WOW, what an experience! I started studying back at the end of August, at a very slow pace off and on and around Christmas decided it was finally time to bite the bullet and schedule the darn thing. So, last night in the east coast snowy weather, off I went to the Sylvan learning center. You are given 3 hours to complete the test. I was given 160 questions, and let me tell you, it was tough...no TOUGH, probably one of THE hardest tests I've taken, and I've had my share.
I would say that there were 40 questions that I KNEW, answered right away, and didn't have to mark them to review later. The remaining 120 had to be thought out, meticulously, situational questions, using all of your knowledge on the subject. There was definitely no simple definitional questions, you just had to know your SH-T!, if you know what I mean and there was no way around it unless you did know your ****, ooops sorry!
Halfway through I started to break out in a sweat, my face got flushed, my hand started shaking and I thought I was going to have a full blown anxiety attack. But, by some grace of God, I finished, with 15 minutes to spare (yes, it actually took almost 3 hours to finish)
and I PASSED....with an "A"......I am still freaked out about it. I left the testing center speechless, mouth agape, in disbelief. I am SOOOOOO relieved that it is over.
To anyone out there in the process of studying, take your time, know your hormones, urinary system, it was mostly physiologic type questions, but a lot of "if this was/was not present, then what would be the result here?". Another example if XYZ circumstances were present, then which hormone would be increased/decreased?"
Like I said you really need to have your foundation down pat in order to be able to work out the circumstances in your head.
whewwww,,, I am glad it is over :) :) ....now onto the next and final 2 prereqs....Statistics and a Humanities elective...still pondering?
I personally recommend a study buddy for any exam. It was so helpful going through it with someone. Plus there's less of a chance of you "falling off the wagon" when you have someone else that you're working with.
Congrats on the A in A&P. I still have that brute to do yet, however, your description reminded me a lot of the Microbi exam. Although I knew a few more than 40 answers, it sure made me sweat. My study-buddy and I went in there just wanting to pass. I have NEVER been so nervous about an exam in my life! Clicking the 'finish' button on an exam you're not sure of, is one of the hardest things to do. But, like you, I walked away with an "A". (It may have helped that I said a little prayer everytime I passed a church, synagog, temple, etc, on the way to the testing site, and I wore my lucky charm necklace. In fact, I have worn that same necklace to every exam so far!) My buddy and I were so shocked at getting "A's", I actually called Excelsior to see what their grading system was.:chuckle I figured it must have been 60% for a 'c', 61% for a 'b' and 62% for an "a'!!! (By the way, they wouldn't divulge that information.)
Its nice to know that I am going to face that same challenge in A&P. Congrats again, and good luck with the rest of them!
just want to let everyone know that i have enjoyed being a part of rnstudygroup at the yahoo groups site. they have subgroups for all the nc tests and some of the prereq's. please think about joining this group or another to find a study buddy!!! we all need all the motivation that we can get!!
just want to let everyone know that i have enjoyed being a part of rnstudygroup at the yahoo groups site. they have subgroups for all the nc tests and some of the prereq's. please think about joining this group or another to find a study buddy!!! we all need all the motivation that we can get!!
I love the study groups. I learned of them from EC posters here. I am just starting NC 1. I need to take A&P and Micro. I have taken my prereqs at my local college. This has kept me motivated.I started off with zero prereqs, it has taken me 3 semesters to finish 21 units. Because of reading post like yours and others I have kept going.
Way to go! and thanks for the tips on what to expect from the Test--I am using the Study Guide that accompanies the martini book and using the thin "Content Guide" from Excelsior---apparently, they also sell an Excelsior "Course Guide" for $20, but I'm thinking this is just the same thing as the free "Content Guide," which has an outline and sample multiple choice questions....
WOW, what an experience! I started studying back at the end of August, at a very slow pace off and on and around Christmas decided it was finally time to bite the bullet and schedule the darn thing. So, last night in the east coast snowy weather, off I went to the Sylvan learning center. You are given 3 hours to complete the test. I was given 160 questions, and let me tell you, it was tough...no TOUGH, probably one of THE hardest tests I've taken, and I've had my share.
I would say that there were 40 questions that I KNEW, answered right away, and didn't have to mark them to review later. The remaining 120 had to be thought out, meticulously, situational questions, using all of your knowledge on the subject. There was definitely no simple definitional questions, you just had to know your SH-T!, if you know what I mean and there was no way around it unless you did know your ****, ooops sorry!
