NCLEX test shut off in 75 questions--3rd examination..Pass or Fail?!

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Hello

I have been reading All Nurses since I graduated in May and have been inspired buy the encouraging words of everyone else and decided that when I finally passed the NCLEX I would post something. So I may be jumping the gun...

here is a quick background on my situation. I sat for the boards for the 1st time in early July after not studying a ton because I didn't think i needed to. I feel like I was under the assumption of "Oh I took Kaplan , I had good grades in nursing school, the NCLEX will be a breeze I'll pass in 75 questions and be out of the test center in an hour." I was very wrong. I went all the way to 265 and got such bad anxiety I found myself mindlessly clicking to get done with the exam not even reading the questions. I left the test center knowing I failed, and I did. A month and a half later after studying MORE and doing the NCBSN learning extension online I took the exam again the last week in August. I felt MUCH more prepared but in the back of my mind knew I kind of had some work-arounds with studying did't complete the full learning extension etc. I took 265 questions AGAIN and felt 50/50 leaving the test center, I was however happy with how I controlled my test anxiety. Two days later to my dismay I found out I again Failed. I THEN decided to take a step back.. I started tutoring the following week where I Have since completed the entire Saunders book of content and questions (77 chapters in addition to over 2,000 questions). I also attended the HURST live review course in NY and following the course I took 4 weeks and day by day learned each section/system inside out. I made notecards and re-listened to every lecture on Audio mode on the hurst website. I made sure I could say topics and conditions out loud not just be able to identify them and really made sure i UNDERSTOOD why certain conditions lead to thigs. i.e. in FVD the first thing we want to assume is SHOCK and how to identify these certain manifestations. I spent the last week prior to test day re-briefing on infection control/delegation etc and doing all of the HURST Qreviews which is a total of 750 questions which I completed in 8 days. ON my last Qreview i got close to a 100 out of 125 questions correct. (The avg around 80-85). I walked into the test center today feeling confident but not cocky, and knowing I had DONE EVERYTHING I could have to be prepared. I was shocked when my exam shut off at 75 questions and now I am at a loss for knowing whether I passed or failed? I felt like I used my strategies for questions I didn't know ie. unheard of drugs, etc. but I still felt like some of my questions were relatively hard. I had no easy questions like 'correct order of handwashing' or 'whats a normal blood sugar reading or lab value etc'. I got 12 SATA, 4-6 math problems (can't remember) an EKG picture that asked what rhythm may indicate a patient is at risk for a CVA, and one question where I had to read a chart and make a reccomendation. Lots of infection control and priority questions on who to see first etc. I am SO NERVOUS but I don't want to do the PVT because I have worked this hard I will never get back the next 48 hours where I haven't passed OR failed. Does anyone have any insight for what this may indicate? I really didn't think my exam was going to shut off at 75 my plan at question 73 was to go until 80 ish and take a bathroom break. I cannot remember my last question. Thank You to anyone who reads this and posts a response. Thank You to All Nurses and its members :)

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

You cannot divine pass/fail from the system shutting off at 75 questions, or any questions, for that matter. If the computer shut off at 75, you either did spectacularly well or you spectacularly failed. That's about the only thing you can figure out if it shut off at such a low number of questions. If you don't want to do the PVT, that's up to you. Finding out whether you passed or not, will happen eventually anyway. It's just up to you to determine when that will be... via PVT or via some other means of finding out.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

The only thing a test shut off at 75 questions indicates is that the computer adaptive testing system was able to statistically determine that you either were definitely above or definitely below the passing standard in all required areas.

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I agree with what was just stated. I understand that you are nervous and do not want to find out, BUT NOT finding out is bondage especially if you are able to. Try to relax a little bit and if you feel ready to do the PVT, then do it. Sounds like you have prepared yourself the best you could and I am looking forward to hearing the good news from you :).

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Thank You I will be sure to post on Friday. Regardless I am not giving up at this point

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Wish you the best! stay positive..I am taking the hurst online as well..this will be my second attempt..God Bless!

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This is VERY late but in response to this post I DID PASS on my 3rd exam at 75 questions. and I currently work at a pediatric hospital in boston, MA and was just hired to work on a trauma floor at brigham and womens!!

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Specializes in Urgent Care.

Congrats! And thank you for coming back and updating. :)

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