Hello all! First off, I want to thank this specific forum "NCLEX Exam & Programs" because without it I would have never even known about UWorld. Scary thought.
Before I tell you about my experience with studying for NCLEX and passing, here are some little things about me to make this post more relatable: I was enrolled in a bachelors program in the US. I was not a straight A nursing student. I got mostly B's, a couple A's and one C (definitely could have received a B, possibly even an A in this one particular class, but I slacked off like a fool). Even though I wasn't a straight A student, I was far from being a student who was constantly drowning and barely passing- so I was just the average Jane, really. I took NCLEX studying pretty seriously, which lead me to pushing back my date 10 days from the original date I had scheduled, and stalking this site to see what helped people the most- which lead me to none other than UWorld.
I purchased a one month UWorld subscription on May 20th and took my test yesterday on June 15th. I completed 1,525 questions out of the 1,896 questions available from UWorld. I answered 62% of the questions correctly which placed me in the 85th percentile. I did a MINIMUM of 40 questions per day, and a max of 100 questions per day (I know 40 doesn't sound like a lot, but 40 questions for me was equivalent to two hours of studying because I read the rationales very carefully). There were two days when I was busy all day and didn't do any questions. I say I used UWorld "almost" exclusively because my school had us take Hurst review mandatorily; however we had the review in the beginning of April and I only glanced through the book a couple times after the review. Hurst is a good content review, but as far as content goes, UWorld's rationales were much more pertinent to the actual NCLEX exam than Hurst content- plus UWorld is a fraction of the cost. There were numerous questions I answered on NCLEX that I wouldn't have known the answer to if I hadn't used UWorld. I will also say that UWorld's SATA questions were very similar to NCLEX's, if not harder. And UWorld's priority questions were WAY harder than NCLEX's... On NCLEX, a lot of my priority questions seemed to have three distinct wrong answers and one that was obviously right. On UWorld I was always stuck between two and wanted to throw my laptop at a wall when I got it wrong. Can't stress enough how helpful UWorld was to me.
As for my NCLEX experience- it wasn't ENTIRELY awful. The employees at the Pearson center were very friendly and super encouraging- I got there an hour before my test and they let me take it right away instead of waiting. I had around 25 SATA- at one point I had SIX in a row O_O. Lots of priority questions, a few pharm questions (which none of my friends seemed to have)- no audio, math, or put in order. As for telling you the content I had to answer, it would be pointless because NCLEX is SOdifferent for everyone. I talked with some friends who took it before me and the content we answered couldn't have been any more different. If you're scared of SATA- you need UWorld. So many SATA questions on UWorld. I actually became quite comfortable with them and they didn't faze me on NCLEX. For the first 20 questions I was freaking out because the questions seemed too easy and I had noise canceling headphones on- which made me able to hear my own severe palpitations- but after I got 6 high level SATA questions in a row around question 40, I started to feel a little bit more relaxed. My test shut off at 75 questions and the last question I answered was also a SATA. There are plenty of naysayers who will tell you that the type of questions you get mean nothing, but I have yet to talk to anyone who's been bombarded with SATA and priority questions and failed at 75 ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. I left the testing center in higher spirits than I anticipated. Obviously, it's near impossible to walk out of NCLEX with complete confidence, but I at least wasn't shaking in fear like I expected I would be! Definitely keep yourself as busy as possible afterward... I went out last night with my boyfriend and some friends, but today he has been at work and I have had nothing to do! Slowest day of my life, but worth the wait! Oh. And I should mention I live in Illinois- took my test at 12:45 PM, left the testing center at 2:00 PM on the dot, and had my results posted on continentaltesting.net at 3:28 PM today.
I hope someone was able to find this post helpful and goes on to pass NCLEX like a champ.
I'm going to throw my experience with Uworld into the mix as well as some of what bear94 experienced mirrors my own! I used Uworld in the three weeks preceding my NCLEX after one of my classmates used it, raved about it, and passed the NCLEX with ease. I was using Hurst and NCSBN and was NOT feeling confident at all. Hurst was great for content but I wasn't feeling their Qbanks and NCSBN just wasn't challenging enough and the rationales were, in my opinion, kind of bad. So, I bought the 1-month subscription to Uworld and immediately loved it, I actually looked forward to doing questions in Uworld everyday as studying was no longer tedious and boring for me! I spent the next few weeks doing all of the questions, and writing down notes and then once I finished the entire Qbank, I redid the ones I missed.
