I think I failed!

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jul 17, 2015

The test is looking for consistency at or above the pass line. Which means a narrow band of correct and incorrect answers above the pass line like a saw-tooth pattern. For illustration purposes, lets say that the levels of difficulty range from -4 (easiest) to 4 (impossible to get correct) with 0 being the pass line. They start you out with a passing question.

Level 0- correct, move up to level 1

Level 1- correct, move up to level 2

Level 2- incorrect, move down to level 1

Level 1- correct, move up to level 2.... until answering question 75. After question 75 it determines that you are consistently staying around the Level 1 (between level 0 and Level 2 range) which is passing and it stops.

Lets say that at the beginning you were nervous and were all over the place, like a roller coaster pattern, no consistent pattern. Then at question 80 you calmed down and started getting several questions right and now you are above the pass line. Now you consistently stay above the level 0 questions. After a certain number of questions, it determines that you are now consistently in the narrow band and it stops.

The NCLEX decides if the test taker passes or fails based on the following three caveats:

1. 95% Confidence Interval: Questions 1-75 are evaluated to determine if you passed or failed based on if your answers fell above (right answer) or below (wrong answer) the 95% confidence interval (red line on the chart). If a pass/fail cannot be determined by this measure (because there were some questions above and some below the confidence interval) then the next evaluation criteria would be used.

2. Maximum Length Exam Rule: If the 95% confidence level is too close to determine a pass or fail then the computer will allow you to continue answering questions, up to question 265. If after answering all 265 questions and there is not a 95% confidence level, then pass/fail is determined by question 265. If the result of question 265 was above the pass line, then candidate passed. If the result of question 265 was below the pass line, the candidate failed.

3. Run Out of Time Rule: The NCLEX-RN exam has a maximum time limit of 6 hours. If the pass/fail determination has not been decided by the 6 hour mark then the last 60 questions will be graded to determine pass/fail. If all of the last 60 questions are above the pass line, then you pass. If you dip below the pass line, even only one question, then you fail.

rafiki121 · Jul 17, 2015

So my theory doesn't make sense? Are you saying after the first 75 if it hasn't determined it, then they start over from 75-265? But why would I computer shut off on a wrong answer after 75? I understand at 75 if you hey it wrong it can shut off but you still being on pass line. But at 155 if you get it wrong and shuts off it can only mean you did bad. Because why won't they shut it off on 154 when you got it right. Thank you

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2015

Anybody can pass at any random number. I passed the nclex-rn with 76 questions. You can pass with 155 questions. When the computer has made a decision where you stand in accordance to the minimum standard, it will shut off. Wait for your results and hope you pass.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jul 17, 2015

My understanding is that it uses a certain range of questions (maybe 60) to determine when to shut off. Using your example of shutting off at 154, you were wavering at the pass line until question 94 (question 93 was below pass line). From question 94-154 (60 questions) you were above the pass line without going below on any question. If you got question 154 right then it shut off (pass). If you got 154 wrong, but still above the pass line, you still pass.

Tumbler · Jul 17, 2015

The flaw in your theory is the focus on the last question. You have to be above passing standard in all areas to pass. That last question can't cover all areas.

rafiki121 · Jul 17, 2015

But why won't it shut off the question before then. Why wait for an extra question.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 17, 2015

Hey guys, so i have this theory which makes sense to me. Please tell me i'm just crazy. So when you get more then 75 questions it means you are borderline and the computer doesn't know if you know your stuff enough. Right? Now say you're at 100 and you know the 100th question you got was correct for a fact. Now the computer shuts off, that should i only mean you passed right? Why else would they shut it off. So now lets say you got that wrong wouldn't it mean that you failed? Because if you got #99 right why would they give you an extra question and if you got that extra question wrong, turn it off. Makes no sense. It must mean that you got #99 wrong they gave you another question and since you got 100th wrong then they shut you off. Well for me i got up to 155ish and i got that question wrong and it shut off. Please tell me i'm over thinking this.
Thank you

No, your theory is incorrect because of how computer adaptive testing works. You could have the last question right and still be under the minimal passing level. The first reply to this post has a chart that illustrates this well.

It's not whether you have the question right or wrong, it's about being above the passing line. You can still have the question wrong, but be above the passing line. Make sense?

Good luck! Let us know when you pass :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 17, 2015

Guy did a beautiful job of explaining this, thank you! There is just one thing, though....since one has to be above the passing standard in all domains of testing in order to pass the exam, the only time that last question being above passing determining the outcome would be only IF the last question were to be in an area of testing that still required that the CI be satisfied... and ALL OTHER areas were already satisfied.

IOW, a candidate who is near the passing standard (which can be above or below, but not significantly above or below) in all categories and has his exam shut off with the last correct/above standard question being 265 will get a letter informing him he did not pass.

The exam has to end at some point. Unfortunately, it doesn't always neatly wrap up everything in every category if the tester didn't prove competency by then

But honestly, you know what? Anyone focusing on the last question is focusing on completely the wrong thing! Since it's danged near impossible to know if it IS above or below the passing standard....why make yourself crazy?

The test is done, and the results are what they are.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Jul 17, 2015

Tumbler said:

The flaw in your theory is the focus on the last question. You have to be above passing standard in all areas to pass. That last question can't cover all areas.

You don't need to pass all categories, to pass the test (according to Kaplan).

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 17, 2015

Guy in Babyland said:

You don't need to pass all categories, to pass the test (according to Kaplan).

I'll have to take another look at that; in the past, NCSBN (the entity designing the exam in the first place) always stood at the standard of having XX number of categories and requiring a pass in every one of them.

Is this no longer the case? I don't put much stock in YouTube videos, and will ALWAYS take what NCSBN says over Kaplan... but will investigate when I have a minute!

Thanks ?

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 17, 2015

Ok, just went to the Horse's Mouth, so to speak: NCSBN.

This is exactly what it says on the site, regarding the "Maximum Length Rule":

"When your ability is very close to the passing standard, the computer continues to give you items until the maximum number of items is reached. At this point, the computer disregards the 95% confidence rule and decides whether you pass or fail by your final ability estimate.

If your final ability estimate is above the passing standard, you pass.
If your final ability is at or below the passing standard, you fail."

I think it's very important to note here that nowhere does NCSBN say "last question" or that the determination is made BY the last question. Nor does it say that one does not have to be competent in all domains.

It says that once the maximum length of test has been reached, meaning all 265 questions have been given, the system no longer uses a 95% CI as a gradient (it can't, because it can't continue to give more questions); it does a "final ability estimate". IOW, an estimate of the applicant's ability based on what had been done thusfar. The decision is NOT based on Question #265, which is apparently what Kaplan is saying...it is based on the length of the test from start to finish.

If the CAT deems the applicant to have a final ability above the standard, it's a pass; below, it's a fail. But determining final ability is NOT on just one question....it's on the entire test.

An applicant might NOT reach a 95% CI if he has gone through all 265 questions, but can still pass if the computer deems the "final ability" to be above the standard.

And an applicant cannot have an ability above the standard for passing if he has failed to pass all categories.....at least that's what this says to me.