Failed NCLEX 3 times

RNNPICU, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2020

If you are near passing in all categories but one, start to review the content in the one weak area. Next review test taking strategies. Focus on why you answer questions correctly and incorrectly. It sounds like it is more test taking strategies and how to answer the questions.

Hcole2019 · Mar 3, 2020

Do you have any recommendations for reviewing test taking strategies? Are there any good people on Youtube to watch? Or any good websites to utilize. I think I’m going to buy the Saunders review book. Maybe I should look into another test prep site too? I used then whole Uworld test bank already and many questions from HESI.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Mar 4, 2020

The NCLEX computer looks at the trailing 60 questions. You need to be at or above the pass line for the whole 60 questions. Although SATAs are not guaranteed to be above the pass line, they are more difficult to get correct. The fact that you were getting more questions indicate that during the test you were either at or near the pass line most of the time. At some point you started a downward trend and the computer determined (question 258) that you are not able to pass and shut off.

CourageousMe · Jun 4, 2020

I will be following this thread as well. I just failed for the 2nd time and I think this time I did worse than than 1st time because my computer shut off at 60..... I'm wondering about strategy as well

studentX · Jul 15, 2020

I understand what you are going through. You are not alone. You may feel lost and stressed but you have to believe in yourself. I did not pass on my first try. I questioned my life existence and was really hard on myself. Use those feelings and turn them into your motivation!! I believe you can do it!

don't overstress and overwork yourself!! I practice 75 questions a day and used Mark Klimek lecture. I highly recommend Mark Klimek notes and lectures because it taught me how to answer questions better.

While studying, take little breaks!! You can do this!

TheDudeWithTheBigDog, ADN, RN · Jul 15, 2020

On 3/2/2020 at 2:42 PM, Hcole2019 said:
Hi all. I’m new to this website and not really sure how to navigate it yet.
On Saturday, I took the NCLEX for the 3rd. And failed. Yes, failed for the 3rd. It’s frustrating, upsetting, and embarrassing. I’m trying to figure out what to do from here.
The first time I took it, I got 76 questions I believe.
The second time, I got around 78 maybe. I had used UWorld for a few months.
I continued and used the whole test bank in UWorld. All 2100+ questions. I read the rationales. Usually scoring around 50% and a couple of 60%s here and there. I then referred back to my 2 previous NCLEX results to see where I was as far as below/near/above passing.
I created a study plan. Focusing on all 8 categories that are on the test. Only 1 per day. Over and over for the month of February. I used HESI ( I already had a subscription from nursing school). I did a minimum of 100+ questions a day, and even more if my scores weren’t as great. My scores started going up. I even scored a few 80%s and 85%s.
When I took my NCLEX for the 3rd time, I had 258 questions. All categories were “near” passing and one was “below”. I had probably 50% SATA questions in the first 20 or 30 questions. And then from there, 1 or 2 SATA back to back maybe every 10 questions. 3 questions where I had to put the nursing interventions in order.
Was I close to passing on the 3rd attempt? What can I do differently? Please help. I’m so frustrated with myself right now and I need to do something differently so I can pass the next time. Thank you for any suggestions.

I know this thread is a little old, but that sounds exhausting. The last thing I'd want to do after all of that is take another test that actually matters.

Trust what you know, and focus on what you don't. Take 1 or 2 days out of every week to just do a short practice test that goes over everything to review. Don't burn yourself out on studying.