Need advise: Did Hurst, Kaplan and PDA. Scores are good but still failed

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Hi y'all. The first time I took NCLEX, I did Hurst and Saunders and I run out of time and failed with 230qs. The 2nd time I re watched the hurst videos, answered PDA and did kaplan on demand (watched and read the book)with an average of 56% on qbanks but most of my scores are 60% and highest is 64%. My Qt 6 score is 58% and Qt7 is 60% and the rest are mid to high 50s and still failed with 265 questions. I don't think I have test anxiety. I mean how do you know if you have one? I rested the day before the exam and ate breakfast before the test. I received tons of pharma questions on the last exam which maybe the reason I failed. How will I remember all the meds? I thought they're just going to ask the common ones. I need advice and encouragement please.

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Oh and taking all the 265qs means I'm neither on the above or below side right? Another challenge is they are raising the passing standard on April.

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I think your scores overall are a bit low. You will soon get your explanation in the mail and from there you will know what you need to work on. If you answered all 265 questions then your answers were right above and below the line, you were not getting higher-level questions. With the new test standard in April this will keep you below the passing line for sure. I am not trying to be harsh, I want you to recognize that you may need content review in several areas. Perhaps a more in-depth review such as a Kaplan classroom or Hurst Live Review would be more helpful. They have great guarantees. They are both fairly expensive but this would be an investment in your future and well worth it.

As for test anxiety, you would know if you had it. For me, I'm so nervous I can barely sit in my chair, the least amount of noise draws my attention then I cannot refocus. As I read the questions I can't get through the entire sentence without my thoughts going elsewhere. Every muscle is clenched. I use meditation techniques to help me focus.

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Thanks Claire. Are the online class/videos of Hurst and Kaplan really different from live review? I thought they are the same. I took them online so that I could go back and play the vid again if I don't understand something.

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I think your scores overall are a bit low. You will soon get your explanation in the mail and from there you will know what you need to work on. If you answered all 265 questions then your answers were right above and below the line, you were not getting higher-level questions. With the new test standard in April this will keep you below the passing line for sure. I am not trying to be harsh, I want you to recognize that you may need content review in several areas. Perhaps a more in-depth review such as a Kaplan classroom or Hurst Live Review would be more helpful. They have great guarantees. They are both fairly expensive but this would be an investment in your future and well worth it.

As for test anxiety, you would know if you had it. For me, I'm so nervous I can barely sit in my chair, the least amount of noise draws my attention then I cannot refocus. As I read the questions I can't get through the entire sentence without my thoughts going elsewhere. Every muscle is clenched. I use meditation techniques to help me focus.

Thanks Claire. Are the online class/videos of Hurst and Kaplan really different from live review? I thought they are the same. I took them online so that I could go back and play the vid again if I don't understand something.

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In live reviews you benefit from questions other students are asking. I personally did not do a live review but several of my friends did and felt it really helped them refresh their knowledge on content.

The passing standard will be raised next month so you need to prepare for that as well.

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Hi y'all. The first time I took NCLEX I did Hurst and Saunders and I run out of time and failed with 230qs. The 2nd time I re watched the hurst videos, answered PDA and did kaplan on demand (watched and read the book)with an average of 56% on qbanks but most of my scores are 60% and highest is 64%. My Qt 6 score is 58% and Qt7 is 60% and the rest are mid to high 50s and still failed with 265 questions. I don't think I have test anxiety. I mean how do you know if you have one? I rested the day before the exam and ate breakfast before the test. I received tons of pharma questions on the last exam which maybe the reason I failed. How will I remember all the meds? I thought they're just going to ask the common ones. I need advice and encouragement please.[/quote']

I'm not a fan of Kaplan. I took Kaplan, and did all qtrainers, and qbank exams. I failed after 76 questions. I'm preparing for the second exam now. I'm doing Hursts. I like it!:) I agree with the person above that content is where you want to focus. I'm focusing on content because I already did over 2,000 questions through Kaplan and still didn't pass... so I really just need more nursing knowledge. It's sad and disappointing for me... But true. Go system by system. Don't let April scare you. They aren't making the exam harder. Theyre extending the percentage of questions that will be given in each area. I also heard that they are reducing pharmacology by 1% and adding that 1% to management of care (good for you actually). Who cares, you need to know this stuff to be a good nurse anyway. I know it's hard to fail and sad. You have another shot!!!.... And you almost passed at 265 (you were so close that it could have went either way). Nooow when you study more you will pass because you were almost there last time. ;).

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I'm not a fan of Kaplan. I took Kaplan, and did all qtrainers, and qbank exams. I failed after 76 questions. I'm preparing for the second exam now. I'm doing Hursts. I like it!:) I agree with the person above that content is where you want to focus. I'm focusing on content because I already did over 2,000 questions through Kaplan and still didn't pass... so I really just need more nursing knowledge. It's sad and disappointing for me... But true. Go system by system. Don't let April scare you. They aren't making the exam harder. Theyre extending the percentage of questions that will be given in each area. I also heard that they are reducing pharmacology by 1% and adding that 1% to management of care (good for you actually). Who cares, you need to know this stuff to be a good nurse anyway. I know it's hard to fail and sad. You have another shot!!!.... And you almost passed at 265 (you were so close that it could have went either way). Nooow when you study more you will pass because you were almost there last time. ;).

Thank you so much! Yes I am focusing on the content more. I just bought a pharmacology book and I'm reading the kaplan book and will watch the videos soon. I don't have access to hurst anymore. God bless your review and exam.

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