Passed the second time! Some tips for retakers...

Published

Just got back from our celebratory dinner. Passed the second time after a horrible first attempt back in July. 265 Q's the first time and 175 just recently. Honestly, I knew that I passed the second time walking out of the testing center and even started crying in the car out of joy. It felt SO much easier than my first attempt... where afterwards I cried in the bathroom and spread the word to all my classmates that it was the hardest test in the world. It doesn't have to be. What was different?

A couple things...

I had NO anxiety when I took it two days ago. I remember going past 75 the first time and FREAKING OUT! Don't! I was one of the first people in my class to take it and for some reason held onto the assumption that anything more meant failure. Only after I failed did I learn that several people from my class got all the Q's and passed. Not knowing this added to my anxiety during the test. I still had my job riding on the line the second time but going in with CONFIDENCE helps a lot!

I ate well before my second attempt. The first time I was SO NERVOUS that I could hardly eat... the breakfast at the hotel was abysmal... runny eggs and nasty sausage links. Well this time I cooked my own omelet and popped some energy gel before the test. I took a break every hour and snacked on things that would give my brain some energy to be able to think critically. Plus I dressed comfortably and utilized the headphones to help me concentrate.

Kaplan Qbank... I swear taking the test the second time felt like I was just doing more Qbank questions. I did all the Qbank Q's and averaged around 66%. Kaplan questions felt more like the test than Saunders, which I used to study the first time. What I did was use Kaplan for questions and Saunders for reviewing content that I needed to brush up on.

Trainer 1 - 57%

Trainer 2 - 71%

Trainer 3 - 60%

Trainer 4 - 49%... ouch... but I really didn't put much effort into this one... hey I have ADD

Stopped at 4 and did half of 5 but don't know how i did.

Qbank is what made me decide to take the test... 66% on ~2000 questions.

Everything above helped me to pass the second time with flying colors. I'm sure it was just as hard as the first time but it just didn't feel that way. Anyway I just wanted to give some of my fellow aspiring nurses some tips. It's doable! Just don't give up and don't freak out!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

CONGRATULATIONS, good to hear YOU passed this time, keep the vibes going for the rest of us second-timers :)

again, congratulations:balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in anything that I had my clinicals in.

congratulations. I found out today that I passed as well the second time. I did exactly what you did the second time around!!! I hope that your thread helps other people that are in the position we were in to pass. Congrats again RN, it's a great feeling!!!:balloons::nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Congratulations

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Med-Surg, Cardiology.

congrats rn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

congratulationsss!!!:balloons:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Just got back from our celebratory dinner. Passed the second time after a horrible first attempt back in July. 265 Q's the first time and 175 just recently. Honestly, I knew that I passed the second time walking out of the testing center and even started crying in the car out of joy. It felt SO much easier than my first attempt... where afterwards I cried in the bathroom and spread the word to all my classmates that it was the hardest test in the world. It doesn't have to be. What was different?

A couple things...

I had NO anxiety when I took it two days ago. I remember going past 75 the first time and FREAKING OUT! Don't! I was one of the first people in my class to take it and for some reason held onto the assumption that anything more meant failure. Only after I failed did I learn that several people from my class got all the Q's and passed. Not knowing this added to my anxiety during the test. I still had my job riding on the line the second time but going in with CONFIDENCE helps a lot!

I ate well before my second attempt. The first time I was SO NERVOUS that I could hardly eat... the breakfast at the hotel was abysmal... runny eggs and nasty sausage links. Well this time I cooked my own omelet and popped some energy gel before the test. I took a break every hour and snacked on things that would give my brain some energy to be able to think critically. Plus I dressed comfortably and utilized the headphones to help me concentrate.

Kaplan Qbank... I swear taking the test the second time felt like I was just doing more Qbank questions. I did all the Qbank Q's and averaged around 66%. Kaplan questions felt more like the test than Saunders, which I used to study the first time. What I did was use Kaplan for questions and Saunders for reviewing content that I needed to brush up on.

Trainer 1 - 57%

Trainer 2 - 71%

Trainer 3 - 60%

Trainer 4 - 49%... ouch... but I really didn't put much effort into this one... hey I have ADD

Stopped at 4 and did half of 5 but don't know how i did.

Qbank is what made me decide to take the test... 66% on ~2000 questions.

Everything above helped me to pass the second time with flying colors. I'm sure it was just as hard as the first time but it just didn't feel that way. Anyway I just wanted to give some of my fellow aspiring nurses some tips. It's doable! Just don't give up and don't freak out!

can i ask what other materials did u use??

and for how long did u review for ur 2nd try? i will retake the exam.. please help...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion