Passed NCLEX with low Kaplan scores

[TBRN16]

Hello,

Let me start off by saying, STOP FREAKING OUT ABOUT LOW SCORES. Low scores on Kaplan do not matter. It's all about how much you learn from your wrong answers when reviewing the tests. I was always a B student throughout my nursing program, and could have been considered the slacker of the class. I did all my homework and did decent on tests but I did the bare minimum to get by. With that, I quickly realized that my content knowledge for the NCLEX was lacking big time. I was fortunate that while preparing for the nclex, I didnt have a job, no kids.. no responsibilities, which allowed me to study 8-10 hours 6 days a week for almost an entire month. My scores were:

Diagnostic- 54

QT 1-7: 52, 49, 41, 46, 54, 46, 57.

Sample Tests: 62 and 58

Who do you see first?- 73

Alternative Format- 30

Readiness (I took it 2 weeks before exam date.. WAY too early. Highly recommend the week of)- 49

I completed 75% of the QBank with a 58% average. My first few exams (all 75 Qs) were in the low 40s, but with practice I got them into the upper 50s and lower 60s consistently.

I took the in person class but didnt find it that necessary. The Kaplan Tree seemed like miracle work in the class, but once you were on your own it didnt help much as long as you knew ABCs and Physical trumps psychosocial.

I passed in 160 questions and felt like I failed it for sure. I spent an hour researching questions that I had remembered throughout and if felt like I was getting them all wrong. The NCLEX was actually more difficult that i thought it was going to be because I had heard that Kaplan was more difficult, which I dont know if thats the case. I rarely knew the correct answer right off the bat, I found the correct answer by eliminating incorrect answers rather than picking the correct one. Sounds obvious, and quite odd, but once you take it you'll understand. I know for a fact the SATA's were much easier on the NCLEX than they were on Kaplan. I got 35-40 of them in total.

I just wanted to post today to make sure that some of you dont get down on yourself based on your scores. They do not matter. You dont make every free throw you practice, so why expect to get every question right? I always spent 3 hours reviewing for every hour actually answering questions. I personally used my Lewis Med/surg book from school and my ATI books that were provided by my school to do all of my reviewing. Was not a fan of Kaplans book really at all. Provided no information that will actually be on the test, very basic stuff.

[Nursetobe89]

hey, do you think kaplan helped you on critical thinking?

Have you watched the library videos I am obsessed i just watched all the meds videos and i wrote them down to review them. Congrats on passing :)

[dianalynm]

I took the in person class but didnt find it that necessary. The Kaplan Tree seemed like miracle work in the class, but once you were on your own it didnt help much as long as you knew ABCs and Physical trumps psychosocial.

I agree! Once I started doing questions on my own, I learned fast that you're really going to be using step 5: outcome, the majority of the time.

Congrats on passing! Passing is passing!

[TBRN16]

It really did help with the critical thinking. All of their questions are passing level questions, so its important to be able to think your way through some of the toughest questions. Never would have passed if I just studied books without a TON of practice questions.

I did watch some of the med videos, but I used them more of a quick review once I got access to Kaplans site. Honestly didnt really study meds all that much. Just reviewed whatever I would get wrong on tests.

[nyunursingstudent]

thank you so much for this! you just made me feel so much better about taking the nclex in a week!