NLN PAX - NLN RN pre nursing exam

Nurse wanna-be · Jan 14, 2009

anyone?

please?

SierraMoon, ADN, BSN, RN · Jan 14, 2009

Best way find the info is to search with google, using this string:

NLN site:https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/

There's some info, most everybody uses the official guide to study. I'm taking it next week, so I guess I'll see how useful it's been :)

Nurse wanna-be · Jan 16, 2009

official guide- you mean Review Guide for RN Pre-Entrance Exam”, 2nd Edition?

let me know please?

gluck

Goldie798 · Jan 21, 2009

I took the NLN on 1/09/09. I used the THIRD EDITION of the NLN RN Guide along with those little yellow Physics and Chemistry Cliff notes books. I got my scores in the mail yesterday and made a Composite Score of 148 out of a range of 0 to 200 with most scores ranging between 50 and 150. I made a Composite Percentile Score of 99 for ALL which has a range from 0-99. I don't know what any of this means, but my testing center at Athens Tech said 99 is an excellent score and that the lowest score they accept is an 82. Very confusing.

I was as prepared as I could be for this test and actually came to understand the basics of Chemistry, Physics, Thermodynamics, and even Radiation. The problem is that the actual NLN Exam took some of these topics to the next level (way past the level that the NLN guide and Cliff Notes prepares one for), so I ended up having to guess on a few questions. There were a good many bizarre questions concerning Chemistry and Physics and Biology, but, thanks to the NLN Guide and possibly the Cliff Notes, I was familiar with the subject enough to answer them. There weren't as many questions related to Anatomy as I would have liked, and the few that were related asked things I wasn't familiar with. One question concerning a graph actually had no correct answer. The question asked for the range with the least amount of change, but three of the ranges were exactly the same while the fourth range was more. The next question also pertained to the range with the least amount of change, so I'm sure I got both of those wrong. Maybe this NLN exam is trying to see what students answer when there's no correct answer!

On Verbal I got 51 out of 60 correct, which stinks. I'm very good with verbal skills and made a 100 on my NET exam, but this NLN test had some vocabulary words I have NEVER heard of along with some comprehension questions that didn't seem to have any correct answers. There were also a good many familiar vocabulary words, and they are all contained in sentences which makes it a little easier to know their meaning. I had to guess at the last few vocabulary words because I ran out of time, and I'm a fast reader!

As for Math, I got 35 out of 40 correct. The math did not stray from what the NLN guide contained. I simply ran out of time and had to guess on the last few problems. So remember to work quickly when you take your exam. Oh, and calculators are not allowed, but they're really not needed for this simple math. There were a lot of fractions and percentage problems with a few ratio and algebra problems. Remember to work all the math problems in the NLN Guide without using a calculator so you can brush up on your math skills. Time yourself!

In Science I scored 49 out of 60. I ran out of time on this one too, but I also made two stupid mistakes that came to me as I was walking out of the testing room. I answered them on the fly thinking I would go back to them, but there was no time. So remember to answer your questions knowing you won't have time to go back and review them! I reviewed all of my Anatomy notes that concerned the topics in the NLN guide and this was a definite help because I had forgotten a lot since I finished my Anatomy classes a few months ago. (I made A's in both classes). I'm not sure studying the Cliff Note books helped so much since the NLN exam went beyond the Chemistry and Physics in the Cliff Note books. Some of the Science questions were outlandish and required formulas to know the answer. I came home and tried to find some of the answers concerning Newtons and Ohms on the internet, but I couldn't even find the answers there! These questions were way beyond what the Cliff Notes books covered. I think I might have scored just as well studying my Anatomy notes and NLN Guide alone.

I hope this helps you. Good luck!

Nurse wanna-be · Jan 21, 2009

wow thanks a ton!

how long did you give yourself to study for the nln?

Goldie798 · Jan 21, 2009

I began studying the Science 10 days before my exam and literally spent the first five days doing nothing BUT studying Science because I was trying to learn the Physics and Chemistry along with reviewing Anatomy. Looking back, I'm not sure I needed to put so much effort into learning the Physics and Chemistry beyond what the NLN Guide offered because the questions on the actual exam were so much harder than anything a person can learn on their own!

Once I felt I knew all the Science I needed to know, I tested myself from the NLN Guide and made an 82% every time. The NLN exam's Science questions are very similar to the guide except that they take it to the next level on the Physics and Chemistry. An example would be the reduction reactions in Chemistry. I understand and know how to spot those, but the exam had the reactions set up in a way I hadn't seen in the Guide, in the Cliff Notes, or in my high school Chemistry class! I had to guess on that one even though it was something I knew! The same thing happened with Parallel Circuits. I understood those, but the exam asked a question concerning how many Ohms a certain Parallel Circuit had. Nothing I reviewed told me how to figure Ohms in Parallel Circuits.

