Going Crazy

Hello. I took NCLEX-RN on June 23 and passed with 120 questions. No, I did not take the Kaplan review course but did purchase the Kaplan Question Trainer CD from a friend. I took the tests over and over again and scored 70% on Test 7 on the disk. I studied the 2005-2006 Kaplan Nclex book that I brought from a bookstore. I also had Saunders Comprehensive Review CD that I used which is great for content. I studied off and on for 5 weeks before taking my exam and really hard the week before I took it. I am sure that you will do fine. In my opinion, all the studying in the world will not prepare you for the actual test. You will never feel ready. Just remember to not study the day before the test...just relax. And also remember that you can pass at any number of questions. If it doesn't cut off at 75, it doesn't mean that you failed. As long as you are still getting questions, you are still in the game. Relax and remember that you made it through nursing school and you will make it through this also. GOod luck!!

I took & passed NCLEX-RN on July 1 and had 75 questions. I did not take any review classes. I studied from May 22 (the day after graduation) until I took it (took only a few days off) by using a bunch of different NCLEX Q & A books with CD-ROMs in them such as Kaplan, Lippincott, Mosby and Saunders and also NCLEX Made Incredibly Easy. Even though I got all As in school and scored a 1047 on my HESI exam, I still thought it was a good idea to do all this studying for nearly 6 weeks. I did about 100-200 practice questions a night using the CDs and spent time reading over rationales, and also writing short notes on things I didn't know...and then looking those up later. My plan worked for me, but everyone is different. See what works for you. Good luck! :)

-Christine

I would like to know if anybody has taken the Kaplan review? first off.

Secondly how was the scoring on the tests. I am constantly taking questions for the trainer and get 58-60% on them I have a q-bank and it allows up to 50 questions and out of 25 iget a 60% and out of 50% I get between a 48-60%. I also use Lippincott and score 76-80% when I take 75 questions. I have read 3/4 of the kaplan book! I took the hesi in school and passed it without even studying our school required a 850 and I got 854! and they said this was a good indicator of passing boards! however I thank GOD for that one because I prayed so hard and am doing the same for this one! I am sick to my stomach and crying most of the time. I have a new job and currently working as RNLP. I have been studying for about a month already! I take my test on the 07/13 and don't know if I am ready! If anyone has taken the test can you offer any words of wisdom and tell me if You passed and how did you do it? and if Kaplan really works!

From what I have read in others' posts, your scores sound fine. I have been reading that those who do the Kaplan questions generally make the same scores, but score higher on other NCLEX CD's, such as Saunders, including myself. Someone here posted that they really studied hard the week before their test. I think I did also (which is weird, because I was anxious...and usually not productive when I get super-anxious). I have actually heard of people scoring in the low 50's on the Kaplan tests & they passed NCLEX. I know what you mean about crying. I had a roller coaster of emotions the closer I got to having to take my test...crying, VERY irritable, etc. It was like a mad case of PMS. As far as Kaplan working, some say they took the course, but it didn't help, for some, it helped. I took the course after failing the first time, & I ended up failing the second time. BUT I CANNOT blame Kaplan because I can HONESTLY say that I didn't study like I should have. Good luck.

A listening ear, suggestions, anything at this point would be great!!! I take THE TEST a week from today. I have been working through the NCLEX Made Incredibly Easy and doing ok. My scores have been about a 70% average though. I am really frustrated I got high B's all through school and I am nervous that I may have memorized the details and forgotten the big picture. I have never even heard of the Kaplan thing. Bummer. Any suggestion would be reassuring at this moment.