kaplan questions

OneHappyRN · Sep 20, 2014

It's difficult to say what your chances of passing are, but I can say that I did Kaplan and that is pretty much what my scores were and I passed in 75Qs.

I've heard some people say the NCLEX is easier than Kaplan, but I didn't find that to be the case. I thought it was about the same or a tad bit harder (probably b/c I had over 20 SATA) But again...I passed in 75Qs, so I feel that Kaplan really prepared me for taking the NCLEX.

fusionfire32 · Sep 20, 2014

Hi Happy,

Just another question. When you did your qbank, did you do new questions only or did you do new and incorrect? Initially, I started new and incorrect but past few days i have just taken all the new questions and scores are like 65-68%. I keep missing questions for silly reasons and i dont know what to do. its not that i dont know the topic but i am loosing concentration i guess due to anxiety. I havent done qtrainers 6 and 7 and plan to do it next week along with the sample tests and incorrect answers. please help me.

macrina · Sep 20, 2014

I just took my NCLEX and passed this last week in about 85 questions. I did pretty much only Kaplan for studying with some side research of topics I didn't understand either online or in my Maternal Health textbook. With your scores I think you are very well-prepared. I was pretty much the same as you, a couple good days in the low 70's, a couple bad days in the 50's but the majority all in the 60's range. I took the in-person class and the teacher there said that being in the 60's was "solid" and a very good indicator of passing. It seems like the most recent test-takers (including a bunch of my colleagues from nursing school) who are passing in 75 questions are getting a huge amount of SATAs - like 25-40 or almost every other one. I got about 11 of them. Yes, they are nerve-wracking, but if you are getting a lot it certainly means you are doing well and are up in the upper level of questions. Remember that you can be missing almost every other question and still pass, so don't let the SATAs unnerve you.

I would suggest at this point that you complete all the sample exams, including #4 which is all SATA, your Q-Trainders 6/7, and continue reviewing ALL Q-bank questions/rationales, and getting through the full Q-bank 100%. I set aside separate days to do Q-Trainers 6 and 7, and approached it like it was the real thing - in a space with no interruptions, making myself sit at the same desk and taking planned 1h breaks to move around or get a snack. I highly suggest doing that to help yourself prepare psychologically for going up into the 200-range of questions. (Although I don't think you will, it's very good practice.)

You really look to me like you are going to be very well prepared. I found that if I took something set in Kaplan, like the sample exam #4 and did poorly on it (33% my first time), then reviewed all the answers, understood the rationales and re-took the same exam again (94% the second time) it really boosted my confidence back up. The benefit of getting through the whole Q-Bank is being exposed to a vast body of material that you could be tested on, and it will leave you with at least a familiarity with the great bulk of what you might be given in the exam, so at least you will have a good foundation for making an educated guess. Remember that it is IMPOSSIBLE to know everything that might appear on the NCLEX, and that is not what you are striving for. What you're going for is a good foundation of workable knowledge and you're doing a great job at building that right now. Keep going! I really think you are doing great!

fusionfire32 · Sep 20, 2014

thank you so much macrina, you dont know how much it has boosted my confidence. i really appreciate you taking the time to write this message. I test on oct 2nd and have planned my studies. i will be doing qtrainer 6 on monday and 7 on friday. in between i will be doing the incorrect answers from the qbank and reviewing the 6 and 7 over 2 days each. i make silly mistakes and i find using decision tree a mind boggling exercise. instead, i just rely on the knowledge that i have achieved and think critically. i finish my qbank tomorrow. my last 75 questions. I just hope that i dont have to relive this experience again.

thank you once again. p.s i am absolutely crap at sata

GodmademeRN · Sep 20, 2014

im scoring 50s-60s with new questions 75qs a day..review hurst audio, kaplan review question and using nclex mastery at night, will take the exam soon. is this enough? huhu

laughlove · Sep 20, 2014

Can someone explain on detail what kaplan offers? Is it content like hurst or something like PDA that helps you tackle tough questions strategically?

I used hurst with a little bit of ncbsn and failed at 104 questions (had so much SATA) and second attempt I used PDA, brush up on hurst and some questionaires from Saunders Q&A review and failed with 75 questions with little SATA (I'm starting to believe the more SATA the better your doing). That is such a huge drop and I feel devastated still.

I don't plan to retake till sometime in November but I want to know what I need to do better. ..any suggestion and advice is greatly appreciated

Thank you

OneHappyRN · Sep 20, 2014

Fusionfire, I did incorrect and new only and scored in the high 50s/low 60s. Then when I would add the correct questions I had gotten, I was getting in the 70s. Someone gave me very good advice and they said don't OVERstudy as you're nearing the NCLEX b/c you can start to second-guess yourself and I found that to be true. The last week or so of my studying, I did around 50 Qs (tutor mode...) three times a day. I read the rationals and tried to understand why I got them wrong.

I did the SATA test that Kaplan offered and I did horrible. I got in the 20s and it freaked me out. I honestly wouldn't even bother doing that practice test b/c it will mess w/ your mind for no reason. lol

My test was not what I expected. I got not math calculations, MAYBE 2 meds, but I don't even think it was that much! I did get ordered questions (drop and drag). Every test is different, but the point I'm trying to make is just continue w/ the questions b/c you're gaining content knowledge w/ each question that you do.

Good luck!!!

fusionfire32 · Sep 21, 2014

i guess so. i just review the questions i take (ie 75) and i just reviewed some content review that i feel that i am really weak. i do not have access to hurst review but tried to do some sauders questions and after doing kaplan they are so easy.lol

fusionfire32 · Sep 21, 2014

thanks happy. i honestly have not done the correct answers again as when i did them, and checked the answers, they were the same reason i had got it right. also, i have such good memory, i pick answers without even looking. its not a blessing in disguise i tell you lol and i hate it sometimes. i am currently getting above 65% on new ones. i tried to do a test on all incorrect ones and guess what, i got 98% and it gave me a false hope lol

fusionfire32 · Sep 21, 2014

wttw,

just trying to answer your question. i have enrolled myself on kaplan nclex review for international nurse as i originally come from london, uk. but to be honest, the course content is very much the same and we get taught the same principles. kaplan offers several options but i took the classroom anywhere option. you completely review content videos, do question trainers 1, 2, 3 and also do the diagnostic test. this gives you the foundation from where you can start. start from your weakest content to the strongest content area. once you get comfortable you can do the classroom review and i think it is the best part of the kaplan. you can change the classroom date if you are not ready. after the class, you can set your pace to do some qtrainer questions no more than 150 a day. but before that, there are videos of the questions taken during the class, so in case you did not understand in class, you could understand it at your own pace. i do 75 a day and aim for a score of above 60% i guess. (please correct me if i am wrong as i was asking this question myself) review the right and wrong answers. i finish my qbank questions tomorrow as i have a strict timetable to follow. on monday, i will attempt the qtrainer 6 and also do qtrainer 7 next week. after that, i will also do sample test 1,2,3,4. and all the incorrect answers. i do still feel unprepared but friends here have been really supportive and according to them, i am doing ok. so oct 2, is day test day.

laughlove · Sep 21, 2014

Thank you so much for your response!

Another question, does kaplan have a lot of practice questions on SATA and priority? Or is it just core content?

I wish you all the best on October 2nd!!