I then moved on to reviewing math. I'm glad I spent the time to take all the NLN Guide's math tests because it helped me pick up my speed which is essential when taking the exam. My only regret is that I didn't spend any time reviewing the Comprehension. I thought I didn't need to since I had made a 100% on my NET exam's Verbal section, but I was rusty and wasted time trying to figure out the comprehension questions during the exam. Maybe I could have spent more time trying to figure out those blasted vocabulary words had I been quicker figuring out the comprehension questions. The questions and answers just aren't clear cut and take a while to figure out.

So give yourself at least a good week to prepare for the exam focusing on reviewing and understanding what's in the NLN Guide and not trying to learn new things from Cliff Notes like I did! The NLN Guide really was a lot like the exam, but nothing could really prepare you for the difficult vocabulary words and outlandish Science questions unless you've already had Chemistry and Physics. Oh, there were a good many Biology questions, but most of them only require common sense.

I hope this isn't too much information! These are the things I wanted to know before I took my exam, so I hope it helps! Really, just relax and review what you know and try to understand the other things the NLN Guide highlights because you just can't get everything right on this exam! And start guessing when you run out of time because wrong answers don't count against you!

Nurse wanna-be · Jan 21, 2009

Thank you

You are so helpful

would you mind explaining to me in a clear manner (since my brain feels like a mush right now) :bugeyes: how the marks work on the exam.

is this exam on the computer or on paper or it is an option? feel like i keep seeing different info all over or mixing it up with something else.

thanks again,

Goldie798 · Jan 21, 2009

I'm not sure how the marks work, but there were 60 questions in verbal, 60 questions in science and 40 questions in math. I've yet to figure out the NLN score sheet I received in the mail and the explanations are given at the bottom of the sheet. It's very confusing. It states that the Composite scores range from 0 to 200, but yet there are only 160 questions total. It then states that "most scores range between 50 and 150", and I made a 148. The Composite Percentile Scores range from 0-99, but "the percentile scores do NOT indicate the percentage of items that were answered correctly." Despite all the questions I missed, I still made a 99. I don't understand any of this, but my testing center has told me that my score is the best I can get, so I'll trust them and be happy.

My test was a booklet that I could write in with a scantron type booklet to fill in the circles for my answers. It was similar to the SAT test I took back in high school, except that I don't remember being able to write in my test booklet. I'm not sure if all testing centers use this method or if some choose to use a computer. I'd call your testing center and ask.

I know what you mean about getting different information. I was so confused prior to my test which is why I'm being so detailed with my responses to you. I think it may just be that each testing center has its own methods.

Nurse wanna-be · Jan 21, 2009

thanks i appreciate it!

i guess it will all be figured out- too late... when its behind us ;-)

but thanks for all the info...

congrats!

any tips and info that you remember... you can keep them coming :)

MOM2000 · Jan 21, 2009

Goldie798- I am applying to Athens Tech for Fall 2009. I took the NLN on 1/12. My scores are similar to yours. I got 51/60 verbal, 38/40 math and 44/60 science. My composite was 146 and 98%. I was told they take your gpa on the five classes required to apply and your nln score (I'm not sure whether or not they are weighted equally, or if one is worth more than the other) and the top 50 are accepted. I saw the list of scores of those accepted last fall and I think all of them scored 99 or 98. There may have been some 96 and 97 scores, but there were a lot of 98--99 and that is what stood out to me. I'm just hoping there aren't 50 other applicants with 99's!

Goldie798 · Feb 8, 2009

hey mom2000!

what a small world. maybe we'll meet in the nursing program if we make it! before i took the nln exam, i went by athens tech's testing office to ask about the scores because i was freaking out a bit! the lady behind the desk flagged down the man who is over the selection of the nursing program applicants each year. the man told me if you have a 4.0 in your core classes, you're pretty-much guaranteed a place in the program because it places you in the top tier of applicants. he said he recalled one 4.0 applicant who got accepted with an nln score in the 80's. he though it was an 82, but wasn't sure. the lady behind the testing desk was surprised, then said she thought she remembered that one being two years ago and with a score of 88. she said the average score of accepted applicants for 2008 was 93. the man agreed. they both said not to worry about the test scores, and to focus on my gpa. so far i have a 4.0, but i'm in college algebra this quarter, and it's scaring me a bit! i'm reminding myself not to worry because if jesus wants me in this program, he'll make it happen regardless of my gpa, but a perfect 4.0 would make me feel so much more secure!

good luck!

goldie798