Has anyone used UWorld to study for NCLEX?

jinki · Feb 24, 2016

I studied using only UWorld (67% average, all questions answered) and a bit of LaCharity, and I passed with 75 Qs. I did Kaplan Trainers 5 and 6 just to check where I stand a couple days before the test

(73% on QT5 and low 60's on QT6). Took the NCLEX 2/22, and I can't believe California already has my results.

I felt like UWorld was the most similar to NCLEX. I actually had to remind myself that I was taking the real deal a couple of times throughout the test because I was just going through it like it was UWorld and it wasn't a big deal.

NorthwestCT · Feb 24, 2016

The questions on the NCLEX were almost identical in their look/feel/wording to uWorld. I finished uWorld with a 61% average which puts you somewhere in the the 80th percentile. Some systems I was in the high 40% range and some I was in the high 70% range. Passed in 75 questions. And, honestly, in the month leading up to the NCLEX, and the 2 days after while I awaited my results, the hour I spent actually taking the test was the most relaxed I had been over that whole period. I totally credit uWolrd for that... lowering my expectations and preparing me for feeling like i was doing a great job getting 5-6/10 and just making my choices for SATA and moving on. In terms of studying, I would cover a system in Hurst and then do all the uWorld questions for that system. I feel like uWorld and the NCLEX were so similar that if you are doing well on one, there is no reason that you shouldn't do well on the other. I did a couple Saunders online questions and felt that they were much too specific to the actual content covered in the book, and did not really involve much critical thinking.

I know each person is different, but for me, I had the majority of the content already in my head. uWorld just helped me learn how to apply it critically to an NCLEX style question.

toomanypants · Feb 24, 2016

Good morning,

Studying for a month and a half with another week left sounds perfect to me. I also worked while studying (36H/week, nurse assistant). I only did a few questions of Uworld while at work, so you seem to be on the right track.

I am ALWAYS distracted while studying. It's because I cannot sit still for long. But I realized that was just the way I studied. Through nursing school, it was the same. I would take almost my whole day off to study something, simply because I took so many breaks. But that's good. Your brain needs breaks. I also felt completely over it and ready to just take the darn test. I would get like that in school and then score a 98%..so I felt ready! Nervous, but ready.

My scores on Kaplan also improved after Uworld! That's why I say Kaplan was kind of "easy." I was getting up to 73% pretty consistently on Kaplan Qbank, and I made 66% on Trainer 7. I was also starting out on Uworld with low 60s, some high 50s. But before my test, I was all 65% and over. I think my Uworld average was 62 and my Kaplan average was 69. I would say I used to Kaplan to judge my readiness and likelihood of passing, since it seems to be the standard. I used Uworld for content.

Let us know how it goes!

enileg · Feb 25, 2016

Thank you all for your reply! When I review the Uworld questions I usually start with the harder questions. So, on the review option I go to organize by % so that the ones I review first are the ones that most people got wrong... are those the type of questions in the NCLEX? Cause going back to them and reviewing them, I think "wow. I would never be able to answer these types of questions correctly during the exam"

heronurse · Feb 25, 2016

Im not saying studying uworld alone will assure that you will pass,'but study it with your heart. Every rationale even its not the correct answer.

enileg · Feb 25, 2016

toomanypants said:
Good morning,
Studying for a month and a half with another week left sounds perfect to me. I also worked while studying (36H/week, nurse assistant). I only did a few questions of Uworld while at work, so you seem to be on the right track.
I am ALWAYS distracted while studying. It's because I cannot sit still for long. But I realized that was just the way I studied. Through nursing school, it was the same. I would take almost my whole day off to study something, simply because I took so many breaks. But that's good. Your brain needs breaks. I also felt completely over it and ready to just take the darn test. I would get like that in school and then score a 98%..so I felt ready! Nervous, but ready.
My scores on Kaplan also improved after Uworld! That's why I say Kaplan was kind of "easy." I was getting up to 73% pretty consistently on Kaplan Qbank, and I made 66% on Trainer 7. I was also starting out on Uworld with low 60s, some high 50s. But before my test, I was all 65% and over. I think my Uworld average was 62 and my Kaplan average was 69. I would say I used to Kaplan to judge my readiness and likelihood of passing, since it seems to be the standard. I used Uworld for content.
Let us know how it goes!

