my little analysis of the NCLEX

fairyprincess2003 · Jun 16, 2004

I don't think the end number matters

Just bc you get 80 does not mean you pass over someone with 75. Say you are close to passing at 75, but the comp is not sure yet...and you get the next couple wrong...you could fail...I don't know this whole NCLEX seems pretty up in the air. The grading does not seem to be explained straightforward to me anyways.

what do you think of this logic?
wouldn't the chances of passing (if you felt you bombed) be higher if the test shut off at 80-90 questions? i think this only because from what i read there are 3 options at question 75...
- you passed
- you failed
- you are close enough to the passing standard but not quite there (this is the key statement that i read somewhere)
so, if you feel like you bombed and it shut off at 75 then you might have indeed failed. however, if you feel you have bombed and it shut off at 80-90 then that would mean that you definitley were not doing as poorly as you thought during those first 75 questions and you were "close enough to the passing standard" at question 76. so, if you're close enough to the passing standard at 75 and you only get 12-14 more questions then i would think that its a pass, no? if you went on to 250+ questions then you zig-zagged all over the curve and it could go either way at that point. i just don't see how one can be so "close to the passing standard" at 75 and then get failed with only a dozen more questions.
thoughts?
(this is just my theory)

fairyprincess2003 · Jun 16, 2004

ps

the more I read about NCLEX and try and figure out their whole .03 more logistics or whatever, I dont even think it is an overall standard of passing. What I am thinking it is is this: in each section of care they have it divided up like priority, delegation, safety, infection control, communication, etc...you need a certain mark in each catergory in order to pass to the minimun not a mark overall. What do you girls/guys thinK?

bender73 · Jun 16, 2004

I don't think the end number matters
Just bc you get 80 does not mean you pass over someone with 75. Say you are close to passing at 75, but the comp is not sure yet...and you get the next couple wrong...you could fail...I don't know this whole NCLEX seems pretty up in the air. The grading does not seem to be explained straightforward to me anyways.

well, my theory (and this is only interesting discussion) is that if you are "so close" to the passing standard at 75 then it would be hard to fail at 80. that would mean a dramatic shift from one end of the curve to the other in the CAT's program within 5 questions. again, the key is that at question 76 you are more close to passing than failing. if you did very bad then at 75 it would shut off. if you go to 265 then the gray area becomes less of a factor in the CAT's program. see what i mean?

fairyprincess2003 · Jun 16, 2004

I know what you mean bender

I mean if you are close to passing at 75 it will keep going...The tricky thing about the NCLEX is that you need to be above with 95% certainty. So who knows even if one fails at 85 they could have been at passing but not above, so in NCLEX terms that is a fail?? I don't know for sure, I do know I wish it was just a standard grading:) Like I have said before, I honestly don't think it is fair for different people to be tested on different thigns. That is just my opinion though. Plus the way ti seems to work, like ans an easy one wrong and go downhill. On paper, I feel you could show a lot more of your knowledge. I could be wrong though.

J Lynn · Jun 16, 2004

AAAARRRRGGGG!!! Mine shut off at 105. I took the test yesterday. What does that mean? :confused:

suzanne4, RN · Jun 16, 2004

None of you are getting the point about NCLEX. All nurses taking the exam are going to get 50% right and 50% wrong. It depends on the level where you start missing questions that they are concerned with. They want all nurses to at least be able to meet safety standards for patients.

So whether you have a PhD in nursing or are a new graduate, each will get 50% right and 50% wrong. :)

bender73 · Jun 16, 2004

None of you are getting the point about NCLEX. All nurses taking the exam are going to get 50% right and 50% wrong. It depends on the level where you start missing questions that they are concerned with. They want all nurses to at least be able to meet safety standards for patients.
So whether you have a PhD in nursing or are a new graduate, each will get 50% right and 50% wrong. :)

yes, but you're missing the point

at the critical question #76 that tells you that you are close to the "passing" standard. if your test ends at #75 then you definitely know you either really passed or really failed. at #76 you can be assured that you didn't REALLY pass yet but are close to passing. that leads me to think that if you're really close to the passing standard and the computer only gives you ~12-20 questions then you likely passed because you would have to go to the far end of the failing point in less than 20 questions when you already knew at #76 that you were close to the passing standard.

FYI - my wife found out today that she passed at ~89 questions!!!

ADNCyn · Jun 16, 2004

yes, but you're missing the point
at the critical question #76 that tells you that you are close to the "passing" standard. if your test ends at #75 then you definitely know you either really passed or really failed. at #76 you can be assured that you didn't REALLY pass yet but are close to passing. that leads me to think that if you're really close to the passing standard and the computer only gives you ~12-20 questions then you likely passed because you would have to go to the far end of the failing point in less than 20 questions when you already knew at #76 that you were close to the passing standard.
FYI - my wife found out today that she passed at ~89 questions!!!

