Facts about answering 265 Q's

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 20, 2015

I"m sorry, but you have posted INCORRECT information. It's worth mentioning that you have failed this exam five times....and haven't passed yet. Perhaps you are not the best authority on NCLEX at this time? It would be my suggestion that rather than try to refute what is out there....you pay attention to it. You are clearly doing something wrong.

In another thread you claimed that an applicant does not have to pass all the categories of knowledge in order to pass the NCLEX. This is wrong. You do. You do not have to get every single question right, but that isn't the same as passing a category. You are mistaken.

Your test does not result in a Pass if your last question is above passing standard and is answered correctly, you are wrong here, too. You MUST be able to demonstrate, to a 95% certainty, that you are competent (above the passing standard) in order to pass.

Therefore, if the last question was above passing standard, but the candidate was only at that mark for a short enough time that he/she fell short of 95% certainty....he/she will FAIL. Mistaken again.

While your heart may well be in the right place, and trying to help others to pass is a noble gesture, I would respectfully ask that YOU pass before instructing others in what you have yet failed to do yourself. After all, if you WERE doing it all right....you would have passed by now.

Applicants, there is much GOOD information, all over this board, from people who DO know what you need to know and do in order to pass this exam. Please read your sources carefully.

Good luck to all :)

SteveVBall05 · Apr 20, 2015

Well if you could read English, you misunderstood. "You have misunderstood what Bloom's Taxonomy is, and how it works. You are telling people that getting SATA questions means they are at a higher level of questioning. THIS IS WRONG."

I stated SATA are written at ALL levels. They are NOT a higher level Q, but they certainly can be. And # of SATA does not matter either.

Also you're quite rude, I've read several of your posts and your comments make you sound nasty to be truthful. I also never said I was not the BEST authority but I have a lot of experience with the NCLEX-RN Examination. Everything stated in my comment above is accurate. Contact NCSBN for further detail if you need clarification.

SteveVBall05 · Apr 20, 2015

You are also wrong on the #265 Q. If its above the passing line you pass. If it is below the line, near the line, at the line or even on the line you fail. It does not need to be WAY ABOVE the line and the 95% confidence interval is not used when a candidate answers all 265 Q's. Again contact NCSBN if you require further clarification. Candidates who answer all 265 Q's, only Q#265 is looked at.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 20, 2015

Well if you could read English, you misunderstood. "You have misunderstood what Bloom's Taxonomy is, and how it works. You are telling people that getting SATA questions means they are at a higher level of questioning. THIS IS WRONG."
I stated SATA are written at ALL levels. They are NOT a higher level Q, but they certainly can be. And # of SATA does not matter either.
Also you're quite rude, I've read several of your posts and your comments make you sound nasty to be truthful. I also never said I was not the BEST authority but I have a lot of experience with the NCLEX-RN Examination. Everything stated in my comment above is accurate. Contact NCSBN for further detail if you need clarification.

I can read English, thank you (talk about rude!) and have removed a piece of text that I wrote mistakenly.

YOU, on the other hand ARE STILL WRONG. I need to contact no one, as I have read the information they have posted thoroughly....and I DID pass the exam.

Yes, you have alot of experience in taking the NCLEX. But not in passing it, which is the whole point of this, isn't it?

You may find me rude, that is your viewpoint. Others can't thank me enough. That is theirs. I have given much information that has helped people pass. YOU are free to ignore anything I've posted, though, and keep doing it your way

SteveVBall05 · Apr 20, 2015

You don't demonstrate 95% certainty on getting all 265 Q's, because you statistically cannot. You would not get 265 Q's if you were way above the passing standard. You would have a shorter exam, proven your competency earlier and the exam would shut off. For 265 Q's you are close to passing. You hover around the line. (I assume you know all this, bu you continue to dispute it).

The last question has to be above the passing line, and that is all... regardless if you answer it right or wrong. That is the pure fact. By NCSBN, Kaplan expert, and other reputable, verifiable sources. You also don't need to keep pointing out that I have not been successful yet on my NCLEX-RN Examination.

This topic is considered closed.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 20, 2015

The topic is considered closed when there is a lock on it closing it.

I bring up your not having passed this exam multiple times as a means of redirecting those who are focusing on the wrong material in trying to pass THEIR exams. The point is to pass, and nothing in your post helps that.