A few days before I tested I was just over everything which I knew meant that I had retained as much as I could at that point. The day of my test I was surprisingly calm and confident and was only a little nervous. During my exam I kept wondering how this test was such a big deal because it, dare I say, wasn't that bad, I felt like the majority of my test was SATA but Uworld really prepared me for them and they were no big deal despite causing severe anxiety during nursing school! When my computer shut off at 75 questions there was no sinking feeling of dread, instead, I walked out of there feeling good about my performance and now I'm officially an RN! Uworld really prepared me well and I'm so glad I followed everyone's advice and got it!
ApricotTea, I felt the exact same way. I did not feel any sort of dread after finishing my test. I had a little bout of the "what if's" when I got in my car, but that was the extent of my hard feelings.
ApricotTea, I felt the exact same way. I did not feel any sort of dread after finishing my test. I had a little bout of the "what if's" when I got in my car, but that was the extent of my hard feelings.
Hi bear94, Im also taking my NCLEX on end week of July. I finished NCSBN and I got 63% but when I took Uworld I got only 52.7% and I feel so depressed. My friend gave me Kaplan Qbanks QT1-68% QT2-73% QT3-69% QT4-72% QT 5-68% QT6-72% QT7-Ill answer it tomorrow, in saunders im getting 74% to 90%. When they said that that Uworld is more NCLEX, I came to ask myself. Am i doing fine? need your advice please...
LuluaspiringRN, BSN I believe 52.7% is still above average! If I were you, I would go through and redo all the questions you missed on UWorld- pacing yourself so that you have the content absorbed right before the test. You sound like you've studied adequately and I am sure you'll do great.
LuluaspiringRN, BSN I believe 52.7% is still above average! If I were you, I would go through and redo all the questions you missed on UWorld- pacing yourself so that you have the content absorbed right before the test. You sound like you've studied adequately and I am sure you'll do great.
Thanks bear94, I finished it already and it elevated to 59.4%. I'm also pray I'll remember everything on my exam.
I absolutely love U world. I am taking the NCLEX July 6, 2016 and damn what an apprehensive feeling this is. I also did Kaplan as well. I think most on here know Kaplan is test taking strategy with little content and U-World is a combination of both with the best rationales on the street today. Here is my question- on U world exams I average around a 70 and for Kaplan Q Bank I am around a 65ish. The Predictor I got a 72 on. I did totally suck on the alteranate format- I think a 34 lol. Anyways I think I am ready, am I?
I absolutely love U world. I am taking the NCLEX July 6, 2016 and damn what an apprehensive feeling this is. I also did Kaplan as well. I think most on here know Kaplan is test taking strategy with little content and U-World is a combination of both with the best rationales on the street today. Here is my question- on U world exams I average around a 70 and for Kaplan Q Bank I am around a 65ish. The Predictor I got a 72 on. I did totally suck on the alteranate format- I think a 34 lol. Anyways I think I am ready, am I?
Hi! I agree with you. I finished with Uworld with only 52.7% correct answers out of 1900+ questions then I took Kaplan Qbanks and it seems easier. I think you will you will do fine. Im going to purchased another month for practice questions.
My biggest fear is not being able to remember all the rationales because that's what everyone says is most important. Although, anything I didn't know or I was unsure of I wrote down and go through every other day takes 4 hours lol , I am hoping that would be enough.
Hello, I'm averaging 48th percentile...it's discouraging....I did Kaplan and done with questions, my predictor was 63%. Also, almost done with NCSBN...content I forget once in a while, averaging 70% on it. What should I do? I test in 7 days. I've been doing a lot of Uworld questions...they're really hard =(
how did you do on the NCLEX? Im at a 58% with Uworld right now and only completed 400questions and feeling nervous! Im scheduled for my test and officially have only 25days left of studying!
Suivezmoi89, BSN
54 Posts
Haha yeah I read and decide very quickly