Do Not Be Discouraged If You Don't Pass Your HESI Exit Exam on Your First Try!!

This article is for students who need a little help or encouragement for their HESI exit exam. This article will explain the way I studied, what I used to study, and how I prepared the day of the exam.

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Do Not Be Discouraged If You Don't Pass Your HESI Exit Exam on Your First Try!!

This may seem long, but I wanted to share with my fellow nursing students the way I prepared for the HESI exit exam and how I passed with a score of 907 on my SECOND attempt. Like many other students, I searched dozens of articles on allnurses.com on how to pass this terrifying exam, hoping I would find something, anything to help me pass with a miracle.

My school required a 900 or better to graduate, which was during the hardest semester of my life and I had zero time to actually prepare for this, outside of the 2 weeks I was able to study on top of completing my preceptor. My school uses Kaplan and every instructor recommended this in preparation for the HESI, but after a little research I found that many students felt Kaplan and HESI were completely different, so I decided to try another source, yourbestgrade.com. Many of my classmates had purchased this program ($100 + tax), and I read tons of reviews that found this program mostly helpful during their preparation for the exit exam. This was one of the best choices I have EVER made during my nursing student career.

Here is what yourbestgrade program includes: 6 practice exit exams that consist of 160 questions, 10 shorter practice exit exams that consist of 30 questions, and 30 different specialty areas (peds, maternity, management of care, med surge) that consist of 55 questions each. Each of these you can do in test mode- which is timed and at the end you can see what you got wrong and all of the rationales for each answer, or you can take it in study mode- not timed and after you answer each question it tells you right away whether you got it right or wrong and the rationale.

Here is how I studied in two weeks. I tried reading the HESI book, which has all of the information possible that you will be tested on but I didn't have time for all of that and reading doesn't stick for me. Then I purchased yourbestgrade, read the introduction on how it all works, and began studying.

Each day I would spend any where from 6-9 hours studying. The 160 question practice exams were helpful but a bit long, and I wanted to focus on one subject at a time, so I tried a few and switched it up (but do what works for you). Each day I would do 2 specialty areas in study mode (each one took me about 3 hours so I could get the content down), and then 1 of the 30 question tests first in test mode, then after I completed this I would retake the same test in study mode to review all of the rationales. I did this for about 2 weeks, on and off due to the six 12 hour shifts I had to complete at preceptor. Then the day came to take the test.

The morning of the test I did a 45 minute review of a study guide of quick facts that I found on allnurses and reviewed my labs, and then I put all material away. I wished my nursing student friends good luck and we all agreed over our group message that we wouldn't say anything negative and we wouldn't freak each other out, because come on what else do nursing friends do.

Once I got to school I peeked at my study guide one last time for a few minutes, put in my head phones, listened to a few songs that calmed me down and got me pumped up and positive for the test, took a few deep breaths, and started my exit exam, which we had 3 hours to complete 160 questions.

I was 40 questions in and began freaking out, I knew nothing on this test. At question 75 I only had a little over an hour left and thought "wow I'm really screwed," and I began flying through questions just to catch up to the time. I caught up to where I had over a minute for every question left by question 135 and I thought to myself, there is no way that I passed this and I'm going to have to accept that I will have to take this a 2nd time. I finally got to the last question, hit end, and my score was an 890. I missed the exam by 10 points, and I cried and cried and cried. My life was over, I was so close, and I thought even getting this close was just luck. I can't do that good or get that close again. I had only one week until I took my 2nd and last attempt.

HESI sends out a report showing what you did good in, what you did bad in, and your average score in every subject including how many you missed out of so many questions in that subject area. So during my week of preparation I repeated my same study style and focused on the subjects I did bad in which was basic care and comfort, patho, and med surge.

