Passing a test but not the grade you expected.

[mmgirlsmom]

How do you deal with it when you take a test and pass it but didn't do as well as you thought? I am a non traditional student in a BSN program and my first semester of nursing classes. I have passed all of my test so far. Took a test last night, studied and really felt I knew the material. I passed it but didn't do as well as I had expected. There were a 2 or 3 questions I was concerned about but missed a few more than that and it really bothers me. I know everyone says passing is passing but it is so frustrating. I keep trying to tell myself it is okay I passed that is all that matters. I wasn't a straight A student before but did get A's and B's and didn't necessarily expect to get A's in nursing school but it still bothers me. Once our grades our posted we can see what the class average was for the test, although I was a little above average there were still people that did better than me and I guess I wonder what they did to do better on the test.

I guess this is just more than a vent than anything and I am looking forward to going over the test next week to see what I missed.

How do you reassure yourself it is okay if you don't get an A on a test????

[Tyler77]

Q: How do you deal with not doing as well as you thought on an exam?

A: You get over it.

[mmgirlsmom]

I know I have to "get over it" I have no choice. I think deep down inside I am concerned as the test get harder I might not do as well.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Recognize that nursing school exams are unlike most other college-level exams. If you don't get an A, it is okay. A B is still 'above-average', and the truth is when I was interviewing for my first job, I don't recall ONE hospital that asked for my nursing school GPA. Keep that in mind.

[jjjoy, LPN]

I think as we see more second degree students in nursing programs, especially students from a strong science background, we'll see more frustrations with the testing methods in some schools, simply because a second degree student may have already come up with very effective study strategies and have had lots of opportunity to hone 'critical thinking skills' and then find themselves facing these easy-looking multiple-choice questions and not understanding how to figure out 'the best' answer.

NCLEX-style questions are different and students need to learn how to work with them. Yep, suck it up and deal with it. However, in some cases, there are some instructors who don't seem to write NCLEX-style questions very well or make the rationales for the 'best' answer very clear. Choosing 'the best' answer on some less-than-ideal questions might be more a matter of a luck than one's applied knowledge or critical thinking skills.

I'm by no means saying that all test questions are bad, or that all instructors write poor tests, but given the small margins between grades in nursing school missing a few odd questions can significantly affect your grades and not really reflect the degree of one's knowledge or critical thinking skills. Which is rightfully frustrating, I think.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

I think it's true that students need to adjust their expectations, but I think we also need to adjust our test taking and studying strategies. As a second career student I already have a bachelor's and master's degree in biology. These tests are different because I'm used to scanning a question, picking out a few key words, and then usually using a formula to figure it out. Now, I've got to READ the questions much more closely and pick up on much more than just a couple keywords. It's been a challenge, but not impossible, every question just requires me to sit back for a minute and really take it apart to find the answers. The ones I've missed so far are all on me. There may be a question where a professor made a legitimate mistake, but I'm not going to yell and argue about every word on the test, or put it back on the teachers. I've got to just get on with my day, and my life. Remember, you've worked hard to get here and you'll make it. Good luck.

[KristeyK]

There's some great advice here...

Mine? lol....the same advice I need to take myself: just get over it. We really do need to retrain our brains to take these darned NCLEX style questions. It's insane isn't it?:hdvwl:

[studentnurse BSN-Rn]

Nursing school is tough and its only going to get tougher, so w/e you do dont stress about getting the grades. remember passing is awesome. I remember when i started the program a year ago all the teachers told us if your an overachiever it is time to get over yourself cause only few if any of you will be making out of this program with As. I know how you feel I used to get so worked up about getting a passing grade even though i studied hours after hours for the exam. Sometimes it is just the question that gets to you, read the questions carefully and maybe reading the choices first and list everything you know about them seems to help. I am not a good test taker I could tell you everything about that topic but i get tricked easily by their word selections. Anyways its more important to know the information because in clinical you will have the knowledge to provide good nursing care. stay positive and the more you stress its going to hurt you in a long run!

[doublehelix]

Before I even started the nursing program, I was always told nursing tests are much harder than other programs. For example, most students who received A's in highschool will likely receive B's in nursing school.

The best I can do is Hope for an A, but Prepare for a B. You have to accept there are some subjects you will do really well in, but others will take a lot of your time and you may struggle. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses! Just know you are doing your best and that is what counts.

[itsmejuli]

Start doing NCLEX style questions for practice before your exams. Get into the habit of doing a hundred a week. Once you understand how to do NCLEX style questions your grade just may go up.

Here's a link to a sample NCLEX style question I posted, I show how to analyze the question and arrive at the answer.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-student-assistance/please-help-i-509939.html#post4582145

[Despareux]

Getting over it is tough. I just received a 'B' on my first exam--it was heartbreaking for me as I was an all 'A' student prior to NS. This is a different experience for most who enter NS, which means different learning techniques, too, which I'm still trying to figure out.

[healthstar, BSN, RN]

Once I leave class I say " I bombed this test" ( no confidence at all) and when I check my grade and I see an A....very surprised. There are times that I say( it was easy) and I don't get the grade I was hoping I would get.