NCLEX passing

[Kimanne]

Just wanted to know if anyone here has an idea if we have to pass all sections in the NCLEX or just some?? My kaplan instructor told me we need to pass just 3 which are management of care, pharma and psyiological. But i did some research on it online and I'm reading otherwise. It would be nice to know for sure, I'm taking my nclex in a couple of days and I'm already starting to freak out.

[Kimanne]

"The NCLEX is not graded in sections - only overall performance on the exam determines your pass/fail status." From the ncsbn website. I was told by kaplan that you did not have to pass all sections

Thanks! That makes me feel better! Glad to know its done overall rather than by section. That would be horrible to get an above passing in all but one and have them fail for you for that.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Thanks! That makes me feel better! Glad to know its done overall rather than by section. That would be horrible to get an above passing in all but one and have them fail for you for that.

Kimanne, I believe the person you are responding to on this is most definitely mistaken in her interpretation of that passage. You CAN and WILL fail if you don't get above the passing standard in each of the eight areas! The reference to "not grading in sections, but overall performance" means only that you don't get a grade for any one area....in other words, if you did outstanding in ONE area and lousy in ANOTHER area, they don't equal each other out for an 'overall' pass. That's not how CAT works, honestly.

Please read the page I provided in the link....and follow it down to the bottom, to the PDF for the "sample RN CPR". This is a sample report, front and back, and I believe it's the BACK page you are most interested in seeing. At least, it's the part that tells you, outright and conclusively, WHAT is in each of the eight areas of testing.....and that you MUST be above the passing line in order to pass.

If you are above passing in every area, you won't get a CPR (it'd be pointless) and just a notification you passed. But if you fail any one of those eight....you can expect to see what went wrong on the report.

[rnnight2015]

This is my understanding: You must get more right than wrong (answering the higher level questions). Try not to concern yourself with anything other than "getting more right than wrong" for every question you get after 75, you are still in the game. Wish for 75 (and pass) but prepare for all of the questions. You can do this!!! I trust I didn't sound rude - so not cool if I did, all I want to do is encourage you - I'm looking at testing mid-late Feb.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

"The NCLEX is not graded in sections - only overall performance on the exam determines your pass/fail status." From the ncsbn website. I was told by kaplan that you did not have to pass all sections

Yes, but you're not going to perform well enough to pass overall if you fail any one section. An entry level nurse has to be competent in pharm, management of care, and patho.

[ebrooks1013]

Is there a way to call and ask for the answer to your question? That way there is no room for misinterpretation. I would try to aim to do your best. The nclex isn't the worse thing in the world. I don't think I have heard of anyone bombing just one section and doing wonderfully on the rest. If there is anything you are weak in you should review it. :-) it will be over soon

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Is there a way to call and ask for the answer to your question? That way there is no room for misinterpretation. I would try to aim to do your best. The nclex isn't the worse thing in the world. I don't think I have heard of anyone bombing just one section and doing wonderfully on the rest. If there is anything you are weak in you should review it. :-) it will be over soon

There was a member recently who posted their CPR (too many threads since to find it now) but yes they were above passing in all areas and near passing standard in one and they failed the NCLEX. You

must be at or above the passing standard in all 8 domains to pass the NCLEX. The passing standard in each domain is the minimum competency as an entry level nurse. You do not need to answer every single question correctly or even the first or last question correctly to pass.

[npham82, BSN, RN]

yeah, Kaplan also told me that you do not have to pass every section.

[ebrooks1013]

I took kaplan too...maybe it's something they are explaining that isn't correct either way it's always best to try to pass everything right? You don't want to be weak in one area for entry level info.

[npham82, BSN, RN]

Kaplan and ATI both promote trying to be 60% and higher in each section. I believe someone is going to always be weak in an area. I feel pharm is my weak spot.

[EllTee2B]

It's unfortunate that a professional organization such as Kaplan is passing along misleading and incorrect information. Thank you to the OP for asking this question, otherwise I would have not known.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Kaplan and ATI both promote trying to be 60% and higher in each section. I believe someone is going to always be weak in an area. I feel pharm is my weak spot.

I wonder if it's a confusion of terms that has led the discussion this way? Kaplan is talking about getting a SCORE of 60% or higher in each section of its own tests. I used Kaplan as a review myself, and I remember this advice, but it was NOT saying (at least it was not saying then, and I doubt it's changed) that a test-taker had to get 60% or greater in each section of the ACTUAL NCLEX. Remember, NCLEX has no percentage grading system, it's a different scoring entirely.

I think, based on what you're saying here, that this is the problem: Kaplan is telling people they need a 60% minimum on THEIR OWN test/quizzes in order to best indicate readiness to take the NCLEX...but people are hearing it as "This is how the NCLEX scoring is done". Does this sound about right?

[ebrooks1013]

It is probably right that you have to take all sections to pass and I don't want to give you the wrong information . I took the kaplan class about 3 months ago (which I believed helped me pass if anyone wants to consider it) . This question was asked specifically of the instructor and she said you did not have to pass each section to pass the test. She said it was all about the level of the questions you were getting. I remember thinking it was odd because when I took my EMT you had to pass ALL sections. OP you should focus on being competent in all sections. Everyone has weak areas but it would be better to not to be on the borderline going into a CAT.