLEX, lol! That's not to say I still didn't study, but at that point it was just reviewing my lab values and A&P. And I watched the intro vids on Kaplan again, where they talk about the Decision Tree, etc. I HIGHLY recommend you do this if you're in Kaplan. Just so you have those test taking strategies in your head.

In the morning, I had a quinoa for breakfast and brought a freaking pharmacy along with me: ibuprofen, pepto-bismol, an Ensure, a Gatorade. I ended up taking the pepto and advil on the way over, but didn't need a snack. I was there for about an hour and a half.

As soon as I could, I wrote the Decision Tree down on my whiteboard. Not because I really needed it, but because it would serve as an anchor if I started panicking. Whenever I got a question where I was like, "WTF are they talking about?!" I would just read my Decision Tree. It would pull me back to reality and remind me that I had a strategy. The Decision Tree is your Yggdrasil; it supports you and guides you. Also you're a nerd if you got that reference.

Ok, so what types of questions did I get, since they must have been highish level?

• Tons of SATA. And not even ones with basic info. We're talking SATA with quotes as answers! My biggest criticism of Kaplan would be that they didn't have nearly enough SATA
  
• One EKG strip
  
• At least two of those "click to review the chart and then make a decision" questions
  
• One or two pictures (still multiple choice though, I didn't get any "hot spot" questions)
  

I obviously can't tell you what content stood out, but it really it ran the gamut. If you wrote this test, you still wouldn't feel prepared to take it. There is no way you'll know every single thing. So focus on the main stuff, remember your priorities, and be confident enough in the basics that you can see connections (ie, what is "really" happening). Don't obsess though. Accept that you're not going to know everything and keep moving.

I was a twitching wreck before the test, my Kaplan grades weren't stellar, and when I got the blue screen at 75, I felt totally neutral. I had no idea if I made it or not. But 24 hours later, I refreshed the BON, and there I was. :) And I can't wait to see your name there too!

[wfas457]

I am grateful for your post. I take my exam in about 2 weeks and am starting to panic. I had to do ATI throughout school, and continued to use the questions in my recent studies. I took Kaplan two weeks ago and have gotten through 95% of the Qbank (finishing tomorrow).. My scores on the QT 1-6 are similar to yours,but it makes me nervous! I am saving the 7th for the week before the test. I have been trying to read through Saunders now each day as well for some content review (and the questions at the end of each chapter) but I am worried I wont have time to get through it all (Only on page like 460 out of 1100). I ALSO have the PDA book I am trying to do questions from. I fear I am overdoing it- but I cant being myself to NOT study. I study almost all day long because of my anxiety. I feel the more I do the better off I'll be. Any advice? I'm a worry-wart and a bad test taker :/ HELP!?!?!

[anashenwrath, ASN, RN]

Take a few deep breaths! It sounds like you have this. I definitely cracked down more in my last two weeks, but I took breaks too, since burning out is not something you want to do.

If you're a worrier and a bad test taker, I def recommend reviewing the Decision Tree and Test Taking Strategies videos the day before. They're not going to burn you out and it will be a nice refresher to remind you that YOU GOT THIS. And write down the Decision Tree on your whiteboard, to remind yourself of the steps.

Always think of your outcomes: simple, basic, straightforward outcomes.

I wish I had done Saunders. I heard great things. :)

[wfas457]

I just feel like there's not enough time to do it all! But I don't want to push my test date back, I've been out of school since April already! Guess I just gotta suck it up and study hard core from here on out (not like I haven't been doing that already lol) I just want to pass the first time around so badly.

My Kaplan scores are as follows, let me know if you think I'm on the right track:

Diagnostic: 61.11

Q1: 54.67

Q2: 61.33

Q3: 57

Q4:61.33

Q5:62.67

Q6: 59.5

Q7: Waiting to take before test

Readiness: 63.87

My average for the QBank is at 62% and I still have about 100 questions left.....

These scores dont make me feel confident. On the Qbanks, I get anywhere from a 46-82, mainly all in the 60's.

Taking those last 100 today and then each day will re-take some that I got wrong, and the last few tests that they say are similar to NCLEX, along with the alternate style quiz :/

I just need someone to tell me its possible. I feel like crying a lot lol

[anashenwrath, ASN, RN]

Did you get my PM? I think you're fiiiiine! Don't push your date, please! I came very close to doing so, but that was bcs I was manic and having a hard time grasping that I'm not going to know it all. If you push the date and study like crazy, you're still not going to feel ready. But you will have put even more distance between you and your classes. Plus you'll be out some hard-earned bling. Plus, you'll be stressing out even longer.

I think your scores are great. Kaplan makes it scary, bcs they say you should have a 65, but if you speak to your coach, they'll usually tell you no one scores that well consistently. They want you to be aiming for the moon, bcs even if you miss, you'll still be high enough!

It is beyond possible, honey. It's PROBABLE.

86% first-time, US test takers pass. To quote another poster: if someone told you you had an 86% chance of winning the lottery, wouldn't you buy a ticket?!

Go wfas, go!!! I believe in you! And like I said in my OP, everyone will be proud of you no matter what happens. And should the worst happen, you just take it again. And we'll STILL be proud of you, bcs you kept pursuing your dream and you got back on that NCLEX horse.

But in all honestly, I think the best is going to happen. I think you're going to own it!

[julieecarr]

tHANK YOU FOR YOUR POST i FAILED FIRST TIME RETAKE IN 3 WEEKS jULY 19 AND I AM FREAKING OUT fOUND THE kAPLAN qUESION trAINERS ON LINE CAN you tell me where to find the readness test online?

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Decision tree is proprietary /copyrighted to Kaplan's paid review classes/materials. It is against the site ToS/international copyright law to request/share copyrighted proprietary material without written consent of copyright owner.

Try borrowing NCLEX prep materials from the library

[anashenwrath, ASN, RN]

I'm sorry, like I said in my original post, I can't actually give any information aside from my personal experience and scores. You can certainly find old Kaplan review books online for majorly cheap. Saunders as well. I didn't do Saunders, but I have heard it's very good.

I know it's a hard move, but you really might want to see if there is a way to pay for the course. I know that's easier said than done. But I think it will help you immensely, and will probably help push you toward success (you tend to work harder when you've shelled out some cash).

Good luck!