How I passed NCLEX first try, 75 questions

Published Jun 26, 2017

146 Posts

Specializes in CVICU, CCRN.

1.) Questions.

My school expected us to complete at least 10,000 questions by the end of our 4 year program. I did anywhere near around 12,000 to 13,000 questions from a combination of sources, which I'll mention in a bit. I believe the reason for my success came from the source material I studied from.

A.) PREP-U -- We trained using Prep-U for our first three years while studying for tests (med surg, psych, pediatrics etc). It helped introduce us to the NCLEX style of questions while also focusing a lot on knowledge based material.

B.) KAPLAN -- In our senior year, we switched and started straying away from Prep-U which had a lot of knowledge-based material. By senior year, they focused more on strategies. We focused entirely on Kaplan. We were expected to finish all the QTrainers, Qbanks, Sample Tests. It's ranked as one of the harder RN practice question banks (I believe it might actually be the hardest and most expensive) but it paid off when I was completing the NCLEX, and felt the NCLEX questions were way too easy compared to Kaplan.

i.) Do all and any Kaplan question. It's long and hard but believe me when I say, you're improving and it'll be worth it when you pass. That includes all Qbanks, QTrainers, Sample Tests. Search every place on that site for any question. Their questions are gold. Try to get high 50s, mid 60s if possible.

iii.) Be consistent and try to do 100 questions and 150 questions per day. DO NOT simply count down your questions. Don't be like "I did 100 questions today" and then, never understand why you got certain questions wrong. When I was studying, I wrote down everything I had wrong in a Word file, and reviewed the material using Flashcards. UNDERSTAND the material. When you finish your quota, leave the material and relax, you're done with your quota for the day. Tomorrow is another day.

C.) LaCharity - I'll be frank, I did this book mainly to pass time. I had already finished all my Kaplan questions - and I was looking for more questions to practice on. I researched on allnurses and many people recommended this book -- it took me about 2 days to complete with a majority 96% pass on all chapters. I felt like Kaplan thought me a lot of the management questions which explained why I excelled at this book. If you finished Kaplan, and are simplying looking for something extra, give this book a try. But not entirely, necessary.

D.) Study Guide - There is a 15 (ish) page study guide floating around on allnurses. My school actually printed it out for me and told me to review it. Helped me a lot. I found that using flash cards helped me while studying this portion.

2.) Organization - As I've previously mentioned, one of the keys to studying is really being consistent, knowing your limits, being organized and using study material. I knew that I could not properly study 500 questions in a day. Sure, I could complete them but would I be able to recite you concepts and understanding of material the next day? Probably not. I gave myself a quota of 100-150 questions that I had to complete. I wrote the wrong questions on my Word document, studied them and if I felt it was truly necessary I would make myself flash cards. Eventually my pile would grow and I reviewed them everyday. I probably had a good 400 flash cards I reviewed by the end of study period. After I finished, I allowed myself to enjoy myself and never went back to the material until the next day.

QUICK TIPS - certaininly debatable to some, but I believe NCLEX is almost entirely strategy based. It's not content based. It being able to answer in a way that the test wants you to answer. DO NOT waste time memorizing facts - it won't help.

HOW WAS MY TEST? - I gave myself a month to study. I scheduled my test a week before, studied the way as I mentioned above. And as any human person with human emotion, I had a mental breakdown three days before. I questioned my ability to pass and thought about rescheduling. My mom and I talked and I kept my schedule. We went to church the day of, I prayed and my mom came with me for support. She stayed in the lobby while I took the test. It took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. I had about 15 SATA, 10 EKG questions. I came in already expecting and preparing myself for more than 75 questions. To my amazement and through God's grace, it shut off at 75 questions. I came out of the test saying how super easy it was. I had expected something harder because I believed everything the internet and friends had said. About a couple hours in, I started panicking because I thought "maybe if it was that easy" I must had failed. Eventually I went back to church, prayed again, and after a couple days, got my "official pass."

So thats it, guys. Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!