Halfway through I started to break out in a sweat, my face got flushed, my hand started shaking and I thought I was going to have a full blown anxiety attack. But, by some grace of God, I finished, with 15 minutes to spare (yes, it actually took almost 3 hours to finish)
and I PASSED....with an "A"......I am still freaked out about it. I left the testing center speechless, mouth agape, in disbelief. I am SOOOOOO relieved that it is over.
To anyone out there in the process of studying, take your time, know your hormones, urinary system, it was mostly physiologic type questions, but a lot of "if this was/was not present, then what would be the result here?". Another example if XYZ circumstances were present, then which hormone would be increased/decreased?"
Like I said you really need to have your foundation down pat in order to be able to work out the circumstances in your head.
whewwww,,, I am glad it is over :) :) ....now onto the next and final 2 prereqs....Statistics and a Humanities elective...still pondering?
apparently, they also sell an Excelsior "Course Guide" for $20, but I'm thinking this is just the same thing as the free "Content Guide," which has an outline and sample multiple choice questions....
You're exactly right. The only difference is that the $20 guide tells you what pages to find that info on. That is helpful if you are using each and every recommended text. I didn't so I just had to page surf, which was fine with me.
WOW, what an experience! I started studying back at the end of August, at a very slow pace off and on and around Christmas decided it was finally time to bite the bullet and schedule the darn thing. So, last night in the east coast snowy weather, off I went to the Sylvan learning center. You are given 3 hours to complete the test. I was given 160 questions, and let me tell you, it was tough...no TOUGH, probably one of THE hardest tests I've taken, and I've had my share.
I would say that there were 40 questions that I KNEW, answered right away, and didn't have to mark them to review later. The remaining 120 had to be thought out, meticulously, situational questions, using all of your knowledge on the subject. There was definitely no simple definitional questions, you just had to know your SH-T!, if you know what I mean and there was no way around it unless you did know your ****, ooops sorry!
Halfway through I started to break out in a sweat, my face got flushed, my hand started shaking and I thought I was going to have a full blown anxiety attack. But, by some grace of God, I finished, with 15 minutes to spare (yes, it actually took almost 3 hours to finish)
and I PASSED....with an "A"......I am still freaked out about it. I left the testing center speechless, mouth agape, in disbelief. I am SOOOOOO relieved that it is over.
To anyone out there in the process of studying, take your time, know your hormones, urinary system, it was mostly physiologic type questions, but a lot of "if this was/was not present, then what would be the result here?". Another example if XYZ circumstances were present, then which hormone would be increased/decreased?"
Like I said you really need to have your foundation down pat in order to be able to work out the circumstances in your head.
whewwww,,, I am glad it is over :) :) ....now onto the next and final 2 prereqs....Statistics and a Humanities elective...still pondering?
K
Kim
Kim--Congratulations! I am studying Nursing Concepts 1 thru Rue. I didn't know there were study groups available. Will check it out on Yahoo. Good luck. Christine2005
Can any one tell me how many test questions to expect on the micro exam? I am scheduled to take the test on March 4th . I would just liketo have a general ideal of what to expect. Thanks Mary
I'm starting the Martini A&P textbook in preparation for the Excelsior test...I'm around chapters 6--8 and am freaking out with all these bones to memorize!!! Will the test show a human skeleton and ask me to know which bone is "X" and which it connects to on its dorsal v. ventral side??? Yikes...that would be impossible.... Is the test that bad??? I'm barely 20% through the book....
wow kim, that's great! i too passed a&p in december with an A, and reading your post brought back those anxious memories! i also started studying back in august, and it took me that long just to get through the study guide, and reasonably feel like i knew my stuff.
so you've only got two more prereq's to go? are you doing your prereqs first and then the nursing courses? i would love to keep in touch with someone who is also going through excelsior and is just starting out, it keeps my motivation up to know there are others who are experiencing this as well. are you going for your ADN or BSN?
best wishes to you! and congrats and passing a&p with an A!
Spazzy Nurse, RN
499 Posts
I personally recommend a study buddy for any exam. It was so helpful going through it with someone. Plus there's less of a chance of you "falling off the wagon" when you have someone else that you're working with.