Did I sign up too early for my PNCLEX?

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 9, 2008

OMG!! I have just read a bunch of forums on here and everyone studied a long time before they took their test. I graduated March 21 and I signed up to take the boards on April 16. I bought the kaplan q and a and have been doing those and have been scoring in the upper 60's and lower 70's! Ahhh! Should I change the date? I feel maybe I scheduled too soon because I just want to get it over with! Anybody have any ideas? Thank you!!!!

To be honest, no one is ever really ready to take the exam. Many feel the the sooner the better, and basically, I am one of them. I took mine about 6-8 weeks after I graduated. Passed the first time with minimum questions in 40 minutes. I had varying scores from 30% with Kaplan to about 75% with the learning extension program, but I used to do about 400 questions a day, and I still got strange questions on that freaking exam, but forged through. I just made sure that I covered until I fully comprehended the subjects that were harder during school, but was fortunate enough not to get too many questions on during the program. If you are going to put it off, try not to let it be longer than a few weeks, because you will keep getting cold feet. Good luck and make your study time QUALITY time.

agldragonRN · Apr 9, 2008

omg!! i have just read a bunch of forums on here and everyone studied a long time before they took their test. i graduated march 21 and i signed up to take the boards on april 16. i bought the kaplan q and a and have been doing those and have been scoring in the upper 60's and lower 70's! ahhh! should i change the date? i feel maybe i scheduled too soon because i just want to get it over with! anybody have any ideas? thank you!!!!

do not reschedule! the earlier the better. all the nursing info in your head is still fresh.

i just took my board and it was about two weeks after my graduation. i passed with 85 qs. you will never feel ready. just keep doing nclex questions and be confident. i cannot stress this enough, you have to be positive and keep telling yourself that you will pass on the day of the exam.

leave the negativity out the door on the day of the exam. that way your nerves won't interfere with your concentration that much. oh don't get me wrong i was scared and all stressed out but i was confident and positive even though i was only like 50% ready to take the test. then after the exam i let all the negativity out and told everyone that i failed and i was 100 percent sure. it's okay to do this since the exam is over.

good luck on the upcoming test and be positive.

angel

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Apr 13, 2008

Don't change the date, just do a lot of studying. Practice the different question formats so you don't freak. Eat a good breakfast the day of. And just try to stay calm. This is important, but if you survived LPN school you should do well under stress already :nurse: .

Jules A, MSN · Apr 13, 2008

I agree with the others don't reschedule. I tested for my LPN 3 weeks after graduation and plan on doing the same for my RN also. Good luck!

MzMouse · Apr 13, 2008

I was forced to wait several months to take the NCLEX as the test was only administered by pencil and paper when I took it. The olden days. :lol2:

I would have much preferred only a few weeks between graduation and testing. Everything is fresh in your mind and you can and will only study so much.

Perpetual Student · Apr 13, 2008

I did the NCLEX-PN about 4 weeks after graduating. I only waited that long due to the fact that it was the soonest available appointment. My only studying consisted of doing practice questions from a CD that came with a review book that I bought and I passed quickly and fairly painlessly--ok, it was one of the most stressful times in my life.

Answer lots of questions and if you notice you're getting certain types wrong frequently brush up on the relevant material.

NC Girl BSN · Apr 15, 2008

I graduated August 7th 2007 and took my test Sept 8, 2007. Passed on Sept 10th. You should do fine. Don't drag it out.

DelanaRN, MSN, APRN, NP · Apr 15, 2008

Good luck tomorrow!! :up: You will do great!!

I have 10 weeks left in my LPN program and I SOOOO wish I was in your shoes right now. :cry:

midcom · Apr 15, 2008

Lucky you! I think you made the best decision to take it as soon as possible. My class had to wait around 6 weeks before we got our authorization to test & then had to wait for an opening. I didn't want to wait so chose to drive an extra 50 miles to take it sooner.

I found that I got tired of studying. I, too, took practice tests & got to the point that I'd get angry each time I took one. I had to stop because I didn't want to react that way when I took the actual test.

I thought the test was a killer but still passed with 85 questions. If you're wondering what to study, be sure to go over prioritizing and standard precautions. I think at least half my questions pertained to that. I only had a few drug calculation questions & they were very simple.

Good luck!

Dixie

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2008

I graduate June 6th and plan on taking the soonest test day they have available. I want it that way so all the info is still fresh in my head. If I had to wait months, I'd freak!

Others in my class WANT to take it a few months after graduation so they have that time to study.

The way I feel is either you know it by now or you don't. I can't see if you didn't get the info emblazened into your brain in the time in your schooling, I doubt you'll be able to cram it all in during that 3 months wait..but thats just my opinion.

karendc21 · Apr 16, 2008

hi to all the nclex test takers! i hope and pray that you will all pass the exam. for those who are looking for a review center, i can recommend one. it's jrc ( juno review center). my cousin had her review there and she passed. she told me that it really gave her a boost of confidence when you know that you had the best and you gave your best. audio visual review really helps.. :typing