Computer testing tips?

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I just took the HESI practice exam today. I did well and I'm pleased with the overall report, but what I did find out about myself today is that I struggle badly taking exams on the computer. It took me much longer than it would have on paper and I got frustrated by not being able to underline and highlight important points. I found myself constantly running the cursor over the question trying to focus on what I was doing. I know we are given a whiteboard to use during NCLEX, but I have also heard that you can get bumped if you use it too much- they think you are dumping info, so I am afraid to use it too much. Does anyone have any suggestions of tips for making computer testing more easy? I think from now on I will do the cd-rom practice tests that came with my study materials just to try to acclimate myself to the process, but any other ideas would be greatly appreciated!

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I would work on relaxation techniques. Every so often look away from the computer screen and give your eyes a quick rest. It does get to you after awhile.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

I was nervous about computer testing for an opposite reason than you. On the computer, I tended to fly through the test. So was the case when I took NCLEX. I was nervous about not being able to underline, etc. also. I agree that you should do practice questions on a computer to help prepare. I did lots of NCSBN's questions, which are on the computer. I'm pretty sure what you said about the white board is inaccurate. I think that you're allowed to use the white board until you fill it and even then, you can ask for a new one. Good luck. :redbeathe

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everything is practice...you better practice on the computer b4 the actual nclex....learn to highlight in your head....and what u said about the white board is false. You are allowed to change it when u get if filled...but what i did was write down my lab values...infection ctrl mnemonics and some other mnemonics i had...i ONLY used the board for difficult questions.... problem with the board is if u write imp info on it like lab values and u have to change it during the test....you loose all that info.....another thing i found valuable was hiding the timer during the nclex but leaving only the number of questions to be displayed......i felt that to be very useful not seeing the timer b

c it made me concentrate not seeing the timer counting down....

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Hi guys,

Just wanted to point out, using the white board too much will delay results. After 48 hours my results were not posted, called pearson vue and they told me that I used multiple whiteboards so my stuff is under review. Wish they would warn you of this, it's approaching 72 hours, I am praying I will have results today. I can't take this anymore!

ps. used 4 or 5 whiteboards, would raise my hand and trade in one I had for a clean one.....didn't even brain dump lab values or anything! Just wrote down info as I went through each questions to help deduce the choices.

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Specializes in Medsurg, Public Hlth, School Nurse, Acute Rehab.

Wow! They told us not to write on the white boards until the test actually started which makes sense I guess. They didn't say that if you write too much your exam will go for review? What's the point of giving you huge white boards with a back and front if they don't expect you to actually use the space you are given? I only wrote calculations and one mnemonics on mine. I hope that wasn't over kill. Hahaha

In nursing school all of our exams were on the computer. I'm grateful for that now because I'm used to not being able to go back to questions I have problems with. Computer testing in school prepared me to NCLEX because it forced me to pick an answer and go on. I agree with the comment above, covering the timer helped. I know during my exam I kept glancing at the number of questions I had left. That was my only distraction. I don't know what you could cover the timer with though. You can't bring much into the testing room. I think there is an option to hide it on the computer somewhere though. Just read the tutorial thoroughly. I'm sure I saw something about hiding the time.

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Yeah called today, ncsbn has copies of my boards and they are under review....should take 4 to five days they said then they will let pearson vue know the results so they can be posted. I really hope they are posted by tomorrow (day 5!!!!) ugh! If not, they said next tuesday/wed because of the holiday weekend (closed sat, sun, and monday).....pray for me!!!!!!

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yeah, didn't realize I could write on the back (I was in the zone) so used only the front..........but seriously if I knew this, I would have used only one board and would have been more conservative about this.......not worth waiting 5 days or more for results. I am soo nervous and haven't been sleeping at all. I also have a job lined up that is waiting on these results, lose the job if I fail :(

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after 8 long days, I passed!!!!!! :)

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Congratulations!:up:

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