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.
I know we have to wait if we got 75 questions. But do more people usually pass with 75 or fail. People keep saying you have to be preety stupid to fail with 75 questions. Does anyone know of anyone that has failed with 75?
Yes, a friend did fail at 75. But I don't believe that failing at 75 means he's stupid.
I took the NCLEX on Mon and passed with 75qs. For all those out there who are prepping, may I suggest Saunders Q&A review book. It's all questions and if you have a partner to help you review, they can hold the book and quiz. Do LOTS of questions to get you ready. If you have the cash, I do suggest Kaplan as they give you real tools to navigate the test (e.g. this answer passes the buck- eliminate it, is it an intervention or assessment, etc)
How does the CAT know if the nurse is competent? How does the computer decide if one should pass or fail? I have read the NCSBN candidates bulletin and other materials related to NCLEX but still I can't understant how the scoring is done.
How does the CAT know if the nurse is competent? How does the computer decide if one should pass or fail? I have read the NCSBN candidates bulletin and other materials related to NCLEX but still I can't understant how the scoring is done.
According to my professors, the NCLEX is geared toward priority choices. If you know the priorities such as your ABCs, safety, etc., then the computer itself considers you a "safe" and competent nurse. However, the purpose of going through nursing school is to make sure that you actually know your stuff (reason for all the clinical experiences). Anybody can pass a test, especially if they are good at test taking. However, the nursing instructors' role (mind you, this is what my professors tell me) is to make sure that the students are truly competent. So, if you haven't been kicked out of nursing school or close to, then you are competent. The computer just tests your knowledge and how well you can prioritize things. So really, it's a combination of the NCLEX testing and your progression in school that determines your competency, not just the NCLEX by itself. (Hope I made sense). If there are any RNs out there or nursing professors/instructors that have more information, please give us more info. Thank you. ?
How true is it that NY nclex is the most difficult of all the states?
It is not true at all. The passing standard is the same for all of the states. The questions come from the same pool.
Many years ago, before NCLEX was computerized, some states had a higher passing standard than others. That may be why you were thinking NY was harder. But now, it is the same for every state.
How does the CAT know if the nurse is competent? How does the computer decide if one should pass or fail? I have read the NCSBN candidates bulletin and other materials related to NCLEX but still I can't understant how the scoring is done.
I hope I can help you
First, the computer doesn't decide if you are competent. The computer merely delivers questions and performs calculations based on the test plan and programming it has been given.
The passing standard is determined by the member boards of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The member boards are all of the state boards of nursing, plus the boards of nursing from the US territories. The member boards get together and decide what the passing standard should be. They make this decision using alot of information, including practice analyses, literature reviews, and expert judgment.
You have to answer questions at a difficulty to get you above the passing standard until you have answered enough questions to determine with 95% accuracy that you are at a level to competently practice nursing. So, when you begin the exam, you get a random question from a test pool. If you answer correctly, you get a more difficult question. If you answer incorrectly, you get a little bit easier question. If you are answering easy questions consistently, you are going to fail. Keep in mind though, that the questions are easy or hard based on how candidates performed on the items during pretesting. Easy or hard is not based on anyone's opinion. There is a link at ncsbn.org that has a powerpoint demo you can watch. Go to the website, click on testing department, then psychometrics and then FAQs. My kids compare the scoring to a video game. You have to get to a certain level in the game before you get "the good stuff." If you stay at the lower levels, you don't get the stars, or army men, or whatever. Once you get to a higher level, you get the bonuses.
The scoring is done using statistical formulas, logarithims, and other psychometric methods. You don't even want to try to work them out, unless you really like statistics. If you go, let me know and I will refer you to a good book on logistic regression.
Hope you all do not mind- I teach a NCLEX coaching course at the BSN level, and felt like I wanted to tell you about the # of questions you get and what that actually means.
I passed with 265 questions. Does that mean I was doing poorly at the 75 mark but not poorly enough to fail? How many questions would you have to get right out of 265 to pass? Thanks.
well, here's something I hope someone can answer honestly. I graduated LPN school in 2002, took the nclex, I failed! I was so devastated, of course. I know Im certainly not the first nor the last to fail and have to retake. The problem I have is test anxiety. It has been 4 years and I have studied and took almost every practice test I could get my hands on. Im going to try once more, I want this so so bad, but Im fearing it has been too long and I may not have a chance. I graduated within the top 5 in my class, I just dont understand. I havent had any encouragement from my family and now Im remarried to a wonderful who knows I can so this and knows how bad I want this. A lady at the testing site I will be going to said the review courses is probably a waste of money. What gets me is, I worked my butt off in nursing school and failed probably by a few questions or so (she said). I know at least three nurses I was in school with that took the test and were all high or under the influence and passed! All three of these girls barely made it through school because of absences and lack of study. I guess the good always finish last. The reason I waited so long to retest, I went through an awful divorce and a traumatic time with my daughter, financially I couldnt do it, I was offered help from my father, I turned it down and wasnt ready. The first thing my mother and ex-husband said when I failed was, " didnt think youd ever get that title" really nice, huh? Well, I'm far from those people and the hurt, I just dont feel complete without doing this, it's my dream. I want to go on and work towards my BSN too. Anyway, sorry to vent, I had too. I feel I'm ready, I mean everything in my life has done a 360. I have a great hubby a new son and an awesome daughter and stepdaughter, awonderful home most ppl dream of. I guess I'm living tha American dream. All I want is to say I accomplished something by myself and this will be it. Do I have a chance?
florencenightingale, BSN, RN
76 Posts
Yes, a friend did fail at 75. But I don't believe that failing at 75 means he's stupid.