Good luck to all taking NCLEX!

ZASHAGALKA, RN · May 30, 2006

Remember while taking the test that this nasty computer program is trying to find your 'level'. As such, it moves back and forth between questions that you CAN answer, and those you can't.

Add to that the fact that 15 of the questions are being 'tested' for future use and may contain VERY difficult concepts.

If you get 75 questions, you could conceivably pass by only answering about 30 of them correctly (~50% of the 60 valid questions PLUS the 15 extra questions).

It just depends at what LEVEL you are getting the right AND wrong answer. A wrong answer isn't a bad thing; in fact, the questions will get more and more difficult until you DO start answering questions wrong.

That, and the computer is designed so that if you miss in a certain area, it will keep going back to THAT area. I hear so often some variant of "Oncology is my worst subject and it seemed that the test asked me all oncology questions!!!!!" Well, yes, the computer is designed to focus on you. Remember CAT stands for computer ADAPTIVE test; it adapts to you: your strengths . . . . and weaknesses.

The point I'm making is that EVERYBODY feels like a rock when they are done. Don't let the fact that the questions seem difficult un-nerve you while you are taking the test. This is another thing I've heard time and time again on this board: people freaked because the test shut off at 75 and they felt they needed more time to 'make up' for how difficult things were so far. So, many people get their stress levels worked up during the test because of its difficulty. DON'T. That is simply not an accurate indicator of how well you are doing.

I've also heard people freak because the test kept going well past 75. That's not a bad thing. As long as the test keeps asking you questions, it means it is still trying to accurately gauge your level. If you were doing very poorly, the computer would know by 75 that you aren't at a high enough level. The fact that it keeps asking questions means that it is still trying to 'gauge' you. In fact, it doesn't even mean that you aren't doing very well. All testing past 75 means is that the computer still doesn't have a clear cut 'read' on you. So, don't freak out by that, either. I can't tell you how many people come back w/ "Can you pass with 168 questions?" or some variant. The answer: of course.

My point is don't let these things influence your stress levels WHILE you are taking the test. They simply aren't accurate indicators of how you are doing and will only serve to increase your stress with a possible result of decreasing your effectiveness.

One final thing. Many people apparently have this idea that if they answer the last question right or wrong, it is indicative of passing or failing. I have seen where this is simply not true.

Good luck all test takers.

~faith,

Timothy.

hope to be a nurse · May 31, 2006

I know that for some of us, it is finally getting down to crunchtime for NCLEX. Best of luck to all scheduled to take it soon!

Yes good luck to all of us taking this test. I wish us all victory.