75 Questions on NCLEX, pass or fail?

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  1. 75 Questions on NCLEX-- Did you Pass or fail?

    • 3569
      Pass
    • 644
      Fail

1,658 members have participated

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?

Specializes in L&D, Orthopedics & Public Health.
smilenmum said:
i just took the nclex today for the second time. the first time i failed with taking 265 questions. today i had 75 questions and..... think i failed. i read the entire saunders book, did all the questions, and did an additional 50-100 questions a day using kaplan. i had a lot of select all's, one med calc, tons of priority. i am so nervous, anyone have any advice for me. i'll take anything right now. i keep thinking to myself, i studied so much more for this one, but i feel like such a failure.:no:

from the sounds of it everyone that took the nclex with in the past 2 months has had about the same type of questions. rns & lpns. i too had 1 med calc, 1 hot spot, lots of select all and priority type questions. and sounds like everyone feels like they failed when they walk out of there.

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Well, the first time I took the exam in June of 2008, I was sure I had passed when my computer shut off at 81 questions. I really was amazed at how easy the questions were (the majority were comprehension based) and was glad that I hadn't "wasted" all that extra time studying harder. You can imagine my shock, sadness, and disbelief when I found out a few days later that I had failed. The knife only dug in even more when I learned I was the only one in my nursing class of 21 who had failed on the first attempt.

When I took the exam the second time, after studying for 5 weeks straight, 20 hours/week, my computer shut off at 75. Ironically, this time I was sure that I had failed because the questions were SO MUCH HARDER than the first time around. I immediately burst into tears after I exited the test site, for I hadn't been told that the harder the questions become, the better you are doing on the test. That day was easily the most angst-ridden, nerve-wracking day I have ever experienced. I was just sick with grief and sobbed uncontrollably for hours.

Lo and behold, I found out the next morning that I had passed!! What a relief!

To all you out there who just completed the NCLEX and it shut off at 75, I know EXACTLY how you must be feeling right now...upset, depressed, consumed in worry, and certain you have failed. It is just absolutely unbearable, and a day you will probably never forget. Please take comfort in knowing that if you spent many hours studying for this exam (I spent 85 for my first attempt, and an additional 125 for my second), and covered all your weak content areas from school, that the odds of passing are in your favor. You are all bright, intelligent people, and if you passed nursing school, no matter if you did well on your school exams or not (I was a terrible nursing exam test-taker, no matter how hard I studied), you are extremely capable of passing this exam. Just keep the faith, and pray very hard! :wink2:

And if for some reason you find out that you have failed, THIS IS NOT THE END!! It does not mean you are not a fantastic, compassionate, smart, safe nurse IN ANY SENSE!! From someone who failed the exam the first time, the Board stating you are not an RN only means that TEMPORARILY you cannot practice nursing, not forever and ever and ever!! :nurse: In your heart, soul, and mind, you are a nurse; just because you don't have your initials yet doesn't mean a thing! If you find out you have failed, what you'll need to do is first TAKE A BREAK FROM STUDYING, as long as it takes for you to rejuvenate and re-prepare yourself to study for the exam again. I took three weeks off from studying after I failed the first time, just to refocus, re-up my self-esteem, and to give my burned-out brain a much-needed break (the test takes A LOT out of you, at least it did for me). Then, when you feel confident and ready to study again, you should have received your diagnostic print-out from your state board indicating where your weak areas lie; from this, study these areas more thoroughly then you did previously the first time, but don't forget to still pay attention to the areas you did good in, too.

You can do it!! Don't give up!! :yeah:

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Specializes in L&D, Orthopedics & Public Health.
Hockeydoll88 said:
Well, the first time I took the exam in June of 2008, I was sure I had passed when my computer shut off at 81 questions. I really was amazed at how easy the questions were (the majority were comprehension based) and was glad that I hadn't "wasted" all that extra time studying harder. You can imagine my shock, sadness, and disbelief when I found out a few days later that I had failed. The knife only dug in even more when I learned I was the only one in my nursing class of 21 who had failed on the first attempt.

When I took the exam the second time, after studying for 5 weeks straight, 20 hours/week, my computer shut off at 75. Ironically, this time I was sure that I had failed because the questions were SO MUCH HARDER than the first time around. I immediately burst into tears after I exited the test site, for I hadn't been told that the harder the questions become, the better you are doing on the test. That day was easily the most angst-ridden, nerve-wracking day I have ever experienced. I was just sick with grief and sobbed uncontrollably for hours.

Lo and behold, I found out the next morning that I had passed!! What a relief!

