Hi, I read this forum a lot but never posted until now. I challenged my test through military experience. I test for CA since I started the paperwork there (now live in TX) Anyway I took the test the first time and got meets standard on every category and failed the test. So I have studied for about 5 months very nervous about retesting. I studied all the sections I did not know last test. This time I took the test and knew 90% of the answers. They were even stuff I studied, it was as if the test was right out of my books I studied. I even went home and looked up some questions I was not sure about and found I answered correct. The test shut off after 85 questions. I told my work I passed and my family too, if felt great. I got my results 2 days ago on Saturday and I failed again, but this time it said I flat out failed every category and below standard except for the safety category which it said I passed.
This does not sound like my test at all. How could this happen? They were the same questions I have studied and knew the answers to. Is it possible that the test can get crossed with someone else's test since I tested in TX and it was a CA test? I am so lost right now. I can't study because I don't know what I am supposed to do, answer the questions wrong on purpose and see if it says that's right?
It is my understanding if you get "knowledge based" questions, you are not doing so well. I was also informed that if you felt it was "easy", it is very possible you failed. Most people come out of the test thinking they failed because the test was giving them the higher level questions, which are considered the "hard" questions. Most of the ones who have had this feeling ends up passing. Myself included.
According to Kaplan and NCSBN, the test is based on application and analysis. The test is designed to see if you can "critically think" and not "recall information", as in memorization.
If you got questions that stated "the nurse understands" or "the nurse has knowledge of" then these are the knowledge based questions. This is according to Kaplan.
I never got "knowledge based" type of questions. I got a lot of prioritization, nursing intervention, disease process, multiple-multiple, etc. I could not have gotten more wrong than right with the types of questions I had because I'm used to more difficult ones. Also, the test switched to a completely different topic every 4 questions. The last question was a math problem, and I know I got that one right because I did it in a couple of different ways and I got the same answer twice. To answer each question, I always used the technique of least invasive procedure, ABCs first, etc. That's how I did so well on the MOCK NCLEX and practice questions. How could I have flunked every single section of the test? I don't think it's possible. Thank you for replying though.
I had some issues with my results as well, and when I called my BON I was told to call Pearsonvue. Pearsonvue then told me to call the NSCBN...they were able to help me and get my situation straightened out. Try calling them....Good luck!
I am so lost right now. I can't study because I don't know what I am supposed to do, answer the questions wrong on purpose and see if it says that's right?
You might want to rethink how you've been studying. If you've just been sitting down, reviewing question after question, focusing on the percentage you get "right", stop & re-focus your studying.
Review study questions, but look at the rationale to see why each & every question's "correct" answer was chosen. This means that you'll not just be focusing on the questions that you miss, but also the questions that you get correct. This will hopefully give you a better understanding of how to "read" NCLEX questions, and also how to select the correct answer when you retest.
The wording on NCLEX test questions can be tricky. Unless you carefully read the question and can explain why one of the choices is the best one, you may not do well.
shoegalRN, RN
1,338 Posts
May I ask what type of questions did you get?
It is my understanding if you get "knowledge based" questions, you are not doing so well. I was also informed that if you felt it was "easy", it is very possible you failed. Most people come out of the test thinking they failed because the test was giving them the higher level questions, which are considered the "hard" questions. Most of the ones who have had this feeling ends up passing. Myself included.
According to Kaplan and NCSBN, the test is based on application and analysis. The test is designed to see if you can "critically think" and not "recall information", as in memorization.
If you got questions that stated "the nurse understands" or "the nurse has knowledge of" then these are the knowledge based questions. This is according to Kaplan.