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 read iin dbihl's post that you could miss 1/2 the questions and still pass. Is that true? What is the percentage correct that one needs to answer. I realize that it does relate to how many difficult questions you answer. Also on KAPLAN's study plan, they mentioned at one point that all you need to do is answer a strain of questions correct of at least 8 in a row. Does anyone know? I am starting to panic and have not picked a test date yet because I am feelin overwhelmed. I try and answer at least 150 -300 questions a day while I am on the metro, at work, etc. I realize that sometimes it is not the best place to be answering questions but I just want to be in the question mode.
got a question, how did you find out the next day that you passed the boards, i thought it was 48 hours
Go to your state nursing board's website, select licensure verification and log- in as an applicant (this may require membership registration). It might ask for your SSN and other personal info. After entering those info it will take u to a page where u can find out whether you passed or not, which i hope you did pass. Sites format may differ from state to state. I hope this helps.
I took NCLEX yesterday and as it seems everyone who posts here does, I think I failed. My only hope is that so many seem to feel the same. The worst part is that everyone keeps telling me I did fine, that they KNOW I passed, etc. etc. and I keep imagining what they will say when I tell them I really did fail. It's awful.
Anyway, I am posting this for those still to take it soon. I have always done super well in school, tests, etc, (which is why all my kind suppporters are so sure I passed), but I am almost sure I failed because I WENT TOO FAST. The questions were much harder than I expected and I just felt sick (kind of hyperventilated a little) and kept thinking "PLEASE LET THIS BE OVER". My advice to those of you yet to take it. IF you feel like that STOP!!!!! Take a break (I wish I had). You have time. Take it. Don't guess like I did on some (way too many). I am sad, but I will take it again if that is what it takes. I know I CAN pass it, I just have to approach like I approach my patients, like I have all the time in the world to be as sure as I can be I am doing the right thing! I didn't do that with the test, I just felt like, let's get this over, and it was the wrong approach. I don't know why I felt apart like that, but I will learn from my mistake and I hope someone else can benefit from it too. TAKE YOUR TIME! Good Luck!
OK! I take it back! Now I am very happy student. I PASSED!!!! Whew! I REALLY thought I had failed. Take heart all you yet to take it, don't count yourself out. I was one of the first to take it in my class (the first possible day) and so I couldn't really gauge except by how I felt, which was awful. But now it sounds like we all felt pretty much the same, and of the six in my class so far, we all shut off at 75 and all passed. Good News and I hope this encourages the rest of you!
I just took the cgfns exam in Cebu, Philippines. I passed it with a score of 523. A lot said that this cgfns is a good predictor if I pass NCLEX or not. Am still nervous. I will be taking my exam late this year in Hongkong. What books do I need to read to help me more. Or is it just answering a pool of questions from different authors that can best determine if I pass it or not. I cannot risk failing because it is too expensive (sorry) on my part.
hello, I'm new to this site, but whew, what a great way to vent. I took the NCLEX-RN this morning and the computer shut off at 75 questions. And like the rest of the discussions in this entire forum, I feel like I did horrible. I can't stop rethinking question that I had and looking up answers, and of course seeing that I got them wrong. From what I've been reading in the past forums are many, if not all the people at 75 questions have passes. I'm in need of some kind and hopeful words.
ok! i take it back! now i am very happy student. i passed!!!! whew! i really thought i had failed. take heart all you yet to take it, don't count yourself out. i was one of the first to take it in my class (the first possible day) and so i couldn't really gauge except by how i felt, which was awful. but now it sounds like we all felt pretty much the same, and of the six in my class so far, we all shut off at 75 and all passed. good news and i hope this encourages the rest of you!
oh..my god. i just took boards today and i seriously think i failed. i been reading all the posts and it seems that no one has gotten more then 75. i am so freaked cuz i stopped somewhere in the 80's cuz i stopped looking at the number of questions after 75. i got home and started crying, then i started thinking about some of the questions i got and i realized they there were some i answered wrong, and the ones i didn't know i just guessed. i know that is just stupid but i also wanted it to be over! i just hope that my results are like yours and that im sweating it for nothing.
twizum..I also just took my californica boards this morning and let me tell you that you are nowhere near alone in your thoughts because I hear that California has the highest standards on their test. You should keep in mind that 15 questions are just experimental and not counted against you, perhaps those questions you got wrong are from those fifteen. Thats what I keep telling myself to calm my self down about getting questions wrong. I really hope you passed cuz I know the feeling of playing the waiting game.
I took NCLEX yesterday and as it seems everyone who posts here does, I think I failed. My only hope is that so many seem to feel the same. The worst part is that everyone keeps telling me I did fine, that they KNOW I passed, etc. etc. and I keep imagining what they will say when I tell them I really did fail. It's awful.
i been reading all the posts and it seems that no one has gotten more then 75. i am so freaked cuz i stopped somewhere in the 80's cuz i stopped looking at the number of questions after 75. i got home and started crying, then i started thinking about some of the questions i got and i realized they there were some i answered wrong, and the ones i didn't know i just guessed. i know that is just stupid but i also wanted it to be over! i just hope that my results are like yours and that im sweating it for nothing.
newrn75, ASN, RN
7 Posts
3's a charm for me!!!!