Kaplan harder than NCLEX-RN, Passed with 75Q & Low Kaplan Scores

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Let me start off by saying that I don't know whether I recommend Kaplan or not for NCLEX review. I am on the fence because I took Kaplan, used all Q bank questions and Q trainers (and reviewed all questions from both twice); and I passed NCLEX-RN on the first try. I will give you a little background about me: I am an LPN and have been for 7 years, but am also severely out of practice, I was a C student in school and thought I would fail every semester (I failed none). In addition to Kaplan I did a little of Saunders, and I mean VERY little. I studied solidly for about 3 weeks with anywhere from 50-265 questions daily. I graduated Dec 2010, took Kaplan (in class) at the end of January, and took NCLEX-RN at the end of March.

My Kaplan scores for Qbank and Qtrainers ranged from 48%-70% (mostly in the 50's). When I sat for NCLEX I found the questions WAY easier than a lot of Kaplans thought-provoking questions. I got about 3 drag and drop, 8 or 9 SATA, infection control, a lot of priority (who would you see first) and a few pharmacology. The NCLEX SATA's were nowhere NEAR as difficult as Kaplans. The computer cut off at 75, and I was singing hallelujah because I felt very confident in my performance.

The reason why I felt confident, tho, was not because of the fact that I did thousands of Kaplan questions. I was confident because I prayed and truly believe that I took Jesus into that testing center with me. Prayer was the key for me, God is so good! I honestly feel that NCLEX is not a test that you can prepare for by doing content reviews or tons of questions. I mean honestly, you cant study everything, yet NCLEX CAN test you on ANYTHING. I spoke with a friend of mine a few days before my test and she said "Girl, put away those books now! None of that stuff will be on NCLEX!"...and she was right...I didn't see one question that was even similar! BUT...........every test is different and Kaplan may just help you, and maybe it helped me too (if very little)...BOTTOM LINE: If it is in God's will, YOU WILL BE AN RN! Also PVT works! Tried it about 45 minutes after the test and got the "good pop-up". I would also like to say that this site is a GREAT resource for both information and emotional support! Good luck future RN's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

Is this a good pop up or what? am confuse, i just got back from taking my test nclexRN, and i tried pvt this is what it says "Our records indicate that you already exist in our system" I had the whole 265q and i have cried all the back from the testing center....Pls what do u all think?

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Thanks for this post, im taking my Nclex end of May.. been doing qbanks and practice test from Kaplan. I kinda feel like I want to read the entire book of Kaplan..should i do that or keep doing questions everyday? Any advice? oh one more thing what is PVT?

I felt the same way about wanting to read the book, although I never got around to it! Honestly it wouldnt hurt to review topics that you might be unclear about in the book, but as far as reading the whole thing I wouldnt...Kaplan is based more on strategy than content, and reading the book through and through may just confuse you. I say just keep doing the questions. PVT is the pearson vue trick that you can use as soon as youve finished testing in order to find out whether you passed or not. You just log in to your pearson vue account and try to register. If you passed you will not be able to register for another exam, if you're able to get through to the credit card page then you didnt pass. Best of luck and god bless! YOU CAN DO IT!!!

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Is this a good pop up or what? am confuse, i just got back from taking my test nclexRN, and i tried pvt this is what it says "Our records indicate that you already exist in our system" I had the whole 265q and i have cried all the back from the testing center....Pls what do u all think?

If the message states to contact your BON, then you passed. The pop up that you got indicates that your results are on hold and they may still be reviewing them. Do you feel as though you got your very last question correct? I think that may be a good indication of whether you passed. Dont feel bad that you had all 265, thats actually a good thing because the computer couldnt definitively say that you didnt pass so it was allowing you the opportunity to pass. I will be praying for you, I know the waiting is excrutiating. Be positive!

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I had the blue Kaplan book that had all the contents that you need to know for Nclex. Every individual has their own way of learning. I cant say what worked for me will work for you. Having failed the exam once, I can tell you every question you practice will be different. Even in Nclex, you will get questions that you have never seen before. So reading the whole book is a safe and sure to pass. If you read the content, there are so many things you will know that you can never learn from questions.

Again this is my personal opinion. Reading the whole book may sound overwhelming. But you dont have to literally read each and every page. You do however have to cover most of the information. Once you start reading, you will get in the flow and you will be able to do it.

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Your post was so inspirational to me. I was here near tears because I was getting between 48-65% on my Kaplan question trainers, I was thinking OMG I'M SO STUPID! I can never pass this test. You reminded me of something that i've believed all my life and somehow managed to let slip, Jesus is here for me and if I take him into the test center I'll do fine. Thank you SO MUCH for this post.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.

I didn't take Kaplan, but I have been doing some of the Trainers with classmates who did. We tend to get 60-70%. These classmates are longtime study partners and discussing/bouncing ideas off each other really helps keep us engaged when we are all very tired of studying.

One thing I notice is that the Kaplan questions appear to be excellent practice for taking the NCLEX. The questions are challenging and a test taker should be ready for this.

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Congratulations! I did Kaplan as well and am very distraught over low test scores...I mean having panic attacks and increased anxiety. I take mine next month, hope it ends up happy like you :)

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Congratulations! I did Kaplan as well and am very distraught over low test scores...I mean having panic attacks and increased anxiety. I take mine next month, hope it ends up happy like you :)

i did kaplan too..and had 48-65% in all qbank,..my exam is on aug 8,and im very anxious ryt now,.

but reading the message up there,it was very heart melting,after all the sleepless nyt unlimited coffee,..all i knew is dat i was lacking a very significant category which constitutes of 90% in exam and it was the faith that we have on Jesus.. drop your worries,..and keep your faith..I believe that WE CAN DO IT!!!as the time we sit and facing the computer,it is not our battle anymore,it was God,and He will do wats best for us,..we just did wat we have to!..ill pray for your exam..Godbless u!!:nurse:

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I soooo agree with you! I prayed before every question and I passed after a cut off at 76 and this website helped me so much. I loved the random facts posting. God is amazing!!!

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Congratulations. I know you are going to be a good nurse. God bless you~

I have a question about Kaplan scores, do you notice any improvement from start to end or always the same scores. Did you start going up or was a flat line around the same numbers?

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Congratulations. I know you are going to be a good nurse. God bless you~

I have a question about Kaplan scores, do you notice any improvement from start to end or always the same scores. Did you start going up or was a flat line around the same numbers?

i did qbank in kaplan and my score was fluctuating..some of my score goes down,some were high,then the next day it went down again,.it ranges from 48-65% ,feeling am not ready yet for my aug 8 exam..huhu....good vibes...come near me!!:heartbeat

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I've been doing Kaplan questions a lot lately along with questions from Hurst, Saunders, La Charity and a couple from my practice hesi exams. I did the cd-rom that came with my Kaplan strategies book and I got a 71% on the first try. I've been doing Hurst's Q review online and been getting 68%-71%. Right now I'm doing Kaplan Q trainer questions and been doing fairly ok. Is this enough to pass the actual NCLEX?

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