NCLEX and Kaplan

djmsailor · Jun 20, 2011

I took kaplan and my averages were about the same as you. I had 82 questions on NCLEX. There was another in my Kaplan class who twice failed the NCLEX but took other prep classes. She said that Kaplan was head over heels better than the others. I don't know if she passed this time though. Good luck

buenavidaRN · Jun 20, 2011

I thought Kaplan was really helpful. I was consistantly in the mid to upper 60's, but as I got closer to test time my scores kept dropping. Two days before my scheduled test day I got a 55 and about freaked. I took the test anyway and had 75 questions and passed. Make sure you take at least one day off before your test. Good luck!

kcksk · Jun 20, 2011

I think the best book to help you prepare is called Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment. Everyone that I talked to prior to taking NCLEX recommended it to me and I think that was a huge help. The questions were very similar to NCLEX and I had 75 and passed.

Good luck!

caliotter3 · Jun 20, 2011

You can read many NCLEX experiences in the NCLEX forum. People usually post that they found Kaplan to be useful.

tmartin83 · Jun 20, 2011

Hello
I'am a recent graduate from Gwynedd Mercy College in Sumneytown PA. I just wanted to know is there any recent graduates out there that took boards alreaday and if so how was it? Also I wanted to know was there anyone out there who did the kaplan and how was it when it came to boards for some reason My average is like a 58-59% I only scored high in the sixtys a couple of times. I just wanted to know did u actually wait to take boards until you were averaging where kaplan wanted you to be or did you take boards with your average below a 60? Are kaplan questions harder than boards or same? I was also thinking about purchaing the NSCBN I kind of fell like Im ready for boards just a little scared. Could you please share your experience with me I would be so grateful.
Thank you.

Hi!

Kaplan was awesome, and I am glad that our SON made this mandatory. My overall average on all of the kaplan material (qbank and qtrainers) was 55 before I sat for NCLEX. Passed at 75?s. I actually moved my test date up because the anxiety was KILLING me! Kaplan says in its book that if you can keep your scores above 60-65 on the various tests and q-bank ?s, then you're good.

I believe that Kaplan is pretty accurate and spot-on when it comes to NCLEX. I did around 1000?s, and did ALL of the qtrainers and the qbank sample tests. I also watched the videos on test taking strategies. My personal experience is that Kaplan was on the same level of difficulty as NCLEX, and I felt as if I was so stuck on the harder questions and how to answer those (the application and analysis ?s), that I acutally saw myself getting hung on the easier questions and basics (like Einstein).

When do you sit for NCLEX? Good luck to you!

flightriskRN · Jun 20, 2011

Hi! I just took NCLEX this morning and it was EXTREMELY similar to Kaplan questions. I found that Kaplan's strategy did not help me (I was already a confident test taker), but the QBank and question trainers were invaluable to my studying! My scores were in the low-mid 60's, but got into the 70's as I moved along. Our instructor told us that if you scored at least a 60% on question trainer 7 that you were ready to test.

In my opinion, there is no "set in stone" time for you to test; it all has to do with how confident you feel. After having taken NCLEX today, I also feel that no amount of studying can truly prepare you; there will always be questions you flat-out do not know. But if you go into the test well rested, confident, and prepared, you will do just fine. Remember: NCLEX is a minimum competency exam! Good luck to you!

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Jun 20, 2011

Hello
I'am a recent graduate from Gwynedd Mercy College in Sumneytown PA. I just wanted to know is there any recent graduates out there that took boards alreaday and if so how was it? Also I wanted to know was there anyone out there who did the kaplan and how was it when it came to boards for some reason My average is like a 58-59% I only scored high in the sixtys a couple of times. I just wanted to know did u actually wait to take boards until you were averaging where kaplan wanted you to be or did you take boards with your average below a 60? Are kaplan questions harder than boards or same? I was also thinking about purchaing the NSCBN I kind of fell like Im ready for boards just a little scared. Could you please share your experience with me I would be so grateful.
Thank you.

Your Kaplan scores are fine. I suspect the difference between 50% and 60% on Kaplan trainers is about 50-100 questions. The NCLEX definitely gives you a chance to show you are competent.

I didn't do Kaplan but had access to qbank and trainers and scored regularly in the mid 60s. On June 7, I finished the NCLEX with 75 questions in 45 minutes. My roommate, a solid B student who spent three weeks between graduation and the NCLEX partying like a freakin rock star, did a few trainers with my prompting. She scored in the mid 50s and passed the NCLEX with 120 questions in two+ hours.

The questions on the NCLEX were very similar to Kaplan (hard.) I felt like I was guessing on half of them and did not feel good when the test ended (like everyone else). I also got a ton of SATA and was getting pretty upset about it!

A bigger factor is your school's NCLEX pass rate. If you attended a good, solid program you could probably pass without studying at all. Not that I would try it.

Good luck.

MollzBSN · Jun 20, 2011

I did Kaplan and got 60-65% on the trainers. I did all the trainers and 95% of the qbank. I passed in 75 questions and the questions were similar, although Kaplan may have been a littler harder.

Telelizard · Jun 21, 2011

Kaplan trainer is right on. I did all of the qbank q's and some of the trainers. Got a 70, an 80 and mostly 50's - 60's. I think you will be totally fine. NCLEX has the exact format as Kaplan's q's- You will just feel like ur doing a qtrainer. I also suggest the Saunders book if you need to review lab values/content. I skimmed it and feel like I was able to answer some questions just based on refreshing my memory on obscure disease processes we learned the first year & such.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LatinaRN978 · Jun 22, 2011

I thought Kaplan was really helpful. I was consistantly in the mid to upper 60's, but as I got closer to test time my scores kept dropping. Two days before my scheduled test day I got a 55 and about freaked. I took the test anyway and had 75 questions and passed. Make sure you take at least one day off before your test. Good luck!

Hi Buenavida RN!

I just took the kaplan questionnaire test 7 and got a 55! :uhoh3: I take my test next week. I am bummed about it but I am praying that all will be OK!

NurseAngie87 · Jun 22, 2011

I took all of kaplans qtrainers and scored between 50 and 63.. Completed all of the focused tests scoring between 50 and 87.. I was pretty bummed about the tests that I scored low in so I retook them and scored around 90 for each one.. This not only reinforced that I learned from the rationale but it boosted my confidence up. I took the nclex today and passed with 75 questions according to the pearsonvue trick pop up. Kaplan was pretty spot on when it came to preparing us for the type of questions but, I do agree that it is not about learning each rationale separately per question but to learn the processes that go along for each disease/med/delegation.