Help! Bought an online test bank not sure what to do!

Tranquility01 · Jun 23, 2014

I'm probably going to catch some flack for this, but IMHO, studying test banks has really saved my GPA during nursing school. I know that a few other people have mentioned that their instructors don't use test banks, but I can almost assure you that they really do.

What those instructors are *probably* using is a test bank database comprised of hundreds or even thousands of questions that were compiled by a single publisher. These test bank databases usually include the test banks for all of a publisher's text books. It's more convenient for an instructor to pull questions from a database like the one described above because they have access to, for example, 10-12 different "Med Surg" test banks, instead of just the one single test bank that was supplied with the Med Surg book their school uses. So instead of 40-50 test bank questions for a single chapter, the instructor can choose from 500+ questions since multiple test banks are included.

Of course, from a student's perspective, this means that a student will have hundreds (or even 1,000+) test bank questions to study/memorize before a test (e.g., chapter 4 from test bank 1, chapter 4 from test bank 2, chapter 4 from test bank 3, and so on...). However, if they're willing to put in the time, then they will be able to view EVERY question an instructor could potentially use. So when someone says that their instructor "doesn't use test banks," that's probably a lie.

Another thing to keep in mind -- there are only so many ways to ask the same question. So for example, on the subject of Perioperative Care, if you study 10 or 11 different test banks' chapters on that specific subject, it won't take long for you to recognize the most commonly-asked question "templates." Sure, there might be slight differences in the wording of a particular question from one test bank to another, but again, there are only so many ways to test the most important concepts/topics.

So by studying multiple test banks, you can quickly notice patterns & trends when it comes to how questions on certain topics are written. That brings up one other point. Even if your instructor really does painstakingly write all of their own test questions (highly doubtful), the fact that there are only so many ways to ask the same questions means that, by studying test banks, you can still learn what you need to know.

For example, the scenario described by your instructor's question might be different from the one described in the publisher's test bank question, but the principle/concept being tested on would still be the same. Again, studying multiple test banks is the key to success IMHO. I go to a BSN program in the northeast that is known for mandating a high level of rigor in every one of its nursing courses, but they still use test banks...... even tho they say they don't. And even when I see a question on a test that didn't directly come from a test bank, I can easily tell that it was "inspired" by one or more test bank questions.

I will say it one more time: there are only so many ways to ask the same question. If you study 8 different test banks and are therefore exposed to how a single concept or situation could be tested thru 8 different scenarios, then chances are, your instructor's test question will be really similar (possibly identical) to one of those scenarios.

Good luck to the OP with her case.......

TranquilSpirit · Jul 12, 2014

Unfortunately, honesty does not work to our favor. You will learn that this is true in nursing. Unless there is potential harm to someone, reflect initially on the potential harm YOU face for fessing up to something. My career is important to me. The care I provide as part of my career is a true joy. If I thought things were fair, I'd be honest 100% of the time. I know they're not, so I wont be. Pathetic system we operate in sometimes. But there are petty, short-sighted, people we work with.

infernou · Jul 16, 2014

This is such BS. I've used NCLEX review books to study for my nursing classes and have seen exact questions show up from the practice sections. Is that considered studying from a test bank and should I be dismissed for using a alternative resource? You're basically still studying the material and assuming you had no prior knowledge of what questions would be on the test, I don't see anything wrong with this. The issue is with how tests are created.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 16, 2014

infernou said:
This is such BS. I've used NCLEX review books to study for my nursing classes and have seen exact questions show up from the practice sections. Is that considered studying from a test bank and should I be dismissed for using a alternative resource? You're basically still studying the material and assuming you had no prior knowledge of what questions would be on the test, I don't see anything wrong with this. The issue is with how tests are created.

test banks are specific to text books. NCLEX review books are not. I agree the teacher is lazy if they use a test bank....but it doesn't excuse that the purchase of these items and used by students is cheating. It's like "finding"(or removing the test from the teachers drawer) the test copying it and using it for an unfair advantage over everyone else...it's cheating.

elkpark · Jul 16, 2014

Esme12 said:
test banks are specific to text books. NCLEX review books are not. I agree the teacher is lazy if they use a test bank....

