Confused and scare

barlowjb · Dec 28, 2009

Take my advice the best way to pass any exam, no matter how hard is to practice many many different questions.

I passed NCLEX on the first attempt through Kaplan online courses. I hardly read the book. The main thing I did out of the book was make note of the Kaplan test taking strategies. Other than that I practiced the questions - all the test trainers and the especially the Q-Banks on an almost daily basis for about one and a half months. There were other questions that I also viewed from the online professors who verbally taught how to a answer certain questions.

Practice makes perfect. I first learned this principle after failing both pre-calculus and calculus. After my failures I repeated these courses with a different professor who drilled into our heads that the way to truly solidify the math principles in our heads was to practice different types of questions on a DAILY BASIS -

I took this advice quite seriously and when I repeated pre-calculus and calculus the second time around, I kid you not I practiced questions EVERY SINGLE DAY without fail. Call me anal, but I did not miss a single day. I practiced for at least 2 hours daily and I passed both classes. The only reason why I did not get As is because I did not have enough time to do some of the questions (because I derived all my equations rather than memorize them for the exam), When I was shown my exams, turned out I got every questions I did correct (B+).

The same principle I took to pass pre-calculus and calculus was the same principle I applied to studying for the NCLEX exam. I even went to a free mock Nclex-test (50 questions) at a university three weeks before the actual NCLEX exam.

Now, the Kaplan online package costs $400+. If you don't have that kind of money and you have other books with NCLEX styled questions such as Saunders, I suggest practicing as many questions as you can. You can even repeat questions until you get it. If you keep on getting a certain type of question incorrect, then its at that point that you can go to the text to read up some more.

As far as not knowing where to start, I had the same problem and did not start studying earlier because of that. Well a friend suggested to just start answering questions, period - once I started doing that I just aimed at answering a certain number of questions by a certain time - say 2,000 questions by X date.

Also for every time I spent doing questions, I spent time also reviewing the ones I got incorrect.

Best wishes, you can do it!!!

applern · Dec 28, 2009

Take a week break from studying. Relax and treat yourself to some fun without thinking about the NCLEX. Just know you will pass on your next attempt. Tell yourself NCLEX is easy and believe it.

Change your studying style. Read and understand the rationales. Practice eliminating wrong answers. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION and do not read into the question. NCLEX questions are simple, it is what it is, they are not trying to fool you.

when you go in for the exam, please try as much as possible to be calm. if you feel you are not sure of the answer to some question (or all) don't panic.

Remember;

understand the question

eliminate wrong answers

choose your answer- best possible answer

and leave the rest to the lord.

PRAY, PRAY, PRAY before, during (short prayer) and after your test.

Good luck.

And please do not focus on post that tends to talk about themselves (I do this, I do that) too much. Seek the post that actually give you genuine advice. They are coming soon.

barlowjb · Dec 28, 2009

With all due respect:

FYI applern: I can only assume that your paragraph about not focusing on post that tend to talk about themselves (I do this, I do that) too much - was talking about me, since i was the first one to post after the OP. Exactly what constitutes "too much", which part of what I said could I have omitted? - Forgive me I did not use a measuring stick when I was writing my response - because guess what? I wrote from the heart.

Let me say this: people give advice in different ways - case in point the manner in which I posted is different from the way you did it, but nevertheless I have maintained my respect for the way you chose to give your advice.

There are some of us who genuinely talk about ourselves as an example in an attempt to motivate others, nothing more nothing less.

If you are offended by this type of posting, it would do good to offer constructive criticism rather than implying that people like myself are not giving genuine advice.

My advice to the OP is genuine and is coming from the heart. What I said was absolutely true and I still stand by it. If there is some type of unspoken rule against people talking about themselves when giving advice by all means please say so and I will rethink the way I post - but the last time I checked there are tons of posts on other topics in which people talk about themselves while giving advice to others and I have not yet seen anyone make a big to do about it.

On a personal note I actually like when people insert their experiences when giving advice because it tells me that their advice is coming from a genuine place of knowing based on their own experience, and that they are not just some person giving advice without any background or first hand knowledge of what to do in a given situation.

My identity, like many of the people on this website is concealed, so there is nothing for me to gain by simply talking about myself for kicks. I truly don't have that type of time to waste.

I am fairly new to this arena, I have learned a great deal from individual postings and interactions on this site including posts from individuals who actually talk about themselves.

This is not competition to see whose advice is best.

Back to Ximena2008:

Without any bias I can say that the advice from applern up to the point of praying is indeed good - follow all of that advice as much as you can and more if others post, but while you are doing all that also PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, whether every single day or most days.

Ximena2008, Good Luck to you, may God bless your efforts and have a happy new year and I hope to hear in the future that you passed this time around

Again Best Wishes, because you can do it!!!

kenyohunt1 · Dec 28, 2009

Hello

just wanted to add my:twocents: I believe exam cram works pretty well. It has a simulated exam that you can take that was in my opinion similar to the types of questions I saw on the boards. After each simulated exam (you dont know how many questions you will get exam cram grades based on your previous response) after the exam review all the questions in areas you scored badly in.

Knowing how to answer questions I believe is very key. If you can understand what the question is asking you then your half way there. Eliminiating answers is also very key. I was able to answer two questions on the boards this way, not by knowing what was right, but by knowing what was wrong. Hope this helps some.

AugustBoy · Dec 28, 2009

I just passed a few days ago. Before this last time, I took NCLEX in June 2005, so it had been more than 4 years. I started studying in late September. I took Kaplan and did all of the qbank and qt questions. I would recommend you take thats. Its a really good class and helps you how to take the exam. Ofcourse you need to know your material but sometimes the hard thing is to know how to take the exam. I think thats what was missing with me the last time I took it. As hard as it is to do, but I will say forget what happened in the past and concentrate on the future and now. Tell yourself you can do it. Do a lots of questions, I would say at least 3000 and nail it. May God help you.