Failed NCLEX, then PASSED the second time!!

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

Hi all, so I wanted to post my experience because before I took my NCLEX I remember reading all of these posts and feeing better afterwards. So here's my story. Hopefully I can help to relieve someone's anxiety out there!

I graduated in May 2018 and I unfortunately ran into health issues that delayed my NCLEX appointment until August 23. I think around the 2nd or 3rd week of July I really started to commit myself to studying. I bought Kaplan (which by the way was not easy on the checkbook) because it was what my school used for all of my testing and NCLEX preparation. So it was going to be the best study material for me right? Wrong. The rationales for each question were one sentence each and I ended up having to look up a lot of stuff on google to understand a lot of the material. I think I was getting in the 50-60% scoring when I was completing question trainers. I felt like I was prepared, so there I went to take my NCLEX and I ran out of time at question 245. I was devistated afterwards. I knew in my heart that I had failed because the questions were SO hard to me and I had studied for so long. Plus, I don't believe your chances of passing are very good when you run out of time. And just as I had expected, I saw that I had failed the next day.

So after a week or so, my friend told me to buy Uworld because she had passed in 75 questions and it had prepared her so much for the NCLEX. So there I was again, shelling out more money on study materials for this test. I set my exam date for October 23 because I reaaallly wanted to take my time and understand the material even MORE than my previous attempt. I started to write down every rationale for each question and really implant the information in my brain before I moved onto the next. I filled up around 3 notebooks full of notes. At first, I was doing 30 questions a day and it would take me around 5 hours. If you already havent guessed, I am a really slow test-taker. Processing questions takes me longer to do, which I have come to terms with all throughout nursing school. Anyways, I was doing 50 questions towards the end of my study period and I saw that my percentages progressed from high 40% to high 50% and then finally 60-70s%. I felt a little more prepared this time. So I walked into the test center kinda confident and when I started my test, my heart fell because it felt like I hadn't studied at all because each question got harder and harder and I didn't even recognize some of the words on some questions. I started to panic and I prayed so hard because I did NOT want to take it for a third time. Now this next part I really want to stress. I've seen a lot of posts on here saying that time plays a factor in whether you pass in 75 questions or not and I'm here to say that in my opinion that is completely wrong. With pride, I am sharing that I completed the test with 75 questions in 3 1/2 hours. So if you are a slow test taker, like myself, don't get discouraged because as long as you are critically thinking about your answers and staying above the passing line, then you will have no issues in passing the NCLEX. I found out today that I passed and I am so happy because it felt like this test consumed my whole life. I also want to highly recommend Uworld because it saved my life and was a fraction of the cost of Kaplan.

Lastly, have faith and know that you will pass even if you are going on your 3, 4, 5, 6th attempt!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

congrats! I used uWorld as well & took mine today too with 75 questions. how did you find out you passed so quickly?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What state did you take yours in? I took mine in Arizona and I checked 30 minutes ago and it said I passed!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
congrats! I used uWorld as well & took mine today too with 75 questions. how did you find out you passed so quickly?

Oops I took the exam yesterday on the 23! Thanks for catching my mistake lol! And also I took the exam in Az and the results were on the board of nursing site when I checked 30 mins ago!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I see, I see! :) Congrats again!

I took mine in NY and will have to wait until the unofficial results Friday morning because the BoN here does not update for DAYS. lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I see, I see! :) Congrats again!

I took mine in NY and will have to wait until the unofficial results Friday morning because the BoN here does not update for DAYS. lol

Best of luck!! I hope you passed! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment