nclex rumors. true or false?

TexasPediRN · Mar 3, 2006

:chair:word on the streets is that they are changing nclex again in april and adding essay questions? i just wanted to find out if this is true or not. and if there are going to be changes, what exactly are the changes going to be?
thank you.

I havent heard this and cannot find anything on the internet about it.

With that being said, NCLEX is starting to have many new format questions, but most students only have gotten one or two of these. They can be anything from check all that apply, fill in the blanks, and questions based on charts, or even being shown a picture of a chest and being asked to place a red X where you would asculate for a certain sound.

I beleive these changes took place last year, as I had a few of them on my NCLEX. But I have def. not heard of any essay type questions.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

I had place-the-red-X, fill in the blank, and check-all-that-apply. Only one of each.

Nightcrawler, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

I also have not heard about essay questions. I tested last year, when I believe that many of the alternative questions were being tested (on every NCLEX there are 15 non-scored test questions for later versions). I believe this because everyone that I know got MANY alternative type questions. I myself had 2 med calculation questions and 12 mark all that apply. While I am sure that a couple of the questions applied to me, I have to assume that the majority were test questions as I had only once been correct in a mark all that apply during test prep, and I passed with 75 questions. Classmates that took the test the week before and the week after me got at most 2 alternative type questions, and a few got none.

I believe that this is one more example of that which you fear much coming true. I had done soooo poorly on the multiple answer type questions during test prep that I had gone into the test prepared to write off as incorrect any such questions that I received. Imagine my horror as each new multiple answer popped up on the screen!

As for essay questions, I can't see it happening as the various states would have a much longer assessment of the test while they grade the essays, and there would be way too many ways of grading them for a national test. The best advice that I can give is to ask your instructors. They are usually well aware of any prospective changes as it is their responsibility to prepare you for the test.

Good luck

suzanne4, RN · Mar 3, 2006

When and if the exam has any changes made to it, it will be posted by the board that writes the NCLEX exam. It is not something that is decided over night, so as far as any new changes coming out and starting this April? Just rumor.

Think about it. They need to test it first, any change. Same thing that they did for a year or two with the new format questions that are out now.

So the word out on the streets is completely off the mark. And this is the first that I have ever heard of this.