75 Questions on NCLEX, pass or fail?

[Lurksalot, BSN, RN]

I see lots of posts about passing or failing with 75 questions, just curious what the stats are. I would like to think that nursing school prepares us enough that those who get 75 are mostly passing?

[suebird3]

Of course, I thought I failed.

When I took LPN Boards, did it the old fashioned way of paper and pencil/wait 6 weeks for "The Letter".

Suebird

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Those of us who take the NCLEX-PN exam receive a minimum of 85 questions. I received the minimum and passed.

The NCLEX-RN has a minimum of 75 questions.

[WOLFE, BSN, RN]

I also thought I had failed...shut off at 75. Went with a friend who also was taking her boards the same day..she also shut off at 75 (and passed). Even went so far as to call my nurse manager (I was a PCA on the floor while in nursing school) and told her to remove me from the list for nursing orientation...thankfully she did not listen, for I had passed.

[ZASHAGALKA, RN]

It means you really really passed, or you really really failed. I think the test is designed to give you more leeway if you aren't doing well; to give you an opportunity to work off your test anxiety, etc.

So I think that it is MORE likely to give you more questions if you aren't doing well and LESS likely to if you prove yourself.

Most people that stop at 75 pass is my understanding.

I'm just glad I took the paper test.

~faith,

Timothy.

[PDX RN]

75 questions-turned off...I thought I was going to vomit. I truly felt like I had to guess on each question.

The rest of the day was ridden with anxiety and fear.

I passed!

[twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN]

75 for me and passed in March

[Justhere, BSN, RN]

Took 75 questions tuesday and passed today.

[Lurksalot, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the input everyone, this has been very helpful and comforting during the process.

I just realised I forgot to vote in my own poll after I found out?! hehe. But it was nice to boost up the "passed" precentage!

[suzanne4, RN]

85% pass the first time that they take the exam.

So that means that 15% will need to take it again.

The number of questions that you get has no bearing on telling you if you passed or did not pass. I get quite a few e-mails and pms from those that did not pass with 75, as well as those that passed with 265. The number is just that, a number. Too much focus is placed on that, and too many ulcers are created.

[KRVRN, BSN, RN]

I was an almost straight A student in nursing classes. My test shut off at 75 and I truly wondered if I failed. If you are answering correctly, the questions get harder and harder. It will probably get to where you feel like you are guessing on every one of them, so when it turns off at 75 you just might walk out feeling like you failed.

[Lurksalot, BSN, RN]

suzanne4 said:

85% pass the first time that they take the exam.

So that means that 15% will need to take it again.

The number of questions that you get has no bearing on telling you if you passed or did not pass. I get quite a few e-mails and pms from those that did not pass with 75, as well as those that passed with 265. The number is just that, a number. Too much focus is placed on that, and too many ulcers are created.

Yeah, I know it doesn't have bearing on telling you if you passed or not. I was just curious how many pass when they get 75, since it seems like so many people get the minimum of 75 questions. I actually posted this before I sat for my boards, so I had no idea I would end up getting 75 myself. I know there have been some fail with 75 also. The NCLEX bulletin said "candidates with very high or very low abilities tend to receive minmum length tests." So I was musing that those getting 75 questions are mostly passing. Most of my classmates had 75 questions so far.