HESI studying different than NCLEX?

annewithane · Oct 20, 2013

In my experience, I thought the HESI was much easier. But, this is because the NCLEX questions will go up in difficulty if you are doing well on the test--the HESI will not. I think studying together is fine as the whole reason the HESI is used is because it predicts pass rates on the NCLEX, once you get to the 950 scores, I believe the statistics indicate that around 95% will go on to pass the NCLEX. I used HESI study because it was more convenient for me to take practice questions online and have them graded as opposed to doing them in a book. I used Reviews and Rationales to study for the NCLEX and I passed first time with 75 questions. I will say that I did notoriously HORRIBLE on the hesi study questions, as in, I scored usually between 60-70% on the practices tests, but passed my HESI with a 1183 in the 99.9th percentile.

I will caution you, studying for the HESI or the NCLEX is *NOT* about studying content, if you don't know your content by that time it is too late. It is about studying how to take the questions and when you get them wrong, understanding why. I think that's why I did well on the actual tests but not the practices. It's about getting down to the two answers and knowing which one to pick and why. So, my advice is to do questions, questions, questions, and READ the rationales--even on the ones you got right so you know why each answer is correct. Statistically speaking though as most people will pass both: "The odds are ever in your favor!"

cschirmer · Oct 22, 2013

In my experience I thought the HESI was much easier. But, this is because the NCLEX questions will go up in difficulty if you are doing well on the test--the HESI will not. I think studying together is fine as the whole reason the HESI is used is because it predicts pass rates on the NCLEX, once you get to the 950 scores, I believe the statistics indicate that around 95% will go on to pass the NCLEX. I used HESI study because it was more convenient for me to take practice questions online and have them graded as opposed to doing them in a book. I used Reviews and Rationales to study for the NCLEX and I passed first time with 75 questions. I will say that I did notoriously HORRIBLE on the hesi study questions, as in, I scored usually between 60-70% on the practices tests, but passed my HESI with a 1183 in the 99.9th percentile. I will caution you, studying for the HESI or the NCLEX is *NOT* about studying content, if you don't know your content by that time it is too late. It is about studying how to take the questions and when you get them wrong, understanding why. I think that's why I did well on the actual tests but not the practices. It's about getting down to the two answers and knowing which one to pick and why. So, my advice is to do questions, questions, questions, and READ the rationales--even on the ones you got right so you know why each answer is correct. Statistically speaking though as most people will pass both: "The odds are ever in your favor!"[/quote']
Great! Thank you!