PSB RN Test

motheringheart · Jul 1, 2011

I would say just basic biology, cell respiration, and maybe one or two things from anatomy/physiology. I took it without studying and did fine. I would brush up on fractions/ratios/decimals and how to convert those to each other. Maybe study your spelling rules.... there were words I had never even seen. I finally just closed my eyes took a few deep breathes and went with my gut on that section. I did it as fast as I could and just picked the one I felt looked right.

The biggest hurdle for me was the time pressure. I felt stressed about that and it was just mind over matter forcing myself to relax.

Good luck!!!

BuffaloGirl · Jul 2, 2011

Are there any study manuals out there for the PSB RN? (beyond what is on their website). Anything else that you'd offer up study wise? Sorry to jump your thread, lol, but I had posted this on another part of allnurses and no one responded. :)

mat8041 · Jul 5, 2011

Thank you! And I dont mind you posting your questions on my thread! Any information is helpful!

jlpsu · Aug 19, 2011

I just took the PSB today for UPMC Mercy school of nursing if you have any specific questions. I was a nervous wreck about it......

BuffaloGirl · Aug 19, 2011

Hey there Jlpsu! Ok i'm gonna sound stupid asking but ....... was it easier then you thought or harder? Study tips? What were the questions like? Did you find out your score immediately? I see a lot on the TEAS but barely anything on the PSB...So if you don't care to share your experience about the test that would be awesome :)

jlpsu · Aug 19, 2011

I know what you mean...I tried to find info on the PSB and there isn't as much as for the other tests. I studied for about 6 weeks..Here's what I can tell you.

It's not as hard as I thought it was going to be...BUT, I would have completely failed it had I not studied. I went WAY overboard on the studying (5 study books). It's hard to say which book was the best one as they have all melded together at this point, but I can say that the Petersen "Master the Nursing School Entrance Exam" was overkill. I liked the Baron's Nursing School Entrance Exam book and the McGraw Hill book. I also bought the MoMetrix's PSB secrets and I liked that because it focused only on the PSB.

I overkilled the math preparation. It's all pretty basic math. The verbal part was 4 words mean the same thing, pick the one that doesn't. Also, easy. The spelling...Ugh...the Spelling. It was overwhelming. But I used a piece of paper to hide each line so that I only focused on one line at a time. The problem with spelling is even if you think you know it, one of the other choices also kind of "looks right". So sometimes I was completely guessing, especially because there were words I'd never heard of. Our proctor did tell us that we were not expected to finish each section and that it wouldn't hurt us to not finish. So, I skipped around the spelling going for words that I was 99% sure of. Then I went back to try to figure out the words I didn't know. I actually used that method for the whole test. Skip if I didn't know, and go back if I could. I figured it was best to answer 2 or 3 questions that I KNEW in the same amount of time it would take me to ponder the question i was unsure of.

One thing that surprised me was that the math and verbal and spatial were all mixed together. There were not 30 math, then 30 verbal, 30 spacial. There were 90 questions, mixed with all 3. So when I was running out of time, I just went to the easiest problems (the verbal) and got those right (i think). Skipped the last 10 math questions and did the spacials I knew. That way, my overall correct would be higher than if I went in linear order. Just something to consider.

The reading comprehension was a joke. 15 minutes was all we were given. I answered only 20 questions in 15 mintues. That was the most stressful part I think. I read the first passage which was pretty easy read, and got those questions fast. The next passage was completely scientific and I got hung up on some of it. So halfway through answering those questions, I gave up and went to the next passsage which was an easier read. Again - all that matters is the number of correct questions answered...so go to the easiest ones if you can!

The science I would have failed had I not studied, but since I did, I was able to answer 87 out of the 90 questions. The last 3 I had no idea on so I left them blank. Not sure if that was the right thing to do or not. Out of the 87 questions, I maybe guessed on 5. There were anatomy, chemistry (fairly basic), and physics questions. A few electrical questions. The study books really do prepare you pretty well, I think. But I DEFINITELY over studied chemistry and math. It didn't hurt me, but had me way more stressed leading up to the test!