To all you out there who just completed the NCLEX and it shut off at 75, I know EXACTLY how you must be feeling right now...upset, depressed, consumed in worry, and certain you have failed. It is just absolutely unbearable, and a day you will probably never forget. Please take comfort in knowing that if you spent many hours studying for this exam (I spent 85 for my first attempt, and an additional 125 for my second), and covered all your weak content areas from school, that the odds of passing are in your favor. You are all bright, intelligent people, and if you passed nursing school, no matter if you did well on your school exams or not (I was a terrible nursing exam test-taker, no matter how hard I studied), you are extremely capable of passing this exam. Just keep the faith, and pray very hard! :wink2:

And if for some reason you find out that you have failed, THIS IS NOT THE END!! It does not mean you are not a fantastic, compassionate, smart, safe nurse IN ANY SENSE!! From someone who failed the exam the first time, the Board stating you are not an RN only means that TEMPORARILY you cannot practice nursing, not forever and ever and ever!! :nurse: In your heart, soul, and mind, you are a nurse; just because you don't have your initials yet doesn't mean a thing! If you find out you have failed, what you'll need to do is first TAKE A BREAK FROM STUDYING, as long as it takes for you to rejuvenate and re-prepare yourself to study for the exam again. I took three weeks off from studying after I failed the first time, just to refocus, re-up my self-esteem, and to give my burned-out brain a much-needed break (the test takes A LOT out of you, at least it did for me). Then, when you feel confident and ready to study again, you should have received your diagnostic print-out from your state board indicating where your weak areas lie; from this, study these areas more thoroughly then you did previously the first time, but don't forget to still pay attention to the areas you did good in, too.

You can do it!! Don't give up!! :yeah:

I just wanted to say well put and thank you. I think that we all needed this bit of inspiration.:yeah::bow:

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You are very welcome! I came to this website on 08/27/2008, when I took the exam the second time, to seek guidance from others about what the 75 Q's meant...and boy, did it ever help my worried heart! It gave me comfort knowing that other test-takers could relate to what I was going through in the "waiting period" before finding out one's results. This website is so helpful because of all these active members like you sharing their experiences! So thanks!! :thankya:

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Im an RN from the phil. i took my exam last sept. 4, i got 95 questions I only got my results yesterday...I failed...:cry: so it doesnt matter really if you got 75 or 95 or 265. i dont know what to do next someone please help me. it is very expensive for me to take the exam again. I am afraid to fail again. Nursing in the phil is really hard and the compensation is really not so good so I really would like to get a job i the US and raise my chilld there...someone help me get my confidence back...

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Hi clengieRN,

I am so, so sorry to hear that you did not pass the exam. :crying2: I know how heartbreaking this must be for you, and all the emotions that are overwhelming you right now. I have been where you are, and I know how painful, discouraging, and saddening this is for you...my heart aches just thinking about what you are going through. Please know that you CAN and WILL pass the exam, I promise you; just no matter what, do not give up!! And please do not feel that it is your fault for not passing; I am sure you did everything in your power to try and pass.

A kind nurse told me the first time that I failed that, "Honey, for some reason, this just was not your day. We all encounter bumps on the road of life that we may never understand, but they truly make us better people for it." And I totally agree with that. Looking back, I realize how I appreciate being a nurse so much more because of how damn hard I had to work for my RN!! :rotfl:. I have so much respect people who fail the exam, whether it's once or multiple times, and they "get back on the horse" and they try it again (and pass! :nurse: Which I know you will do!) Failing the test and then trying to pass again speaks volumes about the type of powerful, compassionate nurse that you will be...and your patients will even be able to relate to you more, as I have found.

Good luck to you, and you will be in my thoughts! Please post again and let us know how the second attempt goes! I will be rooting for you, and please feel free to ask me any questions if you need to! God bless!

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Specializes in none.
Hockeydoll88 said:
Here is the link to a website I am borrowing from luv4nursing in a different thread. It is a letter explaining the CAT method of NCLEX testing. It was really helpful while I was waiting for my results, and I hope it will be helpful to all of you, too.

Thanks for the link. I should have known this site before Sept. 30, the date I took my NCLEX exam (first time). At least now I understand how the exam works. I haven't received my results yet. I am in the same boat as the other members here who experience the "agony of waiting". Until now, I haven't received my letter from the CA BON (I do not have a SSN yet, and I'm a foreign nurse grad). The NCLEX was the toughest exam that I've ever experienced. I really thought I failed when the computer shut down after 75 questions. I am a little demoralized right now, but after reading some of the inspiring messages from NCLEX threads in this forum, at least some of the "agony" I am experiencing right now has been diminished. Plus, the link you posted really enlightened me on how that "nightmarish" exam works!

Thanks again for the link, and here's still hoping that I passed.

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I took my NCLEX today and got 76 questions. I know I got the last question wrong b/c I looked up the answer immediately after leaving the exam. Since I got the last question wrong, does this mean I failed at 76 questions? HELP! I don't know if I can wait two days for my results, I am going crazy!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab, HH.

I tested on Thursday, it shut off at 75 questions. I had alot of delegation and priority questions, of all areas.....

I passed.

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is 75 really just a number?

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Specializes in ER/Geriatrics.

Is there anywhere that gives you sample nclex questions?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab, HH.
BettyBoo706 said:
is 75 really just a number?

75 is the minimum number when the computer determines a pass or fail.

Most people pass when it stops at 75, but..some people fail at that number too.

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