How many questions determine whether or not you pass or fail NCLEX-PN?

Nursing Students NCLEX

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I took my boards on Thursday Jan. 20th and I was so nervous. I know they told us the questions could range from 85 to 205 questions. I had to take the whole 205. Is this good or bad? I am so nervous. By me being in Alabama we do not have quick results so I am so scared. What does it mean by the number of questions that you have. Is it the more you have the more they want you to redeem your self or what? I have a friend that is a RN and she said the first time she failed it with 85 and when she took it again she passed with all 265 questions. How do you know? Just needed some input while I wait.

Shunda :)

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This from the NCSBN pamphlet I received after taking my NCLEX-PN on Jan. 11:

QUESTION: What does the number of items I answered tell me about my results?:

ANSWER: It is important to understand that the length of your NCLEX examination or the number of items answered is not an indication of a specific pass or fail result. It does indicate how close your ability was to the passing standard, but it could have been either above or below it. A candidate with a relatively short examination may pass or fail just as a candidate with a long examination may pass or fail.

Each candidate, no matter what the length of the examination, has ample opportunity to demonstrate true competence and is given an examination that conforms to the NCLEX-RN test plan or NCLEX-PN test plan. Many candidated examinations will end before the maximum number of items has been administered.

Please do not be concerned if your examination finishes earlier or lasts longer than other candidates. The length of your examination is determined solely by your performance on the examination. The differing lengths of each candidates examination is an illustration of the computerized adaptive testing (CAT) at work!

Just in the last few days there have been posters here who took the full test and passed. Historically, 85 percent of first time testers pass. In my opinion, provided your school has a high pass rate, your chances of passing are greater than that of failing.

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Oh, and one more thing. I was able to quick results after 48 hours, and my license number was on the GA SOS website within one week, and my "official results" came in the mail in 10 days, not 4 weeks. So, maybe you won't have to wait too long for your results.

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I took my boards in 2002 and had all 205 questions..needless to say I need to retake. However, several of us had the max amount of questions and still passed. I have not yet taken the test again due to divorce, remarriage..lost of interest and obviously much regret. My hubby is constantly ragging to me about retesting and knows how much I want this. Any suggestions on refresher courses or these online booklets "guaranteed" to passing the nclex. my test anxiety doesnt help matters much but I know that I have the heart for nursing and will never be completely happy until I prove this to myself. Opinions welcome!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
shellwbn said:
I took my boards in 2002 and had all 205 questions..needless to say I need to retake. However, several of us had the max amount of questions and still passed. I have not yet taken the test again due to divorce, remarriage..lost of interest and obviously much regret. My hubby is constantly ragging to me about retesting and knows how much I want this. Any suggestions on refresher courses or these online booklets "guaranteed" to passing the nclex. my test anxiety doesnt help matters much but I know that I have the heart for nursing and will never be completely happy until I prove this to myself. Opinions welcome!

Shell,

look into LPN refresher courses, as well as courses on test anxiety. I too, suffer from test anxiety, and I have been able to overcome it, although I have so lapses in not reading questions thoroughly, etc. Look into contacting your school, they may be able to point you into a direction for refresher courses, etc.

Hope this helps... good luck!

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Hi, I took my PN exam on august 20th and still have not recieve my results. I am so worried because i stopped at 205. Many people are telling me that they know people who stopped at 205 and passed and some who stopped at 205 failed. I had alot of pharmacology and ob and it was hard. My whole family are in the nursing field and they keep bugging me for my results. My mom checks the on-line varification daily to see if i pass but she said my name is not showing up. I also talked to alot of RN's and they said their results showed up in 3-4 days. does this mean that i didn't pass? if anyone out there also stopped at 205 or knows anyone that did- please respond to this posting and also please let me know how long it takes to get the results. Btw- im in california and I know that california does not participate in quick result program.

I'm soooo worried... at this point I just know I failed.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Hang in there BAM, most of us feel like that at the end of NCLEX. Good luck!

The fact that you got 205 does not automatically mean you failed. The number of question is only the number of questions, not an indicator of pass/fail.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

You see so many posts with test-takers who have no idea as to whether they passed the NCLEX, because this examination is designed so that the vast majority of students answer only 50 percent of the questions correctly. This test works like a balancing beam: if you answer questions correctly, the computer throws progressively harder questions right back at you. If you miss questions, the computer spits out questions that it deems to be 'easy.' Therefore, very few people leave the test center feeling absolutely certain that they passed.

Good luck!

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I live in FL, I took the NCLEX today for PN. The computer shut off at 85 questions. It was so hard, lots of med questions that I've never even heard of. There were only 3 calculation problems. I do not feel good about it! I've never been so depressed!

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I am worry too. I took my NCLEX-PN

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I took my Nclex-PN today and my test cut off at 85. I don't know how I should feel. everyone says that it is a good thing. But I am like,,,hmmm I don't know.

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hey guys i passed. took NCLEX in michigan and recieved 85 questions

anybody else have 85. thanks newmom27

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