Did I fail the NCLEX?

RNLisa · Aug 22, 2005

I just finished the test and I am completely freaking out. I only had 75 questions. I also heard that if you got the last question wrong, that it means you probably failed. Has anyone heard that or do you know if it is true or not? I know I got the last two questions wrong. That can not be a good sign.

Hi, I am not an RN yet, but I have some friends who just graduated and took their NCLEX. All of them said the test shut off after only 75 to 80 questions. They all passed and are now RNs. Don't worry until you know for sure. When will you know for sure?? I heard my friends say they went to our State's website for Nurses and saw their name on the list of nurses (public knowledge) and that's how they first knew they passed.

Good luck, and try and do something to take your mind off of it for a day or so and keep thinking positive.

dlhommer · Aug 22, 2005

I just finished the test and I am completely freaking out. I only had 75 questions. I also heard that if you got the last question wrong, that it means you probably failed. Has anyone heard that or do you know if it is true or not? I know I got the last two questions wrong. That can not be a good sign.

don't second guess yourself because I haven't heard of anyone who came out of that test thinking that they passed. I took NCLEX in June with only 75 questions; I was very sure that I failed, very sure. anyway to make you feel better I passed.......so take a breath and just wait to see how you did because chances are that you really passed and are now a RN. good luck...I hope that helps.

Deb

Adam D. RN2005 · Aug 22, 2005

I just finished the test and I am completely freaking out. I only had 75 questions. I also heard that if you got the last question wrong, that it means you probably failed. Has anyone heard that or do you know if it is true or not? I know I got the last two questions wrong. That can not be a good sign.

First, take a deep breath and relax. Go and do something fun for yourself, you deserve it, you have worked hard to get to this point. When I took the NCLEX on 7/18 (shut down at around 80) I went to an amusement park afterwards and rode one roller coaster after another. I never once said to anyone how I felt I did. I knew what my heart said, but I didn't even listen to that. I let everyone else decide for themselves. No even my parents could get it out of me. I just refused to say how I did until the fat lady sung 48 hours later.

Second, the NCLEX is purposely designed so that you will only answer 50% of the questions correctly. It doesn't test your knowledge, but your ability level. And also, 15 questions are thrown away. You don't know which 15 they were. It could have been the last two were pilots.

Third, don't get yourself worked up. Its not worth it. The fat lady has not sung yet. She sings in less than 48 hours. Be positive, it is just another exam on the road of life. It is a letter and a number on a piece of paper, (or in this case a databank)There are a lot of other things for you to be worried about. it does not say how your life will turn out.

Believe in yourself, and look at everything through a positive light. Even the negative stuff, look at it from a positive angle. And how do I think you did, well, I think you did your best.

Let us know how you did, okay?

Adam, RN

p.s. If your curious as to what my heart said, lets just say my heart knew what two letters followed my name.

mandrews · Aug 23, 2005

I just finished the test and I am completely freaking out. I only had 75 questions. I also heard that if you got the last question wrong, that it means you probably failed. Has anyone heard that or do you know if it is true or not? I know I got the last two questions wrong. That can not be a good sign.

cant go by that randie. what if you got the first 74 right and number 75 wrong. if the system determines you are safe within a certain percentage it shuts off. it has to give at least 75 questions. most people i know pass with 75.

The nclex makes everyone feel like they failed. :clown: :clown:

melissa

suzanne4, RN · Aug 23, 2005

Number of questions has nothing to do with whether or not you passed. Same thing for the rumor that if you get the last quesitons wrong, you also do not pass. It judges you on the level of questions that you can answer. That is the only thing that counts.

Go and have some fun.............the real learning curve is only going to begin for you. :wink2:

lovinghands · Aug 24, 2005

I passed with 75 questions and the last question I answered was wrong. Hope this helps :) The wait is the roughest part of the ordeal - be kind to yourself. Best wishes - let us know how you do.

BlevinsRN · Aug 24, 2005

Getting 75 questions is usually a good sign. I only had 75 questions and I passed. Actually, everyone I know that got 75 questions passed. Statistically, more people with 75 questions pass

The whole getting the last question wrong thing only applies if you get 265 questions.

A Kaplan review guy came and talked to us about the NCLEX scoring process. Pretty much, if you got 75 questions. It either didn't take take long to show that you were competent or it didn't take long to show that you weren't competent.

I wish I could draw you a picture to show what I'm talking about. It is hard to explain.

If you are a certain distance above the line when you get to the minimum questions(75), then it will shut off and you will have passed. If you are a certain distance below the line, it will shut off and you will have failed. Or is you are close to the line either way, the test will keep going until you get a certain distance above or below the line of competence than it will shut off.

People who get 265 questions usually waivered on the line through the whole test. They didn't get too high or too low from the line. That's where getting the last question right or wrong can in some cases matter. If you get the last question wrong and you end the test below the line than you will fail. That is not true for every test though because you could have been just high enough above the line that getting the last question wrong didn't make you end below the line.

I hope this helps. It is really confusing to try to read this though. It is a lot easier to explain in person. Actually, it took the guy lots of pictures and 30 minutes to explain it to our class.

good luck

nursejohio, ASN, RN · Aug 24, 2005

Don't freak yourself out. I graduated with a 3.58 and still walked out feeling like I'd been hit by a freight train. I only got 75 questions and I would have gladly cut off my right arm for 10 more. A nurse at work took hers about the same time and she got all 200+ questions and passed too. Good luck, and don't stress too much

randie · Aug 28, 2005

I justed wanted to thank everyone for your support and help. By the way.....I PASSED!! That was the worst couple days of my life. Please pass it along, getting the last question wrong does not mean you failed.

Thanks again

suzanne4, RN · Aug 28, 2005

congratulations! :melody:

suzanne4, RN · Aug 28, 2005

people who get 265 questions usually waivered on the line through the whole test. they didn't get too high or too low from the line. that's where getting the last question right or wrong can in some cases matter. if you get the last question wrong and you end the test below the line than you will fail. that is not true for every test though because you could have been just high enough above the line that getting the last question wrong didn't make you end below the line.

i still do not agree with the above statement that was made by blevinsrn.

some people will get 265 questions, period. getting the last question wrong when you have 265 questions still doesn't mean that you will not pass. there are many other factors that are taken into account, mainly the level of the the questions that are being asked.