It's not about being "lazy." Many nursing programs heavily encourage, if not require, instructors to use questions from the publisher's test bank supplied with the textbook because writing good test questions is a science as well as an art. The publisher's test bank questions are written by educators with more experience and education (inc. specific education in writing valid test questions) than many instructors in nursing programs around the country. Instructors who write their own tests aren't necessarily doing a better job, or doing students any favors, if they are not skilled at test question construction, and it also opens the door to students disputing questions and getting them tossed from exams.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 16, 2014

Cheater...debatable if you don't use the information for class/exams. Unethical? Probably crosses the line to intentionally purchase items you are not intended to have from a pirated source l.

Spangle Brown · Jul 16, 2014

My 2 cents. Test banks are questions that the instructors use for testing. Using them in that sense is cheating. Same as taking a copy of the test from the Instructors desk. However, if the instructor does not use the test bank in question, then it is not cheating. Since that is in no way a copy of his/her test.

That does not address the issue if it is moral or right to have a copy of the test bank. If it was paid for, it's not stealing. If the teacher doesn't use it, then it's not the CLASS test bank. It is nothing different then all the other study guides out there.

And I think that is where the OP got in trouble. She used it, and only during the test did she realize she had studied the actual test. And what has been proven by this is that honestly isn't always the best policy. Which is why the students did not speak up right away and others lied about having it.

In the end, they will not be able to pass the nclex, if they have not learned the information. So what exactly is the point of cheating?

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jul 17, 2014

Check your schools honor code/academic honesty policy. Some schools specifically address using unauthorized materials and test banks and automatically consider it a form of cheating/academic dishonesty regardless if the instructor use the test banks.

The best answer for your scenario is maybe. If your school has such a policy prohibiting the use of instructor test banks for studying, it would be cheating.

If you used it for reinforcement (regardless of the ethics of obtaining the test bank from an unauthorized source) similar to using an NCLEX prep book to study, and it wasn't against college or nursing department policy, probably not considered cheating. (Especially if you keep your mouth shut. )

Why bother though? Most text books come with a multitude of online resources, many have study guides and workbooks that are packaged with the texts. It just seems like too much effort when there are good resources intended for student use readily available.

springchick1, ADN, RN · Jul 17, 2014

Or if you really think your instructor makes his or her own test, ask if you can study from the test bank.

loving2024, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2014

springchick1 said:
Or if you really think your instructor makes his or her own test, ask if you can study from the test bank.

You want her to ask the professor, seriously

mrsboots87 · Jul 17, 2014

Quote
Well why don't their nursing instructors just write their own test questions? in fact, I have never taken or heard of a class in which the teacher uses some pre-fab questions instead of writing their own. why should nursing be any different??
put it like this, my own nursing instructors have told us they write their own questions for every test (different profs lecture on different test topics & each prof writes their own test on their lecture subject). so if I buy a test bank for myself and use it to study, am I cheating? even though my teachers say they make their own questions? for my situation, isn't a test bank like any other study guide, since my teachers write their own questions?

Your resoonse is irrelevant and off point. Yes, I feel that teachers should develope tests without copying them verbatim from test banks. And yes there are a lot of student test banks that are great for preparing for tests. The problem is that the testbank this thrrad is referring to is from a cheaters website known for posting the teachers editions, or straight copies of the test taken by students.

You stated that in this students shoes you would say nothing and keep using the test bank to keep an A. That is essentially cheating. Is it OK for the teacher to develop exams that like, but it is also wrong for the student to know this and cheat. Like I said, the first time is an accident, when you continue to do ot, it is cheating.

mrsboots87 · Jul 17, 2014

infernou said:
This is such BS. I've used NCLEX review books to study for my nursing classes and have seen exact questions show up from the practice sections. Is that considered studying from a test bank and should I be dismissed for using a alternative resource? You're basically still studying the material and assuming you had no prior knowledge of what questions would be on the test, I don't see anything wrong with this. The issue is with how tests are created.

What you are describing is completely different. If you are studying from STUDENT materials, and verbatim questions come up on your exams, that is the teschers problem because you are using material intended for you. The problem is that OP (unknowingly) used the teacher test bank, then waited 3 days to say something. In short, it looked suspicious to faculty and anyone who confessed was dismissed. I'm not saying whether it was right or wrong, since it was unintentional, but I can see both sides. Remeber, the difference here is thatthe student was using instructor recourses and not student resources from a cheaters website.