265 questions on NCLEX?!

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Jun 9, 2018

With the Computer Adaptive Testing, 265 questions means that you're right on the brink of passing or failing; some people pass with 265 questions, and some people fail with 265 questions. If you'd had 75 questions it would mean that you either passed with flying colors or failed miserably, and it would be easier to advise you; unfortunately, with 265 questions there's no way to tell.

I wish I could give you a more comforting answer, but all you can do now is wait, pay for the quick-results if your state offers them, and possibly try your hand with the PVT (although I wouldn't personally recommend it).

Try to relax until you know your final results (I know that's easier said than done). If you passed, that's awesome. If not, it isn't the end of the world. There are plenty of people on this forum who failed in 75 questions and went on to pass when they re-tested. You'll get through this!

2016srnfcc · Jun 9, 2018

I just took the RN NCLEX and got all 265 questions and I am freaking out anyone else get all 265 on their exam too? Thoughts?

what did you use to study? also i know a couple of people who passed at 265. Any chance you can do the pearson vue trick?

skimille12 · Jun 9, 2018

Thank you. I will try my hardest to stay patient for my results!

skimille12 · Jun 9, 2018

I used Kaplan and the NCLEX RN Mastery app to study and always did well. What is the Pearson Vue trick?

adventure_rn, MSN, NP · Jun 9, 2018

I used Kaplan and the NCLEX RN Mastery app to study and always did well. What is the Pearson Vue trick?

There are tons of posts/forums about it if you use the AllNurses search bar (including the steps on how to do it, the benefits and risks, etc.) It's either known as the Pearson View Trick or the PVT.

Short answer: It's a way you can theoretically figure out whether or not you passed before your official results are available. You attempt to register to re-take the exam and see if the system will let you. In theory, the system should only allow you to register for a re-test if you didn't pass. If it accepts your credit card payment, then it suggests you didn't pass (aka the 'bad pop-up'). If the system gives you an error message saying you can't register for a re-test, then it suggests that you passed (aka the 'good pop-up').

I don't recommend it because a) it isn't always accurate anyway, and b) I'd be worried about losing the entire registration fee if the trick didn't work and I got the 'bad pop-up' even if I'd passed. However, I live in a state with the 48-hour 'quick results,' so I didn't find that it was a big deal to wait. I might have tried the trick if I lived in a state like California with no 'quick results,' where the official results take several weeks to process.

We occasionally see posters on AN who say that they got the 'bad pop-up' and felt devastated because they were sure they failed, then it turned out that they passed. We also occasionally see posters who say that they got the 'good pop-up' and were sure they passed, then were devastated because it turned out that they failed. I'd rather just wait for the official result than worry about getting the wrong answer from the PVT (just my 2 cents).

Best of luck!

skimille12 · Jun 9, 2018

Oh okay. Hmm yeah I think it's best for me to just wait it out. Thank you for the information!!

in-cognitus · Jun 11, 2018

I've never taken the NCLEX, but I did take Paramedic registry, and it was a varied test, like NCLEX where it adjusts based on how many you're getting right or wrong. However, it was also known that every so often someone would get the entire test regardless of how well they were doing. Could this be true of the NCLEX as well? Just a thought.

skimille12 · Jun 11, 2018

Good thing is I found out today that I PASSED!!!!!!!!

skimille12 · Jun 11, 2018

Update I found out I passed today!!

Daddie O, BSN, RN · Jun 11, 2018

Congrats! You should add RN to your name now :) I'm waiting for the ATT from the BRN and then I'll schedule my test.

kp2016 · Jun 11, 2018

I've never taken the NCLEX, but I did take Paramedic registry, and it was a varied test, like NCLEX where it adjusts based on how many you're getting right or wrong. However, it was also known that every so often someone would get the entire test regardless of how well they were doing. Could this be true of the NCLEX as well? Just a thought.

There was a common rumor in the past that some NCLEX test takers are randomly selected to be given all 265 questions regardless of how they are scoring. This is incorrect, I read somewhere on the official website that no test takers are ever randomly given the maximum number of questions.