Nclex 75 questions: Passed or failed?

Nursing Students NCLEX

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I have taken NCLEX and a computer shut off at 75 questions. I feel horrible. How bad can one do not to pass with 75 questions? Does anyone know? I've been studying non-stop and tried to do my best. But I wasn't sure with some questions and took an educated guess.

Thank you all for you replies. I never feel good about the exams in general. As I was taking the test yestarday I had mixed emotions. I didn't expect it to turn off at 75 questions. I have studied a lot and took Kaplan prep course. I've been told that the Kaplan is a good indicator how you'd do on the real exam and my scores were pretty good, but I got a lot of questions on the NCLEX that I wasn't prepared for. I'm from CA. The last question was a pharm question and I think I might have got it correct. I'm not trying to predict. I'm just very upset and dissapointed that after all the studying I have done, I can't pass. I guess, if I can't pass the NCLEX, may be I shouldn't be a nurse.

Specializes in PACU, Surgery, Acute Medicine.

You have to really tank in order to fail at 75 questions. It happens, but you really have to do poorly for the computer to determine by that point that you just aren't going to pass. Remember that 15 of those 75 don't even count toward your score, they're just "sample" questions that the NCLEX people are testing out to see if they are good questions to use in future exams or not. So if it shuts off at 75, then it's basing how well you did really on only 60 questions. That's not many. For the adaptive computer to not let you continue after that because it's confident you won't pass, you have to have gotten a LOT wrong (no one knows the number because different questions are worth different values, and I've never seen anywhere a guideline as to what percentage of correct answers steers you toward passing the exam).

I was going to say that because it's computer adaptive testing, there would have been no reason for it to give you that last question if it was going to fail you whether or not you got it right. But now that I think about it, that's only true if you go past the minimum number of questions. Since it had to give you 75 minimum, then getting more questions doesn't mean that you're still in the running, as it does after you pass the minimum (does that make sense? once you pass the minimum, as long as it's still giving you questions, you're still in the running, it hasn't "decided" to fail you yet). Regardless, though, you've heard from many others, most seem to have passed if it shuts off at 75, most don't feel that they did so hot, and that's a very common story. I've never heard from anyone who came and said, "Yea! I rocked the NCLEX! I just know I passed!" Or even, "Well, I *think* I did okay." Every seems to be sure that they failed, but most pass. You'll know for certain soon if you don't already! Let us know! Not likely you did fine at Kaplan and then did so poorly on the actual exam that you failed at 75. Chances are you did so great the computer didn't need to know any more from you! Congratulations in advance! :lol2:

Specializes in Med Surg, Ortho.
thank you all for you replies. i never feel good about the exams in general. as i was taking the test yestarday i had mixed emotions. i didn't expect it to turn off at 75 questions. i have studied a lot and took kaplan prep course. i've been told that the kaplan is a good indicator how you'd do on the real exam and my scores were pretty good, but i got a lot of questions on the nclex that i wasn't prepared for. i'm from ca. the last question was a pharm question and i think i might have got it correct. i'm not trying to predict. i'm just very upset and dissapointed that after all the studying i have done, i can't pass. i guess, if i can't pass the nclex, may be i shouldn't be a nurse.

what ? do you know you didn't pass? why have you so little confidence?

i will tell you that in order to be a good nurse, you're going to have to work on

that. nurses, esp good nurses have confidence in themselves, at least, i thought

they did.

if you can't pass the nclex, it's not that you shouldn't be a nurse, you can't be a nurse without passing 'the test.'

ps. okay, after reviewing some of your other posts i see this was your second try. did you get 75 on your first try? if you did kaplan, you probably passed. keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the NCLEX forum

This is one exam you just can't predict. We have had many members pass with 75 in the same way as pass with 265. It is just a number. Even if you fail this one don't give up (and I am not saying you have failed because I just don't know) if you read the forum we have had members pass with anything from first time to ten times and I passed on third. Just hang in there whilst you wait for your results

As Silverdragon102 said, we can't predict this exam. The numbers of questions that we have don't really indicate passing or failing the exam. I passed with 75 questions while one of my friends failed with 75 questions. Try not to think about it and keep yourself busy while waiting for the result. Pray too. Good luck!

I'm just very upset and dissapointed that after all the studying I have done, I can't pass. I guess, if I can't pass the NCLEX, may be I shouldn't be a nurse.

Don't you think like that. YOU should be a nurse if you have the will and the desire and the drive to do so. YOU should be a nurse if you want to help people and provide care for the sick.

Don't let a test stop you if being a nurse is your goal and your desire.

If you fail, take a better review course and prepare yourself with more tools and re-take after a few months.

Repeat testers tend to test too quickly after failing and that is why 50% of them fail the second time.

Use your brain. Making it through nursing program is not easy so you should not just shrug it off because of a single exam. You should have more confidence in yourself!

almost everybody felt they failed nclex after leaving the testing room. i stopped at 75 and thought i failed it too. its really hard to predict. all u can do is just wait for the results. godblessu!

i just took my test tody and te computer shut down t 75 questions too!!! I am very nervous!!!

I know, I've been crying and feeling bad since I've taken NCLEX on Monday. Don't know what to do. I have sent an apllication to retake to the boards just in case. I'm going crazy. I guess, if it doesn't show up by the end of this week I would have to retake in 45 days. I don't even know how to study for it anymore, since I've done so much studying in a past 2 months. I have lost my hope completely by now.

I know, I've been crying and feeling bad since I've taken NCLEX on Monday. Don't know what to do. I have sent an apllication to retake to the boards just in case. I'm going crazy. I guess, if it doesn't show up by the end of this week I would have to retake in 45 days. I don't even know how to study for it anymore, since I've done so much studying in a past 2 months. I have lost my hope completely by now.

You are in panic mode now.

You need to stop, calm down and think things through.

Your exam stopped at 75 questions which means the computer had enough information at the minimum to make a determination. You have an equal chance of passing. Stop thinking negatively. Being a nurse is a stressful occupation and it calls for a level and calm head. Now is the time when you can prove what a good nurse you can be by being patient and rationally thinking things through.

*IF* you do not pass. Retaking in 45 days is a mistake. Only 50% of re-takers in the USA pass as opposed to @80% of first timers. This is (as NCSBN determined) because so many are retaking within just a few months of failing. *IF* you have not passed NCLEX this is not the end of the road, but you need to take some time and re-asses your study methods and your overall test-taking strategy. Perhaps you need a different approach to studying, perhaps different materials written in a style that is more to your liking. Everyone learns in different ways.

*IF* you have not passed, take time to study smarter, not harder... give yourself 3-6 months to really prepare yourself and then re-take the exam.

Stop being negative and beating yourself up. Passing a nursing course is not an easy task so you should be proud of your accomplishment so far.

You are one of the best people in the world, you could have chosen any career, but you chose one of sacrifice, love and dedication in choosing to become a nurse. Never loose sight of that, never forget how selfless and wonderful you are for that choice. May God always shine mercy upon you.

You need to calm down and do something productive. Brush up your resume. Plan your job search. Relax. These are positive things to do while waiting for your results. You will have plenty of time to react when the results are known. Meanwhile give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Good luck.

I just took the NCLEX today, and it shut off at 75....so nice to be able to come on here and read all your kind words. They may have been directed at someone else, but our circumstances are the same and it made me feel better :)

Thanks to all of you who have posted in support of those of us waiting to hear the (hopefully great) news. You are kind people. :)

Now we wait........

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