Failed 1st time with Kaplan, Should I re-take Kaplan?

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Hi everyone,

I took the NCLEX-RN recently and I am positive I failed, I went right to the credit card page. I got around 80-90 questions about 10 SATA, 5 drag and drop, 3 exhibits, 1 graphic, and I don't really remember the rest.

I took a 2 week Kaplan Course. I did all the questions in the Q bank (100 a day), I had a cumulative of 59% in the Q bank. I did all the Question Trainers and sample tests. I followed the Kaplan suggested study plan. I got a 57% on question trainer 6 and a 61.5% on question trainer 7. I watched all the Kaplan content videos and made notes in the Kaplan Content Review Guide. I studied for 3 weeks about 8-10 hours every day, mostly doing questions and reviewing rationales in the Kaplan content Review guide.

I haven't gotten my performance report yet, but I really want to get started on studying again and retake the NCLEX in about 45 days.

I have a feeling I didn't pass the NCLEX because my content background isn't that great. I do well with Kaplan on the "Analysis" questions but I don't do so well in the "Knowledge" / "Comprehension" questions and I know you need to get the knowledge/comprehension questions before you get to the analysis. I didn't do well in the other question trainers that were more content based (QT 1-5) I think my score range was around 50% for those.

So, I am thinking I need to get a good content review and help with alternate format questions. I actually do pretty well on the "Management of Care" section part but I am still thinking about purchasing Lacharity's PDA and maybe something with alternate format questions like Lippincott.

For content review, I'm thinking of doing Exam Cram. I was just wondering though, do you all think I should re-do Kaplan Q banks and Question Trainers after I have a good content review?

I don't know how helpful this would be since I don't want to just memorize the questions but I heard Kaplan is really good at giving you those above passing level questions you need to answer for NCLEX and I don't really know what else would give me such good questions. I heard maybe the NCSBN review maybe? But I want something with good rationales.

Do you all have any advice? Thank you!

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You need to average at least 60 on kaplan. I have all the books you need and some except lacharity . Contact me [email protected] will try to help you there

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I also failed with Kaplan and had similar scores to you. I decided to get my money back because I felt like I had gained all I was going to gain from Kaplan and needed to look else where for help. My problem was also content and I'm now using ATI- which I'm not a fan of but since I have already paid for it through my schooling I figured I might as well take it. Hurst is really good for content and I found a friend who had already taken it and a 30 day subscription to all the lectures was only 50$ so I'm gonna also try that and Saunders. Failing sucks so I know how you feel.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Hi everyone,

I took the NCLEX-RN recently and I am positive I failed, I went right to the credit card page. I got around 80-90 questions about 10 SATA, 5 drag and drop, 3 exhibits, 1 graphic, and I don't really remember the rest.

I took a 2 week Kaplan Course. I did all the questions in the Q bank (100 a day), I had a cumulative of 59% in the Q bank. I did all the Question Trainers and sample tests. I followed the Kaplan suggested study plan. I got a 57% on question trainer 6 and a 61.5% on question trainer 7. I watched all the Kaplan content videos and made notes in the Kaplan Content Review Guide. I studied for 3 weeks about 8-10 hours every day, mostly doing questions and reviewing rationales in the Kaplan content Review guide.

I haven't gotten my performance report yet, but I really want to get started on studying again and retake the NCLEX in about 45 days.

I have a feeling I didn't pass the NCLEX because my content background isn't that great. I do well with Kaplan on the "Analysis" questions but I don't do so well in the "Knowledge" / "Comprehension" questions and I know you need to get the knowledge/comprehension questions before you get to the analysis. I didn't do well in the other question trainers that were more content based (QT 1-5) I think my score range was around 50% for those.

So, I am thinking I need to get a good content review and help with alternate format questions. I actually do pretty well on the "Management of Care" section part but I am still thinking about purchasing Lacharity's PDA and maybe something with alternate format questions like Lippincott.

For content review, I'm thinking of doing Exam Cram. I was just wondering though, do you all think I should re-do Kaplan Q banks and Question Trainers after I have a good content review?

I don't know how helpful this would be since I don't want to just memorize the questions but I heard Kaplan is really good at giving you those above passing level questions you need to answer for NCLEX and I don't really know what else would give me such good questions. I heard maybe the NCSBN review maybe? But I want something with good rationales.

Do you all have any advice? Thank you!

I think that you should wait until you get the official results.

When you get the official results and find out that you failed, the sources that you listed are great.

I used examCRAM, LaCharity, Lippincott, as well as NCSBN in addition to the Kaplan book, and a few other sources. I gave myself about two months to study, then took the boards.

When doing questions, review rationales, even for the ones you got correct; also, make sure you have at least close to a 70% on your practice questions before moving to the next source. Having a 50-60 percent in practice questions makes a risk of being near passing standard or below...too on the fence; I was told if you achieve 70% on practice questions, the higher the percentage in passing; The NCSBN practice questions "passing" standard on their practice questions are 70%; plus they have questions similar to the NCLEX, since they are the makers of NCLEX. ;)

The key to tackling the NCLEX is understanding the four keys areas of an entry level licensed nurse: 1.Safe, effective care, 2.Health promotion and maintenance; Knowledge and the ability to provide 3. Psychological integrity; and 4. Physiologic integrity for your clients.

Wishing much success on your journey! You may have passed...find out the OFFICIAL results FIRST. :yes:

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There really is no doubt in mind, I know I failed. Not only did I go to the credit card page but I feel like my last couple of questions on my NCLEX were knowledge/comprehension/recall questions. I really have accepted and moved on and am now even more motivated to pass the second time!