I won't get my scores back for 2-3 weeks (it's a scan tron test)!! So it remains to be seen how I did. I have to score at least in the 65th percentile in order to even be allowed to apply. I think I did ok enough to get to that....we will see.

Any other questions...feel free to ask while it's all still fresh!

BuffaloGirl · Aug 22, 2011

Thanks for all info. I'm glad you said that about the Peterson book. I was starting to really worry that this was going to be harder then the Teas, lol. Were there any terribly difficult questions that come to mind? How aweful that it is mixed around. Being nervous is going to be my downfall so i'm going to have to focus and your message is going to help me study. I appreciate it :)

jlpsu · Aug 27, 2011

I wish I had better news....I got my scores today and while I scored above the 90th percentile in most categories, I scored below the 65th percentile in Reading Comp, so I cannot apply to UPMC Mercy unless I retake the test and score better. I'm not sure I want to retake the test, so I am going to apply to some other schools instead. Which is a shame, because my first choice was Mercy.

I am a voracious reader, so I am stunned about this result. I wonder if I read too deeply? I ran out of time in the reading comp and only answered 20 or so questions. We only were given 15 minutes, which was a ridiculous amount of time. I scored in the 98th percentile in Verbal, 91st in Math, 95th in Science and I have a 3.9 GPA from my previous bachelors...but I still can't apply. It seems so stupid to put so much weight on one test. I will hope to find other schools who take into consideration the whole picture. Mercy doens't even know my GPA, because they won't let me apply with these PSB scores.

Very disapointed at this point, and feeling pretty down. But, I'll have to pick myself up and get moving and figure out what I'm going to do.

Best of luck....If I did do it again, I'd skip any of the reading comp passages that were too difficult to read....I got stuck on a lot of scientific jargon and I think that put me behind. I only scored in the 52nd percentile....again...crazy as I read constantly. Sometimes it's not what you know, but how you can prove it on a test. :crying2:

michele742 · Aug 27, 2011

You are exactly correct Jlpsu. From everything I have heard, it's not just what you know, it's also about mastering the "how" to take these tests. I believe standardized tests are evil...I don't like them. I'm a horrible test taker and I haven't taken the PSB test yet, but I take it in two weeks. I ordered the Arco - Nursing School and Allied Health Entrance Examinations book and plan on really brushing up on the reading comp. I'm currently a medical transcriptionist, so the spelling and such better be a breeze for me...the reading comp., I know, will be a different story.

Again, since I don't take it for another two weeks, I don't know first hand. Sorry you are going through this. It does sound ridiculous that the school you were going to go to dismisses you if you fail one section. Definitely look for a school that goes by a point system. The school I am going to tallies points for your grades (total possible 120) and tallies the points you earn from the NAT (again, total possible of 120). So, the test is weighed pretty heavily on whether one will get in but if you fail one section and ace the others (like you did) then that, with your grades, tell a better tale of how well you will do in the nursing program. Don't give up!

BuffaloGirl · Aug 31, 2011

Hey JL,

I am so sorry to hear that . I felt the same when I didn't make the TEAS. When I studied, I really only focused on the math and chemistry since they had been my harder subjects. With the english and reading comp, I just kind of blew it off because I have always done so well in both and as you, I read daily. Well those areas of the test were harder then I thought and therefore caused me to panic. I started second guessing everything I put down. I didn't do terrible but I could have done so much better if I had studied and I know that's what i'll do next time. I have to work on my test anxiety.

And I couldn't agree more, they do put way too much emphasis on a test. Our school only gives you 4 pts for a 4.0 gpa, and the min to get into the program is a 2.5. This shows where the bulk of your pts come from out of 100 pts you have to earn to apply (if that makes sense).

It took me a little bit to get over getting waitlisted, then I started looking into other schools and I shall overcome my test anxiety, lol. Your post has helped me and again, i'm sorry you didn't get into the program.

If you decide to take apply to a school that takes the TEAS, the Peterson book and the ATI book are good. Good Luck in the path you choose.

Take Care,

Alexandra