The second time around I did my same preparation ritual the day of, I stayed confident, I timed myself throughout the whole exam spacing out my time, and during the last dozen questions I told myself "Okay this is it, you are at 890 and you only need to get these last questions right to pass and really give it your all. Give it all you got on these last few questions, take your time, you can do this." I hit end and I got a 907!! I thought it was a cruel joke someone was playing on me, it didn't seem like real life! Turns out I got the last 12 questions correct, all in a row. And I slumped and cried again, because I finally passed nursing school.

I know this is a bit lengthy but for every fearful, stressed, and anxiety ridden student out there; YOU CAN DO IT. This exit exam is stressful, it is hard, and it seems impossible, but I promise you it is not. If you are able to get this far, you know your stuff now just practice the questions and brush up on what you don't know. Know your priorities, who do you see first? Who will die if you don't see them now? Think outcomes, if I choose this answer what will the outcome be? Read the question twice, identify what it is actually asking, and simplify it. And most importantly take your time, and make sure you are allowing enough time for the rest of your exam. I am currently studying for my NCLEX exam next week and I am hoping to pass on my first try in 75 questions, so cross your fingers for me! If you have any questions about the exit exam feel free to ask ?

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erint330

About erint330

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Great review! I also signed up for the Hesi Exam Study program from Your Best Grade. Claire was a real lifesaver for me. I only wish I had read your post before signing up - I was doubting for weeks before I finally bit the bullet.

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

Thanks for the tips. I'm also using YBG now. Just out of curiosity, what kind of grades were you getting on the 160-Question practice tests? I want to see how they correlate with the actual HESI exam.

Good luck on the NCLEX!

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I'm sorry I barely saw this! But I do remember my scores on the 160 practice tests were in the high 700's but I only did them in the beginning. They seemed to take more time, and I got better practice doing tons of short ones than one or two long tests!

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I did the same! I hope you pass!!

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That's so awesome! I'm taking my exit HESI next Friday so in a week and a half and I also got Your Best Grade and I see the similarity. I just got done doing the first PN exit HESI questions that were 110 and made a 720 :( my school needs a 900 score to graduate so I'm trying to do more questions as well as reading the HESI book, can I say I'm burned out?! But I'm hoping all this will pay off. I want this soo bad you guys! Pray for me!

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On 3/1/2021 at 5:28 PM, Shilpi Grey said:

That's so awesome! I'm taking my exit HESI next Friday so in a week and a half and I also got Your Best Grade and I see the similarity. I just got done doing the first PN exit HESI questions that were 110 and made a 720 ? my school needs a 900 score to graduate so I'm trying to do more questions as well as reading the HESI book, can I say I'm burned out?! But I'm hoping all this will pay off. I want this soo bad you guys! Pray for me!

I was going through various topics on this site and saw this post.  I have a friend who is considering Your Best Grade.  Her story sounds the same as yours, where she is scoring around 750/760 on her subject exams.  Can you tell me if YBG worked to bring your scores up?  I'd like to pass it on to her if it truly helps her.

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Hi, honestly I was doing a variety of things but yes I think YBG did help to an extent. What also helped was the HESI PN book, those HESI hints are good I wrote them down in my own words and was reviewing it daily to retain the info in my mind. Along with prayers, For 2 weeks I locked(not literally) myself in my room and just studied all day which I know also paid off. By the grace of God I made a 919 the first try! I was shocked cause the previous HESIs I took I never made higher than a 800 so this was truly a blessing. Your friend can do it just tell her not to give up and keep pushing it through! Good luck! 

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1 hour ago, Shilpi Grey said:

Hi, honestly I was doing a variety of things but yes I think YBG did help to an extent. What also helped was the HESI PN book, those HESI hints are good I wrote them down in my own words and was reviewing it daily to retain the info in my mind. Along with prayers, For 2 weeks I locked(not literally) myself in my room and just studied all day which I know also paid off. By the grace of God I made a 919 the first try! I was shocked cause the previous HESIs I took I never made higher than a 800 so this was truly a blessing. Your friend can do it just tell her not to give up and keep pushing it through! Good luck! 

Thank you for confirming it's a great resource.  I'll definitely let her know to take the plunge with YBG!

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