Thank you for the advice, LadyFree28! When you say "make sure you have at least close to a 70% on practice questions" do you mean with NCSBN review? Or is it some other type of book?

I think that you should wait until you get the official results.

When you get the official results and find out that you failed, the sources that you listed are great.

I used examCRAM, LaCharity, Lippincott, as well as NCSBN in addition to the Kaplan book, and a few other sources. I gave myself about two months to study, then took the boards.

When doing questions, review rationales, even for the ones you got correct; also, make sure you have at least close to a 70% on your practice questions before moving to the next source. Having a 50-60 percent in practice questions makes a risk of being near passing standard or below...too on the fence; I was told if you achieve 70% on practice questions, the higher the percentage in passing; The NCSBN practice questions "passing" standard on their practice questions are 70%; plus they have questions similar to the NCLEX, since they are the makers of NCLEX. ;)

The key to tackling the NCLEX is understanding the four keys areas of an entry level licensed nurse: 1.Safe, effective care, 2.Health promotion and maintenance; Knowledge and the ability to provide 3. Psychological integrity; and 4. Physiologic integrity for your clients.

Wishing much success on your journey! You may have passed...find out the OFFICIAL results FIRST. :yes:

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@tiredofstudying1, I am so sorry you failed as well. I hope we will be able to pass the second time!

Many of my classmates did the same study plan as I did and used only Kaplan and many of them passed in 75 questions.

I was thinking of using Hurst for their lectures as well. I heard good things about it on allnurses. Is this 30 day subscription on the Hurst Review website? I can't seem to find it.

I also failed with Kaplan and had similar scores to you. I decided to get my money back because I felt like I had gained all I was going to gain from Kaplan and needed to look else where for help. My problem was also content and I'm now using ATI- which I'm not a fan of but since I have already paid for it through my schooling I figured I might as well take it. Hurst is really good for content and I found a friend who had already taken it and a 30 day subscription to all the lectures was only 50$ so I'm gonna also try that and Saunders. Failing sucks so I know how you feel.
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honestly, if it didn't work for you the first time and you studied your butt off, i would go with another study resource because obviously it didn't work for you the first time.

i failed using hurst review a couple months ago and i was so intent on hurst and raving about it because the information seemed really to the point and just plain good..but it wasn't enough for me (it may have been for other people but my content area was too weak and i didn't realize that until after i failed). as much as i wanted to keep using hurst because they put everything in such simple and condensed terms, i knew i had to use something else.. so i read through the saunders book and looked through the kaplan nclex review book for test taking tips and i re-took nclex a week ago and passed!

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Congrats on passing, Razzlered!! I hope I can be like you in about 40 days.

I studied Kaplan Content Review guide really well and I really tried to apply Kaplan Decision Tree to every question I had, but I feel as though my content isn't as good. When I took the NCLEX, I relied more on Kaplan strategies and the content I received in Kaplan Content Review Guide and tried to apply that to all the questions.

I know you didn't pass NCLEX the first time using Hurst. Do you feel as though Saunders helped you more in content then? I think I may need a content review that is more than what I received with the Kaplan content review guide and content videos but I am not sure what source would help me.

honestly, if it didn't work for you the first time and you studied your butt off, i would go with another study resource because obviously it didn't work for you the first time.

i failed using hurst review a couple months ago and i was so intent on hurst and raving about it because the information seemed really to the point and just plain good..but it wasn't enough for me (it may have been for other people but my content area was too weak and i didn't realize that until after i failed). as much as i wanted to keep using hurst because they put everything in such simple and condensed terms, i knew i had to use something else.. so i read through the saunders book and looked through the kaplan nclex review book for test taking tips and i re-took nclex a week ago and passed!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Thank you for the advice, LadyFree28! When you say "make sure you have at least close to a 70% on practice questions" do you mean with NCSBN review? Or is it some other type of book?

I mean, every group of practice questions that you decide to complete, should be close to 70% as much as possible. When I went over NCLEX review in my program, we were informed of this; in NCSBN, when completing proactive questions, their standard of competency on their practice questions are 70 percent.

When I completed NCLEX PN and RN, both my program directors stated to the class the same benchmark in terms of practice questions as an indicator for readiness to take the boards. For my NCLEX-PN, I waited until I reached 72%; for my RN, 68-70%; I passed both exams the first time.

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Congrats on passing, Razzlered!! I hope I can be like you in about 40 days.

I studied Kaplan Content Review guide really well and I really tried to apply Kaplan Decision Tree to every question I had, but I feel as though my content isn't as good. When I took the NCLEX, I relied more on Kaplan strategies and the content I received in Kaplan Content Review Guide and tried to apply that to all the questions.

I know you didn't pass NCLEX the first time using Hurst. Do you feel as though Saunders helped you more in content then? I think I may need a content review that is more than what I received with the Kaplan content review guide and content videos but I am not sure what source would help me.

just speaking for myself because of the way i learn and remember things (visual more so than auditory), saunders helped me a lot more than hurst did.. and because i was really weak in content area, a quick review wasn't enough for me..i needed background info. i only used saunders because my classmate used it/passed and it was free to borrow (i couldn't afford to spend any more money AT ALL).

i never actually used kaplan's decision tree...it was way way too complicated for me. i just used the tips that probably everyone has already heard of lol (I'm a slow learner). Like the one where you re-word the question into your own..and picking apart the answers (rather than the question) to eliminate 2 like answers (thus narrowing down your choices). those helped me a lot when i had no freaking clue what the topic of the question was about

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

I didn't use the decision tree either.

I looked at the four domains more the anything else and understood the concepts. I could identify what type of question was being ASKED, based on the scenario.

Fully understanding the NCLEX as the four domains to being a nurse will help grasp the boards and nursing practice as well.

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