NAT Test at FCCJ is Unfair

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So I heard that some people who have taken the NAT on the computer have used the drop down calculator. when I heard this I was upset because if you think about it, having a calculator could make a huge score difference. I know because the test is timed, having to do math long-hand takes up a huge amount of time. Also, there is more room for error with doing by hand rather than calc. Anyway, I called open campus downtown where I took the test (and used no calculator). I asked the guy in charge if people are able to use the computer's calc. He told me no, but he would have no way of knowing if people did. I think this is unfair and unprofessional. Are calculators allowed during the paper/pencil version?

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

I think that you probably mean the NET. The math on this test is very basic, so if you do need to use a calculator then you will definitely have trouble with dosage calculations in nursing school. Anyways, it might be unfair that people are able to use calculators to get better scores on the NET, but if they really do have that much trouble with their math then there should be a big discrepancy between the NET and their GPA in math class. I wouldn't worry about it. Most nursing schools would probably catch on to this.

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No, I meant the NAT. It is the PSB-NAT. Psychological Services Nuring Aptitude Test. And I have done really well in all of my math classes. I have taken calc and gotten an A. The math portion of the NAT is difficult because you have to do long division and complex word problems in such a short amount of time. The use of a calculator definately makes a difference.

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A calculator is not allowed on the NAT and if they utilized access to a calculator then they were cheating. It is unfair to everyone else when people cheat but you really can't spend your time worrying about it... It will come back to bite them in the end. I don't think that there are enough people out there who are cheating who will manage to make it into the program that it will cause that big of an affect on entrance into the program. I would just worry about yourself and doing the best you can and not waste the time worrying about the others because like I said it always comes back to bite them. I am in the program and we still hear things about people cheating and it truly amazes me.

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Specializes in Endoscopy/MICU/SICU.

Sorry Joyful!

Didn't know that there was such a thing as the NAT!

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A calculator is not allowed on the NAT and if they utilized access to a calculator then they were cheating. It is unfair to everyone else when people cheat but you really can't spend your time worrying about it... It will come back to bite them in the end. I don't think that there are enough people out there who are cheating who will manage to make it into the program that it will cause that big of an affect on entrance into the program. I would just worry about yourself and doing the best you can and not waste the time worrying about the others because like I said it always comes back to bite them. I am in the program and we still hear things about people cheating and it truly amazes me.

Not to be nosey, but how are people able to cheat when in the program? Are the tests and such on computers?

The thing I have heard about is people who pretend to be RN's get a job and then have no idea what they are doing..?

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Specializes in SNF / med/surg-tele.

people can't cheat on the test. i just took it last week and we were advised you can only use the left click button on the mouse and cant click outside of the main window...told if you clicked anywhere (even the windows start button) your test would be locked and the administrator has the decision whether to unlock it or not and this would affect your scores

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I am preparing to take the exam and hope to enter the program at fccj asap. I did well in math , but am finding the amount of longhand division required in many of the math questions too be unreasonable WITHOUT A CALCULATOR...

I just called the fccj and they confirm that no calculators are allowed(but I guess many have gotten away with it-but it would be cheating)...

QUESTION - Does anyone know of any better study material for review. I find the standard Peterson's study guide to be poorly written and organized.:confused:

Thanks for any ideas.

fro425

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