75 questions

hellosmile · Jan 15, 2015

Hey, at least it's over now! I had about 90 q's on mine and didn't feel too good about it coming out of the testing room, but then I passed. Did you have a lot of SATA q's? Usually that's a good sign that you're scoring above passing level. I think 25% of my test was SATA

I know it's hard to not think about it, but try to relax! You worked so hard and deserve a break :)

beckyboo1, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2015

Hey, at least it's over now! I had about 90 q's on mine and didn't feel too good about it coming out of the testing room, but then I passed. Did you have a lot of SATA q's? Usually that's a good sign that you're scoring above passing level. I think 25% of my test was SATA
I know it's hard to not think about it, but try to relax! You worked so hard and deserve a break :)

According to NCSBN "These item formats do not affect candidate pass rates. These items have a calibrated difficulty level as do standard multiple-choice items, and, as such, are counted like standard items when computing a candidate's final ability estimate."

I took the NCLEX today too, shut off at 75 questions. I had been an LPN for years, but I couldn't say for certain whether I think I passed or not either. I just didn't have a "great" feel for whether I answered the questions or not. Thankfully, I can get the results in 48 hours.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jan 16, 2015

becky is correct; SATA indicates absolutely nothing other than that is the format of the question you got. A SATA question can be above passing standard or below. Getting SATA questions means....you got SATA questions.

On the question "have I ever heard of anyone getting 75 questions and failing?" Well, of course, and lots. Just like I have heard of people getting 75 questions and passing......and lots.

Think of it this way: stopping at 75 means you either were doing very well and could demonstrate quickly that you had met the minimum competency standard....or....you were doing very poorly and no matter how many more questions you got you'd never pass that day.

Considering your prep for the exam, what kind of student you were, your school's passing rate, etc etc.....which is the more likely scenario?

JonnyQ23 · Jan 16, 2015

I don't buy it. I know what NCLEX says, but if you are getting loads of SATA's and the test stops at 75 questions, you're going to be in pretty good shape in the end.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 16, 2015

The fallacy in thought there is the fact that there are "easier" low level SATA and high level SATA. Just like there are high and low level multiple choice

JonnyQ23 · Jan 16, 2015

So my question is how are questions rated as far as their difficulty? Is it a group that decides how hard a question is, or is difficulty established by how often the question is answered correctly/incorrectly in it's trial run to be included in the NCLEX. From all the prep I did for NCLEX and tests in nursing school (all NCLEX style), the "pros" all said SATAs are the most often missed questions.

kimmy20 · Jan 16, 2015

It's true what they say about SATA and how the amount doesn't determine whether you're passing or failing. I had a friend that had 75 questions and half were SATA and he failed. I had 265 questions and had only about 14 SATA and passed. But from most cases that I hear about having a bunch of SATA, it does tend to lean on the favorable side of passing. Everyone has a different NCLEX experience so I wouldn't count on it. Good luck!

beckyboo1, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2015

Does anyone know why in some states we can get quick results in 48 hours but then we're told it could be 6 weeks before we get the paper results in the mail? Seems like a long time in between.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 16, 2015

So my question is how are questions rated as far as their difficulty? Is it a group that decides how hard a question is, or is difficulty established by how often the question is answered correctly/incorrectly in it's trial run to be included in the NCLEX. From all the prep I did for NCLEX and tests in nursing school (all NCLEX style), the "pros" all said SATAs are the most often missed questions.

Blooms Taxonomy is one of the methods the NCSBN determines a questions level of difficulty. Unless trained in educational assessment, it's highly unlikely most nurse candidates can determine the level of difficulty by looking at a question.

While SATA might me the most often missed question its more likely due to student preparation or the way they view the question that causes difficulty rather than actual difficulty level of the alternate format question. I approached each choice as a true false such as:

There are many colors of the rainbow which of the spectrum are on the visible rainbow. Select all that apply:

A red

B chartreuse

C violet

D purple

E yellow

I know ROYGBIV (red orange yellow green blue indigo violet) purple is a distractor as is chartreuse (variant of green) so then

A red. TRUE

B chartreuse. FALSE

C violet. TRUE

D purple. FALSE

E yellow. TRUE

Correct answer: A C E

And now you see why I am not an educational professional

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jan 16, 2015

Does anyone know why in some states we can get quick results in 48 hours but then we're told it could be 6 weeks before we get the paper results in the mail? Seems like a long time in between.

State BoN choice.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jan 17, 2015

I don't buy it. I know what NCLEX says, but if you are getting loads of SATA's and the test stops at 75 questions, you're going to be in pretty good shape in the end.

Or you will have failed.

Some people will say that more than half of their test was SATA format. Others report 20 out of 200. To say that if your test stops at 75 and you are "getting loads of SATA, you're going to be in pretty good shape at the end" is absolutely incorrect.

On this very thread is this post:

It's true what they say about SATA and how the amount doesn't determine whether you're passing or failing. I had a friend that had 75 questions and half were SATA and he failed. I had 265 questions and had only about 14 SATA and passed.

If you are getting loads of SATA questions, have proven to a 95% certainty by 75 questions that you are competent, you will pass at that point. If your 'loads' of SATA questions leaves you far below the passing standard at 75 questions, it will stop....and you will fail. It's that simple, really.....time to let the SATA myth go :)