Computer Adaptive Testing Explained

[scienchris]

I'm not sure if this is a re-post, but I had just taken my NCLEX about an hour ago and had 18 SATA questions. I consider myself a fairly smart guy, but those questions were very difficult and I didn't think it was fair to have so many and then the exam shut off at 75. So beaten and disheveled I decided to do some research on Computer Adaptive Testing and here is an explanation that is much more relieving.

[h=2]How Does CAT Work?[/h] [TABLE]

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1. Every time you answer an item, the computer re-estimates your ability based on all the previous answers and the difficulty of those items.
   
2. The computer then selects the next item that you should have a 50% chance of answering correctly.
   
   • This way, the next item should not be too easy or too hard.
     
   • The computer's goal is to get as much information as possible about your true ability level.
     
   • You should find each item challenging as each item is targeted to your ability
     

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https://www.ncsbn.org/1216.htm

[hotnurse408]

That is what my instructor says and she used to work for Kaplan. " all you need to get is 50% "

[scienchris]

But it's 50% of the right difficulty!

[purplechicxiii, BSN, RN]

Of application/analysis level type of questions.

[diana2520]

[h=1]95% confidence interval rule[/h] this rule is the most common for nclex candidates. the computer will stop giving items when it is 95% certain that your ability is clearly above or clearly below the passing standard.

as if the computer has its own mind....