NCLEX with 75 questions

xxMichelleJxx · Jul 11, 2015

Hi, I just graduated in May from a BSN program (NJ) and just took nclex this morning. It stopped after 75 questions and I was totally bummed because I thought I was doing horrible. I walked out thinking that I'm failed 100%.
I feel terrible and am still freaking out, but wanted to see how others (who also had 75 questions) have felt when they're done. I had about 11-12 SATA questions and think it really messed me up. 6 SATA questions in a row and I wanted to cry. Even my last question was a SATA question. What are the odds of passing or failing with 75 questions in nclex?

I'm in the same position as you

I took my NCLEX yesterday. I also stopped at 75 questions and walked out of the testing center devastated - thinking that I definitely failed. I did try the PVT and have been getting the good pop up. Have you tried the PVT at all? I had about 16 select all that apply. I don't think I had any SATA in a row.. definitely not 6 in a row. My last question was a regular multiple choice question. Im so nervous. I asked the same question, if having certain types of questions means you most likely passed or not. I was told that the kind of question you have doesn't mean anything. Some SATA aren't considered difficult or higher level. Atleast this is what a user here on AN said. I'm not so sure. I'm scared I might have failed. Having the good pop up is giving me some hope, but you never know. I don't want to get my hopes high and then it turn out that I failed

Well since you took it today, you will get your unofficial results Monday. I will get mine tomorrow! So nervous. Good luck to you! I hope we both passed! If you do try the PVT, let me know how it goes! Good luck!

missnurse792 · Jul 11, 2015

I took mine yesterday stopped at 81 and I got the last question right . I'm so nervous I hope I passed . I don't see why the computer would shut off at 81 if you got the last one right . But I did the pVt 24 hours later and I got the good pop up . I'm praying it's accurate . Let me know if u do the PVT .

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2015

Time for some facts for both of you that may help :)

The number of SATA questions really is completely irrelevant. It is not guesswork that SATA is NOT an indication of doing well, it is merely an alternative format type, and it is only unsubstantiated rumor that has people repeating the mistaken phrase "higher level question". It may be a higher level or LOWER level question. Means NOTHING. Probably the biggest myth out there.

Consider me another source telling you that how your question is formatted means nothing whatsoever. Multiple choice, drag/drop, SATA.....wrong focus, folks.....it is completely unimportant.

You can pass or fail with many SATA or none. You can get a bunch in a row, or none. Means NOTHING (seeing a pattern here? )

Approximately 90% of US-educated applicants pass the NCLEX on their first attempt. Therefore, the odds of someone passing at 75 questions is excellent.

Think of it this way: considering the kind of student you were in school, grades received, the rigor/reputation of your nursing program, the passing rate of your school, and how you prepared for the NCLEX itself, is it MORE like you did so completely miserably on this exam that the computer recognized you as incompetent in the minimum number of questions....OR...that you did well enough that you could demonstrate competency in the minimum number of questions?

sweetlauren201 · Jul 11, 2015

Thanks you! I feel a bit relieved now because I tried to stay positive and thought of how much I prepared for this. Hope you pass as well it's gonna be the longest 48 hrs :down: !!!

PVL_RN86 · Jul 11, 2015

Hi SweetLauren201,

I just took my NCLEX RN today too at 2pm... I am so worried and anxious to find out if I passed. I know exactly how you feel and totally can relate. My exam shut off exactly at 75 questions too, and I was so confused because I actually thought it did NOT shut off; that it was prompting me to choose if I wanted to take a break. It didn't dawn in on me that I was done with the exam till I saw the screen with the survey. My heart just fell, and I was mixed with emotions. My teachers have told us that as long as we keep getting questions, we're still "in the game" for getting that RN title. So I felt completely, and utterly worried.

As soon as I got out of the room with those big sound proof see through glassed area, my body just exhaled loudly and I felt all the blood rush to my head and I just cried. The testing lady who I needed to check out with was so sweet to me and hugged me and cried too and gave me well wishes..

sigh* Sorry for the long unnecessary yapping, but I know how you feel. I hope you and I get the good results we both want out of this exam, especially after it shut us off in 75 questions.

I kept telling myself, either I did really crappy for it to tell me I sucked, or I did well enough to be deemed a competent, safe nurse. It definitely felt good to finish TAKING the exam, but now the waiting part is just so dreadfully pain stakingly terrible.

