NCLEX Exam shut down at 75 questions. Fail?

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I took the NCLEX this week for the second time, and my exam shut down at 75 questions which took me by surprise. I had about 15 SATA questions, 4 pictures/diagrams questions, maybe 10 pharmacology, and a bunch of prioritizing. To me it seemed like the questions were more upper level than the first time I took the test. I had no phycosocial, no OB, no pediatrics, and no posology. I took the kaplan review course and followed their sylabus in detail, and put in at least 5 hours of studying a day. I was getting the scores on the Qbank and Question Trainers that they say you need to pass the NCLEX, but my 'unnoficial' results say I failed. I am actually very frustrated and depressed, since apparently I did worse on this exam than the first time I took the NCLEX. Does anyone have any suggestions for a plan of study? I really don't know what to do right now.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

If this is your second fail, wait for your candidate performance report. (CPR). Compare the two.

Do you have the same amount of areas that are near or below passing standard?

Did you improve in any areas?

Did you score near/below passing in the same areas such as pharmacology?

You can create a focused review based upon your CPR.

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What was your scores in the question trainers?

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QT1 - 62%

QT2 - 57%

QT3 - 64%

QT4 - 65%

QT5 - 65%

QT6 - 61%

QT7 - 60%

QBANK - 59%

Were my scores too low?

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QT1 - 62%

QT2 - 57%

QT3 - 64%

QT4 - 65%

QT5 - 65%

QT6 - 61%

QT7 - 60%

QBANK - 59%

Were my scores too low?

My trainers were way lower than that and I didnt do the qbanks. Your definitely in the average where you should pass. My scores:

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/how-i-pass-926505.html

What reviews did you use?

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I only used Kaplan and the Saunders book. I am thinking of getting Nurses - NCSBN Learning Extension. Have you heard of it?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

You probably passed. It's hard to fail with 75 because the test will keep giving you more questions if you need them. I passed with 75. Yes those sound like higher level questions which is a good sign.

Here's a link that explains it:

http://caring4you.net/concept.html

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Did you do quick results or PVT?

Just because a candidate feels questions are "difficult" or " higher level" does not mean that they are based upon Bloom's Taxonomy. What candidate A perceives as difficult, candidate B & C perceive as easy and vice versa.

The test stopping at the minimum number of questions is just indicative that the computer determined with statistical sensitivity that the responses either are above the pass line or below the pass line. In other words one can pass or fail at 75 questions. Perception of difficulty is irrelevant.

If you did the PVT wait for the quick results or BoN notification. If you paid for quick results and it states that you failed, I'm sorry you failed.

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Yeah, but my 'unofficial' results said i failed so that threw me off. Could that be wrong?

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

What do you mean by "unofficial results"? If you mean quick results, then I'm sorry yes you failed.

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Yeah, I figured as much. My concern is that I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I'm following the format given to me by the review course and I'm getting the scores they recommend but I still failed the exam? It actually looks like I did worse than the first time I took the NCLEX, when I had yet to take any review course.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Doesn't Kaplan offer a guarantee? If so contact them for assessment & assistance. Compare your CPR like I suggested earlier.

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