These discussion boards helped me when I was struggling with the NCLEX and I wanted to post my journey when I finally passed! 1st time: I just bought a Kaplan book and thought if I read through it and did the questions in it then I should be good. I did that and studied some content. In the meantime I had also moved in with my grandmother who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was taking care of her. I was also planning a wedding and trying to gradually move my stuff from my hometown to my finane's home 3 hours away. I took 75 questions and flat out did not pass. My professor says I had way too much going on outside of studying and probably had no business trying to take the NCLEX. I think it was that and I didn't have a good understanding of what I needed to do to properly be prepared (I know now that I didn't do enough questions). 2nd time: My grandmother passed, I'm married, and moved into my new home. I feel prepared to give all my attention to studying for the NCLEX. I bought "how to pass the NCLEX" and lippincott Q&A. I read the first book and did questions out of Lippincott. Took 158 questions in 5 hours and failed. 3rd time: I am determined. I found a tutor on wyzant.com and did questions with her once a week via Internet camera. She also decreased my underlying test anxiety by telling me what I was doing wrong in my thought process as I was talking through the question. I found that I was over-analyzing the question and answers and talking myself OUT Of The Right Answer! She also told me a big mistake is doing the questions (like out of lippincott) right out of the book. Take all questions on the computer since you'll be taking your test on the computer. It relieves some test anxiety if you have it. I also bought the 1-month Kaplan Q-Bank online and set a goal of finishing every question. I took all 265 questions in 5.5 hours and passed! Personal suggestions: Resolve any personal events in your life first before going in and taking the test. Do as many questions on the computer as you can get your hands on. Talk out your thought process with a fellow nursig student, professor, or tutor and that could help you (like it did me) pinpoint if you are over-analyzing the question and answers. Good Luck!