ERI vs NCLEX

I studied for both the ERI and the NCLEX by doing NCLEX practice questions. I found the questions to be very similar on both tests. I bought a box of NCLEX question flash cards and worked my way through the box. Any question that I didn't get right the first time, I put in the back of the box and redid the questions as many times as I needed to until I got them all right. I also bought a couple of NCLEX review books and did the practice questions in those.

I always read the rationale about why the "best" answer was the best, and after a while, became familiar with the logic used to choose the "best" answer. The only content review I did was to memorize normal lab values (you can't look them up, need to know them cold), plus if there were any topics I kept missing in the practice questions, I would read the relevant section in my textbook about them.

I passed the ERI on my first try, with a score of 68 (the passing score changes a little each year, but is usually around 60% -- I think it was 59% the year I took it, in April 2008). I passed the NCLEX on my first try, in 75 questions (you can be given anywhere from 75 to 225 questions, depending on how close you are to the pass/fail line while taking the test on the computer). I've heard that if you're getting at least 60% of the questions right on NCLEX practice exams, you should be able to pass on the first try. I was getting 70% or more correct on practice tests by the time I took the NCLEX.

Good luck!

Diane