Has anyone taken the Kaplan Nclex review

blackmama · Jun 16, 2007

not me..i failed when i used kaplan..rrrrrr

abundantjoy07, RN · Jun 16, 2007

I did the kaplan review...I take the NCLEX on the 18th... I don't know if the Kaplan really will help or not. It's just questions and test solving skills. My thing is I already had a system set up for the past couple of years in school. The Kaplan kinda screws with your mind a little because you take it at the end of nursing school.

I mean, the class was nice. It was nice because I knew I wasn't the only one who wasn't the most "intelligent" nursing testing taking person. The questions and Q-Bank are nice too...but, I don't know if I'd highly recommend it.

When I pass the test on the 18th, I doubt I'll credit the Kaplan for that sucess. (Trying to stay positive!) :mad:

DolphinRN84, MSN, RN, APRN, NP · Jun 16, 2007

I took the Kaplan review and took the boards last July and passed first time. The class was somewhat of a waste, but the Q-Bank and Question Trainers I thought were invaluable and part of the reason I passed. In addition, I used Saunders for content review. I recommend Kaplan- though the class itself I wasn't too crazy about.

Obiwarz · Jun 16, 2007

I just got done with my Kaplan class and take my test on June 28th. I am VERRRY nervous. I have not finished the book yet, but I am half way. I got the first five of seven tests done with the following scores:

Test 1: 47%

Test 2: 53%

Test 3: 51%

Test 4: 52%

Test 5: 57% (finished 15 minutes ago)

Kaplan says to get at least 65% on the tests (especially 4-7) to have a 99% chance of passing. 59% = 94% for passing.

I don't have QBank, but feel the seven question tests are very helpful for review. How is everyone else doing with them?

michellemybelle · Jun 16, 2007

I purchased the "whole enchilada" from Kaplan--the classroom instruction, full online access, both with the question trainers and qbank. I will agree this class wasn't totally useful, but the questions are quite challenging and good for study purposes. I found that if my total score was below 65%, I would look at the question analysis to see which content areas I was lacking in, and then go back and review those sections in either the Kaplan book, or Saunders. Since I have access to q bank, I would then re-create my own test with topics that I needed to work on. Oh, and I would always go over the exams and read every rationale. This has helped me improve my scores into Kaplan's "passing" range.

Eeyore_RN · Jun 16, 2007

I took Kaplan last month. And tested last week and passed my boards with 75 questions.

Did I pass because of Kaplan? Umm no. I passed because my school prepared me for it.

It was the biggest waste of money. Their whole selling point is their "decesion tree" , which can be used less than 20 % of the time.

All we did was sit in a classroom for 3 hours a night and answer questions. So if you need an expensive study group then it is worth your money.

I used none of their strategies on my boards.

I regret spending the money, but it is a case of live and learn.

decartes · Jun 16, 2007

I agree. I think that reading the Kaplan NCLEX Strategies book would have been more helpful than the class. If I could do it all again, I would have studied the book at Barnes and Noble and then purchase the Q-Bank and Question Trainers.

I took the Kaplan review and took the boards last July and passed first time. The class was somewhat of a waste, but the Q-Bank and Question Trainers I thought were invaluable and part of the reason I passed. In addition, I used Saunders for content review. I recommend Kaplan- though the class itself I wasn't too crazy about.

TraumaGirl1018 · Jun 17, 2007

I hated that freaking decision tree!! :banghead: And i must say that I did not like the three and a half hour classes...BUT i really like the question trainer and the book is pretty good too. I havent scheduled my boards yet, but I hopefully will take them in July. I start my job tomorrow!! Excited, but very nervous...I plan to see when the NCLEX review class the hospital offers is and then schedule (hopefully, if i can) right after that.

Tessaprn · Oct 31, 2008

Go to the bookstore and purchase the book just titled NCLEX, it's about 2 inches thick. Study it until you can answer all questions correctly.

lovendove · Oct 31, 2008

I know this is an old thread but im shocked so many ppl were disappointed. I found kaplan very useful especially the decision tree; I had to use it a few times on the NCLEX.

However, I didn't find the nclex questions as hard as kaplan as far as level of critical thinking/deciphering of what nclex was asking/looking for. In the end, if you have a good knowledge base, know the rationales for why an answer would be correct or incorrect based on the topic, then you probably don't need kaplan.

I had a job riding on me passing or failing and I didn't want to risk failing and I only had 4 weeks (barely) to study/review. Also, the fact that I took a year off before returning to finish my last semester had me worried that the material from my first 3 semesters was no longer fresh in my mind. I def needed the online course to refresh myself.