NCLEX Clarification

dave787 · Jul 21, 2008

the computer shuts off in any number from 75 to 265. its a computer adaptive exam.

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2008

With the SATA's it's unfortunately an "all or nothing" concept. Either you choose all the right answers and get the question right, or you miss one, thereby getting the question wrong.

Go Green Girl Jr. · Jul 21, 2008

I realize that its computer adaptive but the rumor flies around that every 10th person (or any number) gets all 265 questions regardless of how they are performing. I keep hearing this rumor from people and I've been told that is not true so I was just looking for some clarification. Thanks :)

suzanne4, RN · Jul 21, 2008

Rumors are rumors. And if you take the time to think about it, you do not see that large of a number getting the full number of questions, so 10% is just a rumor. Would not even think anything about the number of questions, it has no bearing on the results.

And the number of questions that one gets is not indicative of what the final outcome will be.

Lilluv117 · Jul 21, 2008

I have some newbie questions!
I've heard that it is NOT true that some people randomly get all 265 questions.. is that correct?
My other question is about the SATA questions. I realize you don't get the question right if you dont select all the answers, but does the computer recognize say if you get 3/4 choices correct?
Thanks:nuke:

That is not true. The computer shuts off when it feels you are averaging above the level of competency or below it. If you are borderline, it will keep going until you do average above it. I'm not sure how many questions you have to average above it but it is basically based on your level of competency. If you get to 265, it looks at your last answer and if it was above competency, you pass, if it was below competency, you fail, regardless of if you got it right or wrong (this is how Kaplan explained it to us).

Here is a good link explaining it: http://caring4you.net/concept.html

suzanne4, RN · Jul 21, 2008

Getting the last answer correct or incorrect never determines passing or failing the exam.

And there are quite a few that got the full amount of questions and answered the last one wrong, and they passed. So this changes things.

Number of questions that one gets as well as getting the last question right or wrong never can predict how one does on the exam. Level of the question is the most important factor in the scheme of things.

Lilluv117 · Jul 21, 2008

Getting the last answer correct or incorrect never determines passing or failing the exam.
And there are quite a few that got the full amount of questions and answered the last one wrong, and they passed. So this changes things.
Number of questions that one gets as well as getting the last question right or wrong never can predict how one does on the exam. Level of the question is the most important factor in the scheme of things.

I did not say getting the question right or wrong determines if you pass or fail. I said the level difficulty of the question at 265 determines whether you pass or fail - regardless of if you got it right or wrong.

I know the last question doesn't determine if you pass or fail when you don't get 265 but I was told by Kaplan & Feuer review that if you get 265 questions, the test looks at your last question and if it is below the level of competency, you fail or "almost passed" as they put it. And if the last question was above the level of competency, you pass. It doesn't matter if you got the last question right or wrong. I didn't say you have to get the last question correct. I was just told that if it is above the level of competency, regardless of if you get it right or wrong, you pass. If it is below the level of competency, regardless of if you get it right or wrong, you fail. This only goes for if the computer shuts off at 265! If you run out of time, they look at the last 60 questions.

I know that getting the last question right or wrong never determines if you pass or fail the exam. Sorry if I made it sound like that but that was not what I was saying.

suzanne4, RN · Jul 21, 2008

You made a statement about the exam looking at the last question and making its determination on that. I never assume anything, first thing that you learn as a nurse.

And something to take into consideration as you start your new career, and for any others that are reading here. Always make sure that nothing can be read into what you wrote or meant, or it can cause problems later on down the line for you with your charting. If anything can be mistrued, make sure your charting is definitive in what you are saying.

Best of luck to all of you.

Lilluv117 · Jul 21, 2008

If you get to 265, it looks at your last answer and if it was above competency, you pass, if it was below competency, you fail, regardless of if you got it right or wrong (this is how Kaplan explained it to us).

Yes, it does look at the last question - if you go all the way to 265. But not at whether you answered it correctly or not. I never said that. I said if it was above competency, you pass and if it was below competency, you fail. I did say "regardless of whether you got the question right or wrong" but I guess I should have stated it differently to make it more clear.

I see what you mean. That has happened to me a few times when I post. You seem to frequently misinterpret what I am saying so I guess I really have to work on that.

Thanks for the tip! :)

suzanne4, RN · Jul 21, 2008

One question never determines if one passes this exam or not, it is a CAT exam and is concerned with the level that the questions that are correct are being answered at. Getting a question correct does not determine passing, if the question is at a lower level then even getting it correct will not make a difference.

This is why in all of the posts on this forum you will see it over and over again that the getting the last question correct or incorrect does not matter.

You can see more about this in the sticky at the top of this page about 85% passing the first time. The link to the Board is there with full explanation as to how things are done and the exam evaluated.

Level of questions that are answered correctly is what determines if one passes or not. Never the number of questions or the last answer correct or incorrect.

Best of luck on your exam and career.

(and misinterpretation can be dangerous at any time)