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Specializes in CTICU.

Hey everyone. I'm currently in my last year of nursing school and stuck in a little dilemma.

I'm sure everyone i used to taking exams on a scan sheet and filling in the bubbles corresponding to the paper test.

My school has recently switched over to a "powerpoint" test. THe questions are displayed on a powerpoint presentation and automatically switches every 70 seconds. Initially i was all for it, it somewhat simulates the NCLEX, we don't get to go back over our test and it is timed.

After taking these tests for over a year they are starting to show more negatives. For example: all questions are timed the same, whether it is a short, basic knowledge question or a lengthy application or synthesis question. All questions switch after 70 seconds. Some students are really having problems with this, they don't get enough time to read the question and think about it. Yes the NCLEX is timed, BUT they questions don 't change automatically, you move at your own pace, as long as you complete the entire exam within the time frame.

I would like to go back to the old fashion written tests that you move at your own pace, as long as you complete the entire test within the time frame. There are of course negatives for written tests, for example you can go back thru the test and change answers, which is different than NCLEX.

Let me know your thoughts and suggestions. If you took tests in a different manner let me know. Being president of my class i would like to present this issue to the faculty and possibly change their ways. Your suggestions could possibly be taken into consideration.

Griff

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You brought up great points. The NCLEX allows you to move at your own pace - and your powerpoint tests do not. We did paper and pencil tests for all classes until my junior and senior year - we had a couple tests done on individual computers that simulated the NCLEX, in wich we could not go back to previous questions and had time restraints. See if your faculty can use a program to design their tests in a similar fashion and reserve computer labs for the tests to be taken in so that students can work at their own pace.

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In my ADN program we have two formats. One is the traditional scan-tron fill in the bubbles and the other is computerized similar to the NCLEX or ATI formats. Both types are timed but only total time. One can take as much or as little time as necessary for each question. Personally, I prefer the computized NCLEX type for the practice and we are able to get instant preliminary results after the entire class has finished the exam. We are usually given a short break after the exam and then we are called back into the class and can review the results with the correct answers highlighted on the test. I am not sure of the program that is used but I really like having the immediate feedback. Our Instructors review the results after we have looked at the test and they sometimes make adjustments to the grade based on class results. I think that this is the first semester they have tried this format so there is no history of results they can look at so we usually get a few points back. I hope this helps with your situation.

Good luck

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We had a "practice" exit exam type test before our real test exactly like you described. We had 60 seconds to read the test and select our answers. I totally bombed that test!

I am a fast tester and normally would finish a 50 question test in approx 20 minutes or so and I obtained high honors in school, so I not only tested fast but I tested well.

That test they gave freaked me out..looking up to read the screen, hearing others kind of mouth the words of the question and answers..then selecting quickly, and going back to looking down, scanning for the number of the question and filling in the blank too much longer than I or anyone else expected. I ended up missing part of the next question because as I looked down to find the number and fill in the blank, the next question had popped up and switched as I was finishing up reading the answers given. It was a total mess.

EVERYONE did poorly on that test, but once we were given the time to read the question at our own pace and select the answers, we all did much better. Then the teacher would give the correct answer..most of the time we got it correct.

Our exit exam was done on the computer, NCLEX style, once you answered you couldn't go back and change the answers but you could take as much/little time as you wanted to answer each question. The alloted time for the test was X amount of minutes but you could use those minutes as you chose.

Yes the NCLEX is timed but its not each question has a specific number of seconds to answer..so your test really isn't mimicing the NCLEX.

Maybe your school could do like our exit exam, on the computer, once you answer the question you can't go back to change an answer, and the test is timed, not each individual question.

Ugg, I feel for you, I really do. I know I would fail out badly if a school I went to did their tests like you described.

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Specializes in CTICU.

thanks for the info!

We do use a computer testing system but these are not part of our exam scores. THey are used as practice for NCLEX. I wish we could do our exams online, I might try and push for this!

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Specializes in LTC , SDC and MDS certified (3.0).

I do not think this is productive at all. I'm surprised this was an accepted practice to begin with. I feel you should meet with the whole class and see how everyone feels about this. Nursing school is to make nurses not at see how fast you can take the boards!!! The instructors are off the mark on this one. Good Luck!!:no:

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Specializes in CTICU.

its good to see i'm not the only one who feels this way

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