Just took the CNA/STNA state exam, wasn't expecting that....

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This is going to sound ridiculous, but I think the written portion was harder than the skills. And I got a 98% in my class (aced every test) and felt like I knew the material really well. And I studied more than enough.

My test seemed like it was written by a 7th grader. It wasn't just tricky / written strangely in parts, but there was a question that literally contradicted itself. Many of the questions were written in incorrect English as well. I really wasn't expecting all of that. Is there anything I can do? I would assume there isn't because it's not like I can revisit the questions and complain.... but it seems messed up nonetheless. I'm assuming the test questions vary by testing location and it isn't "standardized" across the whole state?

But the skills portion? I think I did pretty darn well on that. Go figure.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Oh, and side note, the exam asked a question that didn't point out whether the resident was independent or dependent, and then gave answers for both of them.....hope I explained that right. All in all, the exam seemed SUPER outdated. Almost like they'd been using the same old exam that'd never been edited since 1990.

OK, I'll stop ranting now. :)

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

Welcome to Allnurses.com, and good luck with the state test. We hope you achieved a passing score.

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport, Cardiac ICU, Rapid.

I passed both the written and skills portion in '13 and agree with you. In my CNA class I was always the first to finish the test and ended with a near hundo. Flash forward to the written portion of the state test and I was pretty unsure of my answers the whole time, though some of them were straight forward many were worded weirdly and I just wasn't confident that's id pass. Hours later we got our result, pass and I was able to finish the skills portion in record time (only used 12 of the 25 minutes without any marks off). Congrats on passing though!

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Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

I think you have to be from IL LOL. The state is terrible about updating things and it seems CNAs always get put on the back burner. People who know nothing about CNA stuff trying to run the testing program. I wish the state government would stay out of it and quit messing everything up. IL in general is a mess.

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Specializes in Critical Care Transport, Cardiac ICU, Rapid.
I think you have to be from IL LOL. The state is terrible about updating things and it seems CNAs always get put on the back burner. People who know nothing about CNA stuff trying to run the testing program. I wish the state government would stay out of it and quit messing everything up. IL in general is a mess.

Haha actually, west coast best coast ;).

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This is going to sound ridiculous, but I think the written portion was harder than the skills. And I got a 98% in my class (aced every test) and felt like I knew the material really well. And I studied more than enough.

My test seemed like it was written by a 7th grader. It wasn't just tricky / written strangely in parts, but there was a question that literally contradicted itself. Many of the questions were written in incorrect English as well. I really wasn't expecting all of that. Is there anything I can do? I would assume there isn't because it's not like I can revisit the questions and complain.... but it seems messed up nonetheless. I'm assuming the test questions vary by testing location and it isn't "standardized" across the whole state?

But the skills portion? I think I did pretty darn well on that. Go figure.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Oh, and side note, the exam asked a question that didn't point out whether the resident was independent or dependent, and then gave answers for both of them.....hope I explained that right. All in all, the exam seemed SUPER outdated. Almost like they'd been using the same old exam that'd never been edited since 1990.

OK, I'll stop ranting now. :)

When I took the state test, we got our results the same night. I drove an 'hour' before I opened it. I felt similar after the skills portion. Just wait and see.

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Personally? I found the written very easy. The skills were slightly harder. But I had a forgiving proctor for skills so that made it easier on me. But I was nervous when I did skills. But I did mine in Indiana so I can't speak for Illinois.

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