Let's hang in there, try to stay positive, and distracted and keep in touch.

willyumz · Jul 11, 2015

Hi everyone,

I just want to relieve some anxiety because I also felt this way after I took my test last month.

The number of SATA has nothing to do with whether you passed or failed. I only had 8 SATA out of 76 questions. (Lol yes, 76).

I also have a friend who recently passed with 75 and she had NO MEDS, NO DRAG & DROP, NO AUDIO, NO PICS.. And she also had about 10 SATA questions.. She freaked out afterwards thinking that her test wasn't hard enough because most people that stop at 75 have 20+ SATA questions.

Everyone's test is different. The only way to know whether you passed or failed is to wait for quick results or check your BoN.

*i personally did not do the pvt because one of my classmates did it and it declined her card(indicating failure) then she found out she passed the next day :-/ (our state offers quick results)

However, many friends of mine did it and it worked for them.

I know that this is the biggest exam of your lives and the temptation to do the trick is heavy, so IF you do give in, I would recommend that you use gift card with little money on it.. and keep in mind that it very rarely doesn't work.

In the meantime, pray for peace of mind and binge on your favorite television shows!

Good luck to you all!

bunnysanford · Jul 12, 2015

Hi, I just graduated in May from a BSN program (NJ) and just took nclex this morning. It stopped after 75 questions and I was totally bummed because I thought I was doing horrible. I walked out thinking that I'm failed 100%.
I feel terrible and am still freaking out, but wanted to see how others (who also had 75 questions) have felt when they're done. I had about 11-12 SATA questions and think it really messed me up. 6 SATA questions in a row and I wanted to cry. Even my last question was a SATA question. What are the odds of passing or failing with 75 questions in nclex?

I passed on 6/30/15 with 75 questions!

When the test stopped, I felt like my heart fell on the ground. I really don't know how (or why) everyone keeps track of how many of what kinds of questions while they're taking the test -- it was such a blur. All I know is that I thought that the meds I was tested on were completely imaginary. I was done and out in under 40 minutes, and I thought for sure I had failed, if only because there was NO way it could have happened that quickly. I had to sit in the car for 15 minutes texting my old classmates (I was the first to test) until I felt like I could drive.

My state (PA) was really slow about posting that week, so after 48 hours of haunting their site and nursys.com, I paid for quick results, handing the iPad over to my wife (I couldn't look). I passed, and finally received a license number on 7/8/15.

So, yes. You have good odds of passing as far as I can tell. Almost nobody walks out of there feeling OK, but if you go through the posts on here about "75 questions" like I did while I was obsessively waiting, you'll see a LOT of them passed. Did you do well overall in school? Did you study and do practice questions? If you did, then you probably thought your way through most of the unfamiliar questions pretty well. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you anyway! It stinks to have to wait, but at least it's not like it was before, with waiting six weeks to find out!

sweetlauren201 · Jul 12, 2015

Thank you for sharing, PVL_RN86!! I totally get what you went through. I also cried in the bathroom than started calling my classmates. Now I found that the odds are about 80% (passing with 75 questions) so let's be hopeful and pray. I really can't do anything, but gotta pack now to go to Cancun tomorrow morning. I was expecting a nice, relaxing vacation after nclex, but I guess not until Monday or Tuesday (I'm not even trying to do the PVC trick). I'm not sure if it's 48 business hours or just hours including weekends so I'm gonna start checking from Monday. Good luck to you as well I hope we both pass!!

sweetlauren201 · Jul 12, 2015

I took Kaplan (in class) in early June and did everything from Qbank and Question trainers. My average Qbank score was 61%. Also used Saunders and David's Med/Surg.

Before, when I heard of those who had 75 questions in nclex, I thought they all came out feeling "GOOD" about the exam. But after reading literally every single post about "nclex with 75 questions", I see that a lot of people actually felt this way just like me. So yes, I'm gonna stay positive and just pray. Thanks for sharing and congratulations!!!

xxMichelleJxx · Jul 12, 2015

I took mine yesterday stopped at 81 and I got the last question right . I'm so nervous I hope I passed . I don't see why the computer would shut off at 81 if you got the last one right . But I did the pVt 24 hours later and I got the good pop up . I'm praying it's accurate . Let me know if u do the PVT .

Good luck!

missnurse792 · Jul 12, 2015

I passed!