Sometimes people get hung up in details and miss the big picture of how to prepare for the NCLEX. That is why some of us take the time to do what we do (and are NOT found to be rude, btw, but helpful). If you cannot be helped with the information provided, then I wish you luck in doing it however you are doing it.

Applicants, don't get hung up on details you can't predict, nor effect the outcome. You CAN do two things to pass this: know your content in ALL AREAS of testing, and understand the stategy of prioritization, and how the questions themselves are worded. That's it. The whole thing.

Dropping all the extra nonsense from the picture is hard, but it really just boils down to those two things: basic knowledge and the ability to apply that knowledge. This is an entry-to-practice, minimum competency exam, and that's where people tend to overthink it all.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Apr 20, 2015

What do you mean by "#265 has to be above the passing line"

letmebeanurseee · Apr 30, 2015

From what I watch from the Kaplan video.

-ALL students get 15 experimental questions regardless of the length.

-You must be ABOVE the level minimum competency to pass.

-What % correct do I need to pass the RN exam? EVERY candidate will get half their questions right and wrong. It really depends on the level difficulty of questions. It really is 50-50.

-So what makes you PASS? Students that pass will get half their questions ABOVE the minimum competency.

-What makes you FAIL? Half of their questions are BELOW the minimum of competency.

-We start at passing so the goal is to stay ABOVE that line.

-What happens to the candidate who takes ALL 265? You are good news, bad news. The good news is that you have NOT put a string of wrong answers to get you below the line of minimum competency. Bad news? You have NOT put a string of right answers to stay ABOVE the line of competency to pass yet. The pass/fail is made on the LAST QUESTION. If the LAST question is above competency question, it does NOT matter if it was right or wrong, as long as you are ABOVE...it is a PASS. If it is below competency, it is a FAIL regardless if they got that question right.

But to be honest, who cares about SATA, priority, and etc.

Just answer each question individually and go with your gut

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Apr 30, 2015

I started coming on AN shortly before I took (and passed) my nclex. In that time, I have gotten to know quite a few nurses, we all have strengths and weaknesses.

RNsRWe in my opinion is the 100% most well versed nurse and foremost authority on these forums regarding NCLEX. I suggest you learn from her!!!

You absolutely do have to be above the passing line in all categories, and passing or failing that one tiny final question does not mean you passed or failed the test!! Besides, why would you spend nightmarish days worrying about if you passed one question out of 265?

Honestly, I walked out of there and couldn't remember what my last question was! I do not know if I got it right, all I know is I passed.

As for the 95% certainty, she didn't say you had to get 95% right! Everyone misses about half. 95% certainty based on your responses that you are a safe entry level nurse. if the computer cannot predict with 95% certainty that you will be a safe competent entry level nurse after 265 questions, then you fail.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2015

If the LAST question is above competency question, it does NOT matter if it was right or wrong, as long as you are ABOVE...it is a PASS. If it is below competency, it is a FAIL regardless if they got that question right.

Here's where I inject a "sort of, but not quite". Remember that 95% certainty rule that the computer uses to determine pass/fail. If you have been teetering on above/below passing for quite awhile before you hit that last question, you probably won't know on what side of the 'line' you fall on at the time it closes out. If you did get that last question wrong, and it was an above-passing question, it would mean you either were just far enough above to still be getting passing questions (IF there were such a thing as a #266), OR you would fall below that pasing standard....in which case getting that last question wrong THEN dropped you below the passing line. It would indeed matter if you got it wrong. In any event, it's the 95% CI that is the thing that will determine your pass/fail. Is this making sense? I realize it's a convoluted system to figure out, but....it really does work (those darned statistics!) :)

I stand by an earlier statement I made, in which people focusing on THE LAST QUESTION is utterly futile. Completely wrong way to go about it, and a colossal waste of effort and energy. Like you just said, kdoolay, "just answer each question individually"! Don't try to read into it what isn't there, and don't try to figure out if you are above or below passing at ANY point: it only serves to distract you from doing your best on the test itself! And focusing on what doesn't help you pass is obviously detrimental if you WANT to eventually pass :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2015

RNsRWe in my opinion is the 100% most well versed nurse and foremost authority on these forums regarding NCLEX. I suggest you learn from her!!!

How nice! But I have to share the title with JustBeachyNurse; she's an NCLEX force to reckon with :)