I have to take the ATI fundamentals proctored test

allnurses Guide · Dec 4, 2011

My school requires this at the end of every semester and then the ATI exit exam prior to graduation.

Quite honestly it is not the easiest thing in the world. I recommend you review what you did over the semester and things like prioritization, Maslow's hierarchy, normal lab values, conversions, med math calculations and community health. Read the question through once, then ALL of the answers before answering. Then go back and re-read the question, making sure you note what the question is really asking for. It is easy to get fatigued and start snapping off answers in a hurry without really reading the question all the way. It is all NCLEX style, of course. I just took the exit exam and have gotten much better at the ATI tests over the course of the program.

Get a good night sleep, eat a good breakfast with some protein. If you drink coffee make sure you get some before you leave the house. And realize there is no way to really "know" everything it will ask you. Deep breath. Remember lots of people have these kinds of exams and get through just fine.

BurlHarley · Dec 6, 2011

I think its 80 for level 3, 75 for 2 with benchmark, and 69? for level 2 I took it yesterday as well, it was harder then I was expecting I think the national average is in the low 70s. How did you do?

KK4YOU · Jan 24, 2012

Hello Everyone,

I took the ATI today and received a level 1. I did all the practice exams and skimmed through the book and still only managed to get a level 1. I felt the test itself was a lot harder than the practice tests for Fundamentals. Is there any advice you can offer me on how to improve to a level 2? I take this exam again next semester and its a gate exam which means I need a level 2 in order to pass and move on to 3rd semester. Any help would be much appreciated :). Thank you!

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2012

The fundamentals book is awesome. I read it a lot and really tried to understand the rationale behind all the priority questions in the practice exams. I noticed there was a lot of mobility/immobility, NG tube care, IV therapy/maintenance, infection control. Most of what I remembered was priority questions. If you have an NCLEX book with a fundamentals section, it will help you. I did a lot of Q&A from different CDs and made a level 3. Good luck.

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Jan 24, 2012

BTW for the future, read your ATI book from the first day of class. Use it as a review for class and not just ATI prep and you will see how much more prepared you will be for the next ATI test.

KK4YOU · Jan 24, 2012

Thank you so much eagles wings! Do you remember the CD's that you studied by chance?

blackandyellow · Jan 25, 2012

I got a level 3. No clue how I did it since I took it the day after break and wasn't in school mode and didn't care too much about it. Not to mention my school said not to study for it and now people that didn't get a level 3 have to get tutored and take the test over again. I love the ATI books they are shorter than the textbook we use and they outline the most important thing's in each chapter. In the future I will review that before the test along with my NCLEX book.

on eagles wings, ASN, RN · Jan 25, 2012

I used Fundamentals Success, Reviews and Rationales, and I think Saunders. The CDs helped a lot because I am a horrible test taker. It helped me feel less anxious.

KK4YOU · Jan 26, 2012

Thank you so much! I have the Saunders book, I will start doing practice questions on that asap.

HELPSTUDENTS · Jan 3, 2013

practice questions are the way to go

SBJustBreathe, ASN, RN · Jan 4, 2013

I had to take it last semester. I use the ATI books when I study and I think that really helped me. The practice quizzes are helpful in learning the format of the questions. Prioritization was a big part of the exam.