Ati or kaplan for nclex test prep

caliotter3 · Mar 2, 2010

Kaplan has a better track record if you read people's opinions here. I would suggest picking one and going with it. Don't waste money on too many resources. Save the others for a retry, if necessary.

skoppes · Mar 2, 2010

Is your opinion from personal experience with ATI and Kaplan? I had expected the response to be stronger for Kaplan because that method is well known, however, what I am looking for specifically are responses from those who have actually used Kaplan, ATI, or both, and ultimately how they compared and which was most beneficial.

I really appreciate your feedback though, thank you.

RN4LOVE · Mar 2, 2010

I used Kaplan, and I when I got to the first question in the NCLEX exam, I was confident because the question was the same format as what I had been studying with Kaplan. My school used ATI throughout my education, and I don't think it helped me at all. GO FOR KAPLAN and GOOD LUCK!

skoppes · Mar 3, 2010

:redpinkhe Thank you for taking your time to reply.

SK

gradgirl1223 · Mar 4, 2010

I took the test the first time knowing that I knew the content and thinking I could pass even thou I had poor test taking skills. I took the exam and failed with near passing in all the topics. After that I took kaplan Passed the test my second time with 75 questions. Kaplan is for test taking strategies for people who know the topics but need that extra help to learn how to answer the nclex questions which are different from the once we get in nursing school. I did all the QT but concentrated on 5-7, read rationals etc. Read 75 percent of the Kaplan book. Went over every med surg and fundamentals topic using the sauders book and did 75- 100 on sauders CD everytime I finished reading a section. I went over psych and psych meds. I already knew Peds and OB where my strong points so I only went over development stages, Erickson, PIH, Diabetes, Apgar, possitioning of the fetus and glaced at the diseases. If you know a subject is your strong point dont spend too much time on it but make sure you glace at it so you dont blank out when you see that topic on the test. I spent 2 1/2 weeks and 6-8 hours each day to study After taking the Kaplan course two months before and I passed using their strategy I owe alot to Kaplan. Watch the kaplan videos that comes with the online program. I watched the video on test taking stategies, IV meds and all the other meds, and I watched videos on the sections I wasnt doing well on in the QT. Remember this test is for beginner nurses and they test on subjects that should be general knowledge even if the area is not your specialty. My Friend told me THIS QUOTE " What man has made another man can make" the test is written by other nurses so another nurse should be able to pass it at some point, its not an impossible test to pass, its just how you go about preparing to pass, and your confidence in your self. Good Luck and let me know. Im personally going to use Kaplan for every test preparation from now on.

skoppes · Mar 4, 2010

Thank you sooo much for going into detail. I have one quick question, please. Did you have any experience with ATI for the first time you took the test?

Thank you for all your help.

SK

gradgirl1223 · Mar 4, 2010

I have read a few of the ATI books while in nursing school they seemed easier than Kaplan in content. Kaplan uses the same terms and same format as the test. When the test starts it makes you feel comfortable.

skoppes · Mar 4, 2010

Thank you for your help.

johwiklundRN · Apr 1, 2010

I graduated 12/09. My school required ATI testing through out the school year and as an exit exam as a graduation requirement. I had passed the ATI exit exam, with a score that claimed I had an 98% chance of passing the NCLEX the first time I took it. I took them for their word... In my experience in nursing school I had been an above average test taker. I reviewed some content but didn't really take it too seriously because of my ATI score. I thought it was in the bag, so it came as a big surprise when I failed.

Its really depressing. I would avoid it at all costs.

The day after I got my results I signed up with Kaplan. I am doing it all online, and I love it. The coorifice to focus a lot on testaking skills, however it is a complete content review. I am taking my time with it, and completing all it has to offer. I have yet to repeat the test, but I do not see how I would not pass this time around. I am feeling throughly prepared, and confident.

I would recommend Kaplan to Any new graduated, I only wish I would have commited to this program before I failed the NCLEX the first time..... and I probably would have if I hadn't been mislead by the ATI program.

Kaplans worth the money. GO FOR IT. ATI did not help me.

Wednesdayyschild · Apr 1, 2010

We used ATI books during school, and were also required to take the course (200.00) after graduation. However. I dont think that I utilized the program to the best of my ability. And I failed boards first time around. I take them again tomorrow and we will see. ATI is so so. Never used Kaplan.

sweeetRN, BSN, RN · Apr 2, 2010

My school also used ATI throughout the nursing program and I felt like it was a waste of time. I did the whole virtual ATI review where they set you up with a personal coach who tells you what to study and gives you encouragement, etc. I did that for about a month and a half, went through the whole comprehensive review and increased my predictive score by like 2 points. My predictor said that I had a 70-80 percent chance of passing nclex on the first try and on the first try, I did not pass. After that, I gave up on ATI and decided to study a different way. I did not go through a whole kaplan review course, but if I had to do it all over again, I would hands down, use the kaplan review course. I bought someone's kaplan review coursebook (the book you get if you take the actual course) off of craigslist and studied it front to back, found some kaplan question material online and used that, and i have the saunders 4th ed review questions app on my iphone which was tremendously helpful. I regret wasting my time on the ATI review and wished that I would've just studied Saunders for content and Kaplan for strategies.

When it comes down to it, it doesn't really matter what you use, just as long as you commit to it, and have your content down pat. Kaplan does offer content review, but I would recommend having your content down before doing delving deeply into kaplan questions. Kaplan makes their test format very similar to the nclex so you are not shocked and uncomfortable when you sit down to take the exam. ATI's questions are not really like the nclex and the format is annoying to me. Good luck with whatever you decide.