Yes! Me too! That's exactly how I am (like right now instead of studying …)... I get distracted easily that every 10 questions while reviewing rationals I just always have to do something else..... so i practiced with the tutor mode so I don't get bored

jinki · Feb 25, 2016

enileg said:
Thank you all for your reply! When I review the Uworld questions I usually start with the harder questions. So, on the review option I go to organize by % so that the ones I review first are the ones that most people got wrong... are those the type of questions in the NCLEX? Cause going back to them and reviewing them, I think "wow. I would never be able to answer these types of questions correctly during the exam"
....I get distracted easily that every 10 questions while reviewing rationals I just always have to do something else..... so i practiced with the tutor mode so I don't get bored

I wouldn't put too much stock on the % correct rate for each individual item. I got "easy" questions wrong about as often as I'd get the "hard" ones right, and usually, how hard or easy a question is to me largely depends upon whether the information was presented to me in nursing school (e.g., our Peds was a joke, we were never taught traction, and we didn't talk about uterine rupture in OB, but our MedSurg and Critical Care academic and clinical exposure was strong) and/or whether I cared to retain the info (e.g., what a 6 month old is supposed to be able to do, stages of labor and what to expect).

Oh, and re: "I would never be able to answer these types of questions...". I was VERY rarely even 70% sure of my answers throughout the NCLEX. 30 of the first 40 Qs were SATA, so good luck feeling confident about those.

But, as I've said before-- maybe it's because of UWorld's interface looking very similar to the NCLEX or because of the level of difficulty I've become accustomed to-- I just went through the test thinking, "Welp. Heck if I know. I think you and you sound good so whatever next question. Oh, of course, another SATA; why not. WHATEVER."

My attitude ever since nursing school has been if I still don't know the answer after a minute or two of looking over a question, I just pick whatever feels good because I'll never get more sure even if I stare at the question for a thousand years.

I always tested in tutor mode because I wanted to know the correct concepts and commit them to mind while my train of thought is still on that subject. It works especially well if I flub on something easy or something totally off the wall because the frustration somehow helps the concepts stick in my head better!

yakov78 · Feb 25, 2016

The answer to your question will vary depending on the individual. Some people have a strong educational background, others not so much. But I do believe that UWorld has great questions and rationales that will probably help pretty much anyone, in varying degrees, again depending on your background. Some people need content review in addition to or prior to using UWorld in order to benefit more effectively. Others can go straight to doing questions and be very well prepared for the exam.

brig15 · Feb 25, 2016

I just took the exam on Saturday and passed with 75 questions. My main study tool was UWorld (which I believe helped me the most) my average was 57% on the exams. I also used the NCLEX RN Hesi book and LaCharity Prioritization and Delegation book and that was it! UWorld prepared me for the exam and I loved how the actual NCLEX is set up JUST like UWorld is.

ducky2000, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2016

I agree with the poster who said it's different for many people. For me, I mostly used Uworld because I could use it on my phone (came in handy during break time at work). I've read that others just used Uworld and passed, For me, I used other materials to further understand some of the rationals. If you have a good understanding of basic content, then Uworld will suffice.

Anyways, I hope you get the day before you test to relax. As much as it's important to be mentally ready, your body should be well rested, as well. Good luck!

Teejaysmomma3, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2016

I graduated nursing school in 2009. Just took the NCLEX for the very first time in September 2015. I used Saunders and Kaplan the first time and I failed. Tried again this January 2016 and passed it on my second try! This time I used NCSBN and UWorld Qbank to review.

I absolutely loved UWORLD, everything is just so detailed and I think that helped me a lot!

Good luck to your upcoming test and God bless you :)

Krispooh, ADN · Feb 25, 2016

Thank you everyone, now I have a new review course to use. I did Kaplan in the past and I dint really understand it that much. So im thinking about just doing saunders and now that im hearing everyone talking about this Uworld, doing this course too. Do yall think I would have a better chance of passing my third time around?