How do you know what level (1,2,3) you are for ATI tests?

[murphyle, BSN, RN]

ATI leveling isn't based off percent score, but percentile - where you are in relation to the national and program mean scores. For example, you might score a 71% individual, but if the national mean is 61%, you're still way ahead of the curve, and your mastery level will reflect that. Looking at my own ATIs, I'd say it's pretty accurate to say that a Level 3 requires a percentile ranking in the 90s, but that doesn't mean you need a 90% score. (I recall seeing my results on several ATIs and absolutely losing my mind, thinking I'd failed, before I realized that the national mean was significantly worse - hence I still pulled a high mastery rating with what I thought was a horrid individual grade!)

Hope this helps!

[carebearsRN]

You will not see the levels until you take the actual ATI on your exam day. In the meantime, continue practicing questions on ATI, try to read the books the complement it and you'll do fine :)

good luck!

[mcpnurse]

The ATI exam is actually easier than practice tests.... if you just keep practicing & review your material, you will do fine!

[ArkansasSN]

I can relate to this. During my first year, we all nearly lost our minds fretting over these exams. Our school program requires that we make at least Level 1 proficiency on every ATI test, or else we fail the corresponding nursing class - regardless of what our current grade is. So, say, if we were to fail the Fundamentals ATI exam, we fail our nursing fundamentals class - even if we have an A. We all thought it was ridiculous, but the more ATIs we take, the easier they seem to get. Most of my class panicked at the beginning because nobody could seem to make higher than a 60% or so on the practice exams. But once we got to the real thing, along with a little studying, it was fairly easy to make Level II or even Level III proficiency on any particular exam - and we've yet to have a student removed from the program because of a failed ATI. So, chin up! Turns out, it's not nearly as daunting as it seems.

Oh, and while I'm not sure which percentiles you need to get which level, I've managed a Level II score with a number as low as 70%. Good luck!

[lei7]

The percentiles that you need for each level are different for each subject ATI test, all I remember is that we needed a 90 or 91 for Level 3 for Med-Surg. But yes, ~all~ of the practice ATI tests were much harder than the actual test.

ATIs are a pain, and require a TON of studying (I only remember stuff by writing it down - if I just read a textbook, I'd never remember anything, so I literally went through the entire ATI books and re-wrote everything except for topics I was 100% confident on) but they really help you get ready for NCLEX.

[murphyle, BSN, RN]

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Do you mind sharing what your ATI scores were (percent-wise?). I'm looking @ my results right now and I'm just so baffled. I feel absolutely clueless and cannot help but to wonder how I can be doing so poorly.

Hang on, let me see if I can still remember my ati login...

Okay, here are my scores, in order of testing:

Teas: 91.2% individual, 98th percentile national, 96th program (means 74.4% national/78.7% program)

Critical thinking: 82.5% individual, 94th pct national, 91st pct program (means 68.0%/71.1%)

RN fundamentals: 81.7% individual, 96th pct national, 95th program (means 69.3%/70.3%), level 3

RN maternal-newborn: 86.7% individual, 98th pct national, 98th pct program (means 71.8%/71.8%), level 3

RN care of children: 75.0% individual, 95th pct national, 94th pct program (means 61.9%/62.1%), level 2

RN adult med-surg: 71.1% individual, 89th pct national, 88th pct program (means 61.6%/61.7%), level 2

RN mental health: 85.0% individual, 96th pct national and program (means 71.1%/71.8%), level 3

RN community health: 88.0% individual, 97th pct national, 98th pct program (means 71.7%/72.0%), level 3

RN leadership: 78.3% individual, 95th pct national and program (means 68.1%/67.8%), level 2

RN comprehensive predictor: 84.7% individual, 98th pct national and program (means 72.1%/71.6%), predicted first-attempt nclex pass rate 99%

Looking at trends in that set of results, it seems that you need better than 95th percentile on the national measure to score a level 3. However, it also seems that pretty much anything in the 80% individual range will do the trick r/t the national mean scores.

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Are the percentiles based off of other nursing students...or just anyone who decides to take the test? (ie. rns, or those who may have previous experience or advantage?).

National means and percentiles are calculated from the scores of all rn students (associate's, bachelor's, accelerated bachelor's) taking the test. Program percentiles, conversely, are calculated from your specific school.

Hopefully this was some help to you, or at least informative. ? best of luck to you tomorrow!

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

lei7 said:

The percentiles that you need for each level are different for each subject ATI test, all I remember is that we needed a 90 or 91 for Level 3 for Med-Surg. But yes, ~all~ of the practice ATI tests were much harder than the actual test.

I dont think that is right. I got an 83% on my Med-Surg ATI and it was a level III and 99th percentile.

I received a 73% on my Pedi and that was a level II, and 88th percentile I belive. I got a 88% on my Maternity ATI, and that was a level III and 99th Percentile. I got an 81% on the Community Health ATI and I think it was only a level II, and I forget the exact percentile, but it was somewhere in the 80s (I could log in and check, but I admit, I am lazy. I just came home from a 12 hour clinical shift). And I just took the comprehensive ATI and scored an 80% and it was the 98th percentile, but they don't give a level with the comprehensive exam.

I hope this helps shed some light on the scoring!

GL!

[Rednights]

E-V-E-R-Y question CAN BE TRACED BACK to the book WORD FOR WORD. These are what the focus reviews do. ATI questions DO NOT go out what is written their books. You think a question came out of nowhere? The focus review pin points to the chapter (not exact line sadly enough .. but it's there if you dig for it). ALL of the content in your ATI books if FAIR GAME. DO NOT study outside your ATI books when taking an ATI test, absolutely worthless. Good luck!!!!!!!

[Mineee45]

Study the ATI practice books.. trust me a lot of the answers are in them. Good luck!!!

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

The books are often a packaged deal that you get through your nursing program. Otherwise your online access to the ATI practice tests should include PDF/electronic versions of the ATI review books. I'm not certain if you can purchase the review books anywhere else, I'm pretty sure they are only available to those who subscribe to the ATI assessment testing program. Whether your school elects to purchase/offer the books depends on the program they choose. My program purchased the books and the online access.

Here's a list of resources from the ATI website:

https://www.atitesting.com/solutions

[caffeineRx]

How frustrating. I'm studying and ending up with 66%! That's scary, considering I have a good feeling about my score..and the practice test comes out to a 66%. I just texted my classmates..many of them said they are also scoring 50-60%. Yikes. I'm quite nervous. It's 9pm and I have to go to sleep in 2 hours. How in the world can one learn all of this in such a short amount of time?

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

Yeah, you won't get your level til you take the actual exam.