Percentage to pass in your state?

ShellGVSU · Jun 28, 2006

I'm not sure what Michigan's is I wasn't aware of that. I've tried to look up the passing rate on some websites but couldn't find anything. I also tried to look up the passing rate of my school and was unsuccessful at that as well. One of my professors told us like out of 60 students the semester before us only 5 had failed. So I guess that's good but I don't want to be one of those 5! Ugh Agony!

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jun 28, 2006

Wow. It's a good thing you didn't fail and consider going out-of-state because of the receptionist's inaccurate comments. We do all take the same NCLEX with the same scoring system. Dont confuse the pass rate (what percentage of students are successful on the exam) with the passing standard (the level of performance necessary for a student to pass the NCLEX). Each school/state may have a different pass rate due to varying student ability levels and the quality of different nursing programs, but the passing standard is set by NCSBN, a national organization. It's the same for every NCLEX candidate.

Check out www.ncsbn.org , specifically the 2006 Candidate Bulletin. You'll find that both passing and failing candidates tend to answer around 50% right and 50% wrong. What determines pass/fail is the difficulty level of those questions at the point where you're hitting 50/50. A person who is only getting half of the basic level questions - likely to fail. A person who consistently requires difficult questions for the computer to keep the candidate near 50/50 - pass.

Hope that helps!

kissmekate · Jun 28, 2006

I thought we all had the same, but then she handed me a sheet saying WI requires an 85% passing STANDARD...I have it in the car, I will double check it later. I wasn't about to read it right before my exam and I really wasn't going to get into a "debate." My eyes bugged out and I was dumbfounded but I needed to stay focused on my test so it went to the back of my mind. I'll get back to you all if it really did say this when I head out to my car later. Anyone here from WI who took it in Brookfield and they said this to you?

Leda · Jun 28, 2006

The information your received is highly inaccurate. Please go to the NCSBN website (as posted above). You will get the correct information from NCSBN and you will also find out that the NCLEX is not a "scored" exam. They use a statistical measure (logit) to determine the passing standard, not a percent correct.

The NCLEX experience is stressful enough without "reception gals" adding to your stress. Giving this information prior to sitting for the NCLEX (true or not) is just plain wrong.

swee2000 · Jun 28, 2006

Hi, Kissmekate! Where in WI did you go to school? Did you take NCLEX for RN or PN?

I am in WI as well and scheduled to take my NCLEX-PN at the Brookfield Pearson location in July.

nursemomruns · Jul 1, 2006

I thought we all had the same, but then she handed me a sheet saying WI requires an 85% passing STANDARD...I have it in the car, I will double check it later. I wasn't about to read it right before my exam and I really wasn't going to get into a "debate." My eyes bugged out and I was dumbfounded but I needed to stay focused on my test so it went to the back of my mind. I'll get back to you all if it really did say this when I head out to my car later. Anyone here from WI who took it in Brookfield and they said this to you?

The people working in the testing centers have nothing to do with developing the exams or setting the passing standard. They only assist in making sure the exam is administered in a consistent manner. Period. I don't care if the woman handed you a sworn affidavit. The passing standard is the same for every state. Look it up on the NCSBN website and call your state board of nursing. I would also call and complain about what she did.

ShellGVSU · Jul 1, 2006

I'm sure the lady meant 85% is the amount of students that pass the first time. If you look at the info it says that 86% of students that take the NCLEX (in the US) pass the first time. I'm sure she just meant that WI is at that rate.