Understand this for sure will never change...NCLEX has a set standard of passing/failing...The catch is...If you go all the way to 265 they pass/fail you on the last 60 questions...Therefore, If you think about it you only have to get 5 right if you answered only 75...And when you get more questions you have to answer a percentage of those right in order to pass. Now, whether you get the last question right, may mean that you passed...But if you went all the way to say, 265, knowing that you will not answer all the questions right, you only have to answer 18 right to pass...Now I am no statistician, but am pretty good with numbers...And not one math question on NCLEX.

rainbows4me · Jun 16, 2004

Understand this for sure will never change...NCLEX has a set standard of passing/failing...The catch is...If you go all the way to 265 they pass/fail you on the last 60 questions...Therefore, If you think about it you only have to get 5 right if you answered only 75...And when you get more questions you have to answer a percentage of those right in order to pass. Now, whether you get the last question right, may mean that you passed...But if you went all the way to say, 265, knowing that you will not answer all the questions right, you only have to answer 18 right to pass...Now I am no statistician, but am pretty good with numbers...And not one math question on NCLEX.

Why would you think you only need to get 5 right out of 75 to pass? I don't follow your logic. I think many confuse the "number of questions you need to get right" with the difficulty of the questions you need to be answering. My understanding is that you need two things: 1) to be consistently/predictably answering questions of a definitive level 2) that defined level must be at a minimum passing rate. Once that is established (mathmatically), and you've taken a minimum of 75 questions, you either pass or fail, depending on the difficulty level you got to. Perhaps this has nothing to do with what you are saying and I'm just asleep at the wheel - which is possible since I took the darned test this morning!!!:rotfl:

lovinghands · Jun 16, 2004

Understand this for sure will never change...NCLEX has a set standard of passing/failing...The catch is...If you go all the way to 265 they pass/fail you on the last 60 questions...Therefore, If you think about it you only have to get 5 right if you answered only 75...And when you get more questions you have to answer a percentage of those right in order to pass. Now, whether you get the last question right, may mean that you passed...But if you went all the way to say, 265, knowing that you will not answer all the questions right, you only have to answer 18 right to pass...Now I am no statistician, but am pretty good with numbers...And not one math question on NCLEX.

I'm not following you on this...could you further explain.

ADNCyn · Jun 16, 2004

Why would you think you only need to get 5 right out of 75 to pass? I don't follow your logic. I think many confuse the "number of questions you need to get right" with the difficulty of the questions you need to be answering. My understanding is that you need two things: 1) to be consistently/predictably answering questions of a definitive level 2) that defined level must be at a minimum passing rate. Once that is established (mathmatically), and you've taken a minimum of 75 questions, you either pass or fail, depending on the difficulty level you got to. Perhaps this has nothing to do with what you are saying and I'm just asleep at the wheel - which is possible since I took the darned test this morning!!!:rotfl:

Disclaimer: FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY!!! THIS IS HELPING COPE WITH THE FACT THAT I MAY HAVE FAILED THE NCLEX, AND KEEPING IT REAL IN THE PROCESS. :uhoh3: LOL

Here goes...

You have to answer at least 75. That's standard... Okay then, if you answer the max of 265, it is stated that they count the last 60 questions of those...follow me...Well, that only leaves at least 15 questions in the minimum 75, in the first place. Now, remember you won't answer all of the 15 right either, therefore you are scored based on the minimal passing standard of 0.30, which is 30%(that's 4.5 or 5 needed in 75 questions) Moreover if you divide the max # of questions, 265 by 75 (the # questions, per 75) you get 3.50. Now multiply 4.5 by 3.5 which is 15.75(16 when you round up) questions on the last of at least 60 to pass....The more harder ones you get right along with less harder ones if at least 5 of them out of 75 are correct, you pass...and for those who take the maximum 265, remember they count the last 60 as a basis for the previous questions you answered corrects and overall you then only need to answer difficult level questions along with less harder ones of at least 16 correct to pass. That's why so many people feel they FAILED coming away from the test. And some who passed and felt like they failed, felt that way because they didn't have a clue on many of the questions they answered ( if anyone would admit to it) But what is most important is that you see PASS, Including myself..Because to answer every single question right, however not uncommon, is rare, and the BON's know this... and the number of questions is IMPORTANT (remember they need you to capture those difficult level questions too) because the FAIL rate would be ridiculously high if it weren't for them giving those questions so one could fall into their pass/fail standard without doubt. I welcome all any suggestions/comments...remember this is for fun...but what if part if not all makes sense :coollook: