The NCLEX adapts to your skill level. The first questions that are presented are determining your ability level. Once that ability level is determined, the questions are presented in increasing level of difficulty/decreasing difficulty until you have answered enough questions for the computer to determine (with 95% statistical certainty) that you have met the passing standard.
The minimum number of questions you will have is 75 (60 questions plus 15 pilot items). You will not be able to distinguish pilot items from "real" items. SO, if you get 265 items, that means the computer has not yet determined that you have met the passing standard at the 95% confidence level. There is no random number of candidates that get the exam with 265 questions- that is a myth.
You will not be able to tell whether you have passed by the number of questions you get!
The test is 6 hours long, and you should take your time. You have paid $200 for that test seat- USE IT!
Rushing through the questions or rapid guessing will most likely lead to failure, because each one you get wrong due to guessing means the next question is easier, and then on and on, until you fail because you are guessing at them all. Take your time to think each question through.
You will not leave the exam feeling good- the test challenges every bit of you, so you will feel tired and unsure of yourself. The way you feel does not equate into passing or failing. You cannot judge. Wait for your results.
NCLEX is given throughout the US and its territories, so the same format is used and the same question bank is used across the US. You do not have to take the exam in the same state where you are applying for licensure.
These are some resources for NCLEX prep that I like (no monetary incentive for sharing).
I am impressed with the strategy that is taught in the Kaplan course.
Lastly, you must manage anxiety. Pay attention to strategies to reduce anxiety. Approach each question as a new patient- one at a time, and focus completely on that question (patient).
Do not get distracted by thoughts of passing or failing, or by focusing on the number of questions you have had. Just keep going, one at a time, until the test ends. Then- be good to yourself while you wait for results. Remember you will not be able to accurately judge whether you passed by the way you feel. The test challenges you and you will not feel great when it is over.
Check this website..http://www.rn.ca.gov then click on permanent license verification,type your name and if you pass,your name is there 2-5 days after the test.Goodluck!
distancechic00 said:
I have just taken the NCLEX this morning. I am new to this website and it's sorta funny how i found it. YES...I"M FREAKING out after the test and had to come to the computer and find out what is the ratio of pass to fail with 75 questions. I have been reading the website and it is comforting, but I really would like to know. I had 2 "select all that apply" one EASY math problem and then the rest were priorities and stuff that i had no idea. yes, it happened a lot that i tried to anser the question without looking at my options and probably every single one did not have the option i liked.
i was also wondering if anyone can give me some advice on how to check the internet to look for my name when it is posted!
You had said that no one receives ALL of the questions, well you're wrong because I did and I DID pass. People need to know not to freak out if they do get all of the questions that they can still pass. It's wrong to say that you can't, because it happened to me.
If you are taking kaplan course,then dont be afraid,you'll surely pass.Just put in mind the lesson you learn from them,apply the critical thinking skills wisely on each question,dont hurry in answering,take your time...you'll be fine!Once you're through with your test 1-7 exam,review them again before your exam,just to be sure you understood the rationale this time before the exam,re-read it over and over again,and trust me,you'll do well in the nclex.
You're in good hands in Kaplan....:)
Thanks -- I am still waiting for my ATT to come so I can schedule the test - I am soooo anxious about it and just want to pass. I also know my stamina for answering questions and the fewer the better -- I get real tired after about 80 or so -- I can get to 160 which is what we had on the HESI exam but it was a struggle. I took Kaplan bec of their reputation and that I figured it could not hurt --- plus my employer paid for it so . . .
You had said that no one receives ALL of the questions, well you're wrong because I did and I DID pass. People need to know not to freak out if they do get all of the questions that they can still pass. It's wrong to say that you can't, because it happened to me.
EMS
LOTS AND LOTS of people get all the questions and pass. The number of questions one leaves the test with is not necessarily of reflection of pass or fail. It's just the number of questions it took for you to either pass or fail.
You had said that no one receives ALL of the questions, well you're wrong because I did and I DID pass. People need to know not to freak out if they do get all of the questions that they can still pass. It's wrong to say that you can't, because it happened to me.
EMS
I don't think you understand what I meant. Because there is no way you answered ALL of the questions. What you mean is you got the MAXIMUM number of questions that a candidate can receive. There are thousands of questions for each exam - the NCLEX RN and the NCLEX PN. Each candidate gets a portion of them. The number of questions for each exam is 8000 - 10000. Questions are added and removed all of the time. The most any candidate gets for the RN is 265 and for the PN it is 205. So, it was not wrong to say.
LOTS AND LOTS of people get all the questions and pass. The number of questions one leaves the test with is not necessarily of reflection of pass or fail. It's just the number of questions it took for you to either pass or fail.
No one gets ALL of the questions. There are thousands of questions. The most any one gets is 205 for the PN and 265 for the RN. To get ALL of the questions for the RN exam, you would have to take the exam over 37 times. Even then, you wouldn't get ALL of the questions because new questions are added all of the time.
I know i read somewhere that if you were getting a certain percentage on the Kaplan tests, you were ok for the NCLEX --- does anyone remember what that percentage is? I do not do as well on Kaplan as I would like and just want to know if I am in the ballpark area of passing NCLEX. I do better on Saunders questions.
when you are practicing those kaplan questions..one of their insrtructors said the when you're getting at least 60% and above..ul have a great possibility of passing nclex. so just keep on practicing questions...:)
Thanks - I feel a little better but damn, when in Nursing school is a 60 something ok!! I go back and forth between Kaplan, Mosby and Saunders with questions so I figure I should have a good 3000+ in by the time I take the exam in Feb.
Kaplans course that I am taking is 4 consecutive Sat from 10-6 --- there is a CD that comes with the course as well as online questions and videos to watch that review content. The only problem is that watching the videos takes a long time. I am trying to get through it all but . . . I just want to go into the test feeling good and confident and hopefully pass in the first round.
MAYBE YOU COULD HELP....I took the test in California on 1/19/06...I thought I was doing well, but I ended up taking 250 question...not the entire test, but close. I heard that if you pass you can look on the BRN website and you will be issued a license # in like a week or so. I check every day and have my name does not have a licence number, just an IP. Do you think I failed, honestly. As each day passes, I feel like I did. I don't know anymore. It is kiling me not to know. Does 250 questions mean more likely that passed or failed. This is seriuosly depressing me. I cry every day when don't see my name and a license #.
MAYBE YOU COULD HELP....I took the test in California on 1/19/06...I thought I was doing well, but I ended up taking 250 question...not the entire test, but close. I heard that if you pass you can look on the BRN website and you will be issued a license # in like a week or so. I check every day and have my name does not have a licence number, just an IP. Do you think I failed, honestly. As each day passes, I feel like I did. I don't know anymore. It is kiling me not to know. Does 250 questions mean more likely that passed or failed. This is seriuosly depressing me. I cry every day when don't see my name and a license #.
Sorry to hear you are so anxious about the results. :stone Why don't you go to Pearson Vue online and get the phone number you can call for quick results. I think it costs around $10 to get the results......but that is better than crying everyday!
Does 250 questions mean more likely that passed or failed. This is seriuosly depressing me. I cry every day when don't see my name and a license #.
lady_inred, BSN, RN
55 Posts
Check this website..http://www.rn.ca.gov then click on permanent license verification,type your name and if you pass,your name is there 2-5 days after the test.Goodluck!