Need advice: leakage for test questions

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Nov 13, 2004

I don't know what to say. My instructors actually recommend that the students buy a NCLEX preparation book to help study from. I use an NCLEX preparation book and other sources to study from, and I don't consider this cheating.

aruray · Nov 13, 2004

the difference is, none of the questions come out in ur test right?

our questions are exactly the same in the nclex practice exams.

i had to study so much stuff i didnt have time to look at all the nclex books. im not fond of reading nclex books anyway. i wont retain anything that way.

get this: she specifically said she doesnt take questions from nclex books. figging witch.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Nov 13, 2004

the difference is, none of the questions come out in ur test right?

Probably not, but some are similar.

PJMommy · Nov 13, 2004

Our instructors took questions directly out of NCLEX review books - exact wording and everything. It's not about knowing the answer, it's about knowing how to answer the question. We used the review books as a study guide but never knew which review book would have the test questions, if any. And, yes - we had all the notes and text from class to study also. Are the review books recommended as a resource for your class? If not, get one -- you'll need it later on anyway.

100% of our class passed NCLEX first time so, despite the pain of reviewing yet another source, it was worth it in the end.

aruray · Nov 13, 2004

ok i see what u mean that the teacher didnt do anything wrong with taking test questions from a practice book. all the while i thought they had qbanks that they pay several thousands of dollars for. ive heard a teacher say she gets questions from books and twists them around. i have no problem with that.

but taking questions from books exactly as they are, its unfair and quite stupid. i want to learn the right way. i dont want to memorize questions after questions. see the effect on the students will be, ppl will only be memorizing test questions and answers on the book and not study at all. for instance, one girl who failed the two prior exams and got a high mark on the last one told me, "ive abandoned the text book and ill just do questions". i know now why.

am i being overdrmatic for feeling this way? nobody seems to understand how i feel.

aruray · Nov 13, 2004

Our instructors took questions directly out of NCLEX review books - exact wording and everything. It's not about knowing the answer, it's about knowing how to answer the question.

its about knowing the exact answer(and they did, bec they knew abt the source!) ppl who were failing suddenly got high marks. what, suddenly it just clicked? they knew how to answer in one night? puhleese.

sorry im too upset right now.

RainDreamer, BSN, RN · Nov 13, 2004

I don't see anything wrong with taking a question directly from an NCLEX review book, BUT it should follow with the lecture/textbook material. If the question doesn't cover the material in your textbook, then I don't think that's right. You should be able to look in your book and pick out the rationale in the question. If the textbook doesn't cover it, I don't think it's fair for it to be covered. There's just too many books out there, and it's impossible to read every nursing textbook and review book to try to guess what will be covered.

obrnteacher · Nov 13, 2004

In regard to using test bank questions, yes they do come with each textbook but they are such bad questions. I have to rewrite questions which take a long time. As an instructor, I try to get my students to use critical thinking which is what the nclex will require. I do encourage my students to get a review book and there is also one in reserve in our library for those who can afford to pay for one. I'm sure your instructor wants to get you "ready" for the type of questions nclex will ask.

TLC RN · Nov 13, 2004

15/50 questions is only 30% of the test. In order to pass, you would still have to study your notes and book etc. It seems simple to me, study both the notes/class book and nclex book. If you got low passing marks this past test and get the book you could end up with high scores next test.

If you really have a problem with it go to the professor and her way of testing I would go talk to her.

aruray · Nov 13, 2004

In regard to using test bank questions, yes they do come with each textbook but they are such bad questions. I have to rewrite questions which take a long time. As an instructor, I try to get my students to use critical thinking which is what the nclex will require. I do encourage my students to get a review book and there is also one in reserve in our library for those who can afford to pay for one. I'm sure your instructor wants to get you "ready" for the type of questions nclex will ask.

well shes not teaching anybody critical thinking when all u have to do is read every damn review book on earth to pass her exams.

so is it a common practice for instructors to get their questions from review books? ive been through 4 nursing teachers but never as ridiculous as this. i might see 1 or 2 questions in an exam taken from a review book but never, 15 in 1 test. thats friggin 30 pts right there! i could have taken that exam with my eyes closed and still pass, if i knew back then.

it almost feels like we're the stupid ones that didnt know where she got her questions from. we're the idiots that didnt look through all the review books. so we should just feel sorry for ourselves for lacking resourcefulness? is that how students pass the program nowadays, depending on how much review books they buy? its so sad.

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Nov 13, 2004

well shes not teaching anybody critical thinking when all u have to do is read every damn review book on earth to pass her exams.
so is it a common practice for instructors to get their questions from review books? ive been through 4 nursing teachers but never as ridiculous as this. i might see 1 or 2 questions in an exam taken from a review book but never, 15 in 1 test. thats friggin 30 pts right there! i could have taken that exam with my eyes closed and still pass, if i knew back then.
it almost feels like we're the stupid ones that didnt know where she got her questions from. we're the idiots that didnt look through all the review books. so we should just feel sorry for ourselves for lacking resourcefulness? is that how students pass the program nowadays, depending on how much review books they buy? its so sad.

I understand why you're upset, but again, unless the questions she put on the exam were not covered in your notes or in your text book I don't think there's much you can do.