need help on the nln exam

U.S.A. Hawaii

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Aloha.

Well, I'm going to take the NLN exam next week to try apply for the Spring 2012 Program. I'm currently studying over the Rn Pre-Entrance Review Guide and feel that it isn't helping me much. I'm almost at the end of the book and these practice exams are lowering my self-confidence. I tend to score badly on the Verbal and Science sections. Does anyone have any good references to look over and help increase my score? Thanks!

Also, does UH Manoa look at the highest percentage or the overall percentage on the NLN score?

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UH Manoa looks..

A) if you have 50% minimum of all categories

B) at category ALL on your score report

C) at the highest of your 3 categories

sidenote- Usually people who get accepted have scores equal to or > 85 percentile in all categories.

Study groups can help tremendously. I've had a study group for about 1 month prior to taking my NLN exam. We'd meet few times a week and everyday the week of the exam, mind you this was also during finals time as a i took the NLN in May.

How are you studying the book exactly? are you using the study guide manufactured by the NLN themselves?

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Yes I am. The one that comes with the CD-Rom.

The Verbal Section isn't really helping me out though. Is there a quick way to learn the vocabulary portion?

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There really isn't a quick way to learn the vocabulary section. It really is hit or miss, you know it or you don't. Just focus on what you've learned in English class for the reading section. Try to get a hang on prefixes and greek and latin root words.

How are you doing on time btw? Have you been properly timing yourself?

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For the actual practice tests, yes. After I correct the ones I missed, I review them and try to see what I got wrong.

NeekoDango. Are you in the nursing program? If so, what was your scores on your application?

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No, i'm applying for the same semester as you are! I am anxious to know as I've turned in my application already!! Results should come out in November or October!

My NLN scores are

Composite 137(they don't look at your composite, but its good to know how many standard deviations from the mean you are)

Verbal - 83

Math 90

Science 97

Its good that you're studying like that! I did the math section over and over again until was at least 5 minutes under time with near perfect scores! Time is what killed a lot of people who took it (from what I over heard)

Studying science, correct the ones you got wrong and look at the ones you got right! Think of possible questions that could be similar to that which were asked in the study guide. Try to prospect the different versions of those questions that they could possibly ask on the NLN.

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would you say the study guide book is quite similar to the nln exam?

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Same level of questions? Sure

Definitely not the same questions that are in the study guide.

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Think of it as you're doing the P-SAT and getting ready for the SAT in high school!

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The NLN review guide you have is probably the best one out there. It provides a succinct summary of what you need to know. I took the exam prior to retaking the majority of my science courses, but the book had given me enough of a knowledge base to answer a sufficient amount of questions correctly. Looking back, a lot of the test questions were based upon info found in the review guide. I recall there being quite a few physics-related questions and questions about circuitry in my exam. Memorize those formulas and know volts, joules, etc. Seeing those kinds of questions caused me to sweat because I kind of glossed over those sections in the review guide. I assumed that the exam wouldn't contain too many of those types of questions because it was for nursing, but I got gonged big time. Chem, micro, and A&P were all in there, as well.

In regards to the verbal section, I agree with NeekoDango...you either know it or don't. Learning those word parts, I think, is one of the fastest ways to boost your verbal score.

Overall, don't let the practice exams get you down. You might just psych yourself out and give up. You need to study the science section in order to boost your science score. If I could go back in time, I would study the review guide more prior to the exam and do more practice questions if possible. I wish I had more practice questions to draw upon to further pinpoint my weaknesses.

Ultimately, when you do take the exam, I suggest you move through the exam as quickly as possible. Skip questions that you are unsure of and return to them later. You can't waste too much time mulling over one question or you won't have time to get to questions that you might actually be able to answer.

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when I took it, I was very sleep deprived and thought I had done horrible but apparently didn't do too bad. I just got the review book from barnes and noble and did practice test after practice test for a week straight. I ended up getting a 137 composite but I don't remember my exact score in each category. they were in the 90s though. That test psyched me out so bad. But I did get into UH for fall 2011 so I wish you good luck on the NLN.

yes don't get hung up on questions that you might find difficult, move on and go back to them when you have more time. Time can slip away fast, I made that mistake on the math part but still ended up finishing in time.

And above all GOOD LUCK!

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