Got through NCLEX with 85 questions and failed :(

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Sep 21, 2016

I haven't had the experience of failing the NCLEX, but many posters here have. If you're 100% certain you failed, stop doing intense study right now. In a few weeks you'll get your Candidate Performance Report and that will provide some decent clues as to what general areas you need to work on. You will NOT get specific answers as to what you got wrong but rest assured that you'll never see any of the questions you took ever again. The system knows what questions you got and will not use those. I'm assuming that you took the PN version. The only thing you can draw from a minimum score is that you had at least one area that was well below passing and you weren't able to bring that score up high enough for it to continue asking questions past the 85 that it already had. You quite literally could have just had a bad day in ONE area. Your CPR will let you know this. It will also break down the general areas it tests you on.

Sure, you can do some light study and some do some light NCLEX question work in each area daily, but don't hit this too hard. You want to do just enough to keep your mind engaged in the subject but not overworked or overstressed. Once you know how well you did, the general strategy is to work on the weaker areas and study enough to maintain the areas that are already good enough.

There's some good news in all of this and that is the next time you tackle the NCLEX, you'll have already had a previous run at it so nothing will be truly new or surprising. Hopefully you'll have a better result next time.

Oh, and since you have completed school, you quite likely have been presented with all the material you'll need to pass the NCLEX and you at least have sufficient academic knowledge because you have graduated.

nikkinixter · Sep 21, 2016

Thanks! I actually took the NCLEX-RN so does that make a difference or? D:

nikkinixter · Sep 21, 2016

Also, I'm in California and I'm trying to reapply on the Breeze website but it's not letting me see process it? It keeps saying there's a technical error and that I should cancel my application? I'm so confused. Should I call?

Yogsdaleo,RN · Sep 22, 2016

I haven't had the experience of failing the NCLEX, but many posters here have. If you're 100% certain you failed, stop doing intense study right now. In a few weeks you'll get your Candidate Performance Report and that will provide some decent clues as to what general areas you need to work on. You will NOT get specific answers as to what you got wrong but rest assured that you'll never see any of the questions you took ever again. The system knows what questions you got and will not use those. I'm assuming that you took the PN version. The only thing you can draw from a minimum score is that you had at least one area that was well below passing and you weren't able to bring that score up high enough for it to continue asking questions past the 85 that it already had. You quite literally could have just had a bad day in ONE area. Your CPR will let you know this. It will also break down the general areas it tests you on.
Sure, you can do some light study and some do some light NCLEX question work in each area daily, but don't hit this too hard. You want to do just enough to keep your mind engaged in the subject but not overworked or overstressed. Once you know how well you did, the general strategy is to work on the weaker areas and study enough to maintain the areas that are already good enough.
There's some good news in all of this and that is the next time you tackle the NCLEX, you'll have already had a previous run at it so nothing will be truly new or surprising. Hopefully you'll have a better result next time.
Oh, and since you have completed school, you quite likely have been presented with all the material you'll need to pass the NCLEX and you at least have sufficient academic knowledge because you have graduated.

So I heard that you don't get the same questions, and I got 2 of mine. Now, granted it was only 2. But I was so shocked!

fawnmarie, ASN · Sep 22, 2016

I failed the NCLEX-RN on my first attempt and decided to invest in a prep course. I went to a live Hurst Review at a local university. It was well worth the cost (about $300, if I remember correctly.) Passed on my second attempt and never looked back! Don't be too discouraged...there are many of us who fail on our first attempt, no matter how prepared we think we may be! I suggest investing in a good review or prep course. You can do this!

hhlg13 · Sep 23, 2016

I would recommend using UWorld to study. The rationales are amazing!!!

johnny6 · Sep 23, 2016

The PearsonVUE trick isnt always right. I'm in Illinois. I was cut off at the 85th question too. 24 hours after taking I went on PearsonVUEs website and I put in my information and the site sill directed me to the pay-with-credit -card page. I thought I failed. But, 2-3 weeks later I got a letter from contentinal saying I passed and im to pay $50 for my paper license. Does your state use contentinal testing services? Look on their website for new updates.

nikkinixter · Sep 23, 2016

I just got my official letter saying I failed. I was near average with all of them but pharm and basic comfort and care which were below average.

I have some questions:

For anyone who has been in my shoes, does anyone know when they got their retake ATT?

Also, any study tips? I studied all of Kaplan's questions. I have the Saunders book and have been doing the online practice for that. I've also heard about Uworld, so I'm thinking of doing that.

Nurse Lalaine, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2016

What review materials did you use for the nclex rn exam? did you use saunders, hurst and uworld?

Nurse Lalaine, BSN, RN · Sep 24, 2016

I just got my official letter saying I failed. I was near average with all of them but pharm and basic comfort and care which were below average.
I have some questions:
For anyone who has been in my shoes, does anyone know when they got their retake ATT?
Also, any study tips? I studied all of Kaplan's questions. I have the Saunders book and have been doing the online practice for that. I've also heard about Uworld, so I'm thinking of doing that.

What review materials did you use for the nclex rn exam? did you use saunders, hurst and uworld?

nikkinixter · Sep 24, 2016

@supernursern1 I used kaplan for study strategies and qbank questions. Then I used Saunders for content review and questions. I haven't used uworld though.