Elsevier CAT exam

[A. Boogie, BSN, RN]

Our school has graduating students take the CAT exam offered by Elsevier as well as the exit HESI. I've taken (and passed) the beast that is the exit HESI but can anyone tell me what the CAT exam is like... I know it's supposed to mimic the NCLEX.. Any comments from anyone who has taken it?

[ArrowRN, BSN, RN]

I did not know Elsevier has a CAT exam. The only other programs I know who uses CAT for NCLEX preparation are Lippincott's PrepU and Cengage Learning/NSNA Delmar Online Nclex Review. Basically CAT bases its next questions and whether you get the current question right or wrong. If its right you get a harder question. If its wrong you get an easier question. No matter if you are a great or poor student a CAT exam is hard for everyone because it finds your breaking point no matter what. To have it best explained go to the source of those who write the exam NCSBN. You will find an explanation of CAT on this link here https://www.ncsbn.org/1216.htm

[valx92]

I took the CAT exam! It moves up and down the way the actual NCLEX does like how if you get one right it will give you a harder one and if you get that one wrong it will give you an easier one. By way of questions I'd say study just like you did for the HESI. I found the CAT had a lot of maternity questions but that might just be my experience. It doesn't actually pick out your weak points like some people say it does. It can go for a minimum of 75 questions like the actual NCLEX but I only know one person who shut off that early. I shut off at 82. Most people I know shut off by 95! Having just taken the NCLEX, I don't think it's a very good simulator of it but it is very similar to the Hesi Exit so if you did well on that you should well on the CAT exam too! Just make sure you keep reviewing!