Don't stress the kaplan scores

[procrastinator911]

Hi All,

I graduated with my BSN in May. I just took my board on July 8th. And PASSED with 86 questions!!!!!

I decided to take Kaplan b/c they help with strategies, which is what I needed help with. Personally, I believe Kaplan and NCLEX are 25% content and 75% strategy. If you have no idea what they are talking about you should still be able to answer the question

My advice to everyone taking it:

1. Figure out what kind of test taker you are and figure out your weaknesses

2. Pick one study source and stick with it. (Some people like to have numerous sources and it works for them, others it may not. I personally have every review book known to man, but I didn't use a single one during my preparations. I get easily overwhelmed with too much info and didn't want that to effect my studying.) I only did the Kaplan questions and read rationales. I even bought the book but didn't use it. I also found the videos to be too overwhelming with information.

3. Scores are important but don't get too caught up with them

.....I say this b/c I found myself frequently coming on here reading posts about people and their Kaplan scores and I started to freak out.

Here is a break down of my scores:

Diagnostic: 62% Readiness: 57%

QT1: 51% (literally fell asleep during test)

QT2: 65%

QT3: 57%

QT4: 48% (no clue, just a bad day I guess)

QT5: 56%

QT6: 64%

QT7: 60%

Qbank: 95% of questions used, with a 56% average (when i started is was 51%)

My scores weren't the greatest as u can see. But what u don't know is that the last few weeks b4 my board my qbank scores were increasing...mid 60s to low 70s (i was super happy). I was finally able to break down those questions and even incorporate some of my own strategies that i noticed were consistent even though they were not mentioned in the kaplan book or on the website.

4. If you're studying, be in study mode...sit upright at a desk with complete silence, NO DISTRACTIONS what so ever, because that is how the testing site with be.

5. I personally would suggest studying by yourself unless u KNOW u can benefit from studying with someone else.

6. 3 Cs....COOL, CALM, and CONFIDENT

7. MOST IMPORTANTLY: CONTROL YOUR ANXIETY!!!!!!!! My test was at 2pm, got there at 1:20. My anxiety went through the roof the second I walked in to check in. It was still high after a checked in. They kept asking me if I was ready to go in (I'm thinking to myself do u really think I look ready to go in lol). I literally checked my pulse until it slowed down. And finally went in once it was slow and steady at 1:55pm.

I hope this helps u guys. GOOD LUCK STUDYING!!!!! And stay off allnurses the week before your test lol.

[procrastinator911, BSN, RN]

I see you concentrated mostly on strategy. Can you tell me more about this. I am reviewing mostly content and no strategy.

I personally would tell you not to focus on content. Really start asking yourself "what happens to the patient if you pick A vs what's going to happen to the patient if I don't pick B. One big thing for me was the fact that I had to stop assuming things. And what I mean is, example: the question may have all symptoms related to compartment syndrome and I know they are talking about compartment syndrome. Ur answers will be something specific related to the treatment of compartment syndrome, which I would pic and get it wrong. U still need to always assess first bc the question doesn't say the patient had compartment syndrome. Look at the pattern in the answers. There may 3 good answers that u want to pick and that u would probably do, but most of the time its the other answer that is completely different from those other 3 answers that's correct.

[swansonplace]

Thanks. Been reviewing for a while on content. I see what you mean.

[swansonplace]

Was the Kaplan sufficient for priority and sata?

[procrastinator911, BSN, RN]

Was the Kaplan sufficient for priority and sata?

I think so. Kaplan gives u 30 questions of just priority and 50 of select all. And the select all on NCLEX were not complicated to me, kaplan select all were hard to me