Random Valuable NCLEX Facts :)

Just took the NCLEX and now have a bunch of questions about how we think you did, whether the PVT really works, what happens next, and so on? READ THIS and find out your answers!

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Here's a Not-So-Quick List (but a pretty thorough one!) of miscellaneous questions that get posted FREQUENTLY:

✔️ If you needed to answer only the minimum number of questions (75 for RN, 85 for PN) you either did very well and could demonstrate in a minimum amount of questioning that you were competent to begin nursing practice....OR.....you did very poorly and the computer knew that no matter how many questions it threw your way, there was no possibility of you passing that day.

✔️ Other than the above, ANY NUMBER of questions between 76 and 265 can be given without ANY INDICATION of whether you passed or failed. Please don't ask everyone "I got 104 questions, do you think I passed?" We don't know. We can't know. Gotta wait.

✔️ Having many SATA questions, having few SATA questions, means nothing. SATA is not indicative of "higher level questions", this is a myth. SATA questions may be above the passing standard, or below it. And it's danged near impossible to know which it is, since one person's "hard" question might be someone else's "easy" question. If you get SATA questions.....you get SATA questions. Same as if you got drag/drop, etc. Don't read anything more into it.

✔️ Now for the biggie......ready?......"DOES THE PVT WORK?!?!" Yes....and no. It "works" as well as it has ever "worked"; people repeatedly saying "it worked for me" or "it didn't work for me" just means they either did it correctly.....or they didn't.

So how does it work? Well, for starters, the NCLEX is scored two times within a 24 hour period. Anyone trying the PVT PRIOR TO 24 HOURS after their exam ONLY knows what their first score was. That's it. Nothing else. They know that it's *LIKELY* they have guessed correctly....but those who say "it didn't work for me, it was wrong, it said I passed/failed and I failed/passed" didn't heed the info in this post .

If your first scoring (done immediately upon completion) is a PASS, and you try the trick after that first scoring, you think 'yay, I PASSED!' And with any luck you did. But not until the SECOND scoring is done will that be known. For those who try the trick right after they leave the testing site and see their card was charged (failed), they then think 'OH NO! I failed!' but that might be just as wrong. Because if the second score is a PASS, that is the one that sticks.....AND they'll be out $$ for a new test registration they don't need. AND it's non-refundable, forget about getting it back.

MOST people will fall into the group of people whose second scores match their first: pass or fail the first scoring is also pass or fail the second. They didn't find out early if they passed or failed, they just didn't realize they only had HALF the picture....and probably will never know, unless they learn how this thing works.

So, everyone.....will trying the PVT let you know if you passed or failed? YES.....if you do it only as described. Don't do it before 24 hours' time, period. Why make yourself nuts?

✔️ "My registration is "on hold", what does that mean?!" It means that a hold was placed on your exam results; holds last typically from 24-72 hours. During this time, you CANNOT GET ANYWHERE WITH PVT. IT WON'T WORK until the hold is lifted.

So why is there a hold? Maybe you finished 'too fast'. Maybe your palm scan didn't take on the first pass through.....maybe a fingerprint scan missed. Maybe there was a computer glitch at your testing facility; a power loss that puts everyone on backup power is a safe bet for a hold. Sometimes there is a cheating concern, or someone in your testing center had an issue along those lines. There are LOTS of reasons, some of which you might not even be aware of, and are wondering "why" you have a hold.

But here's the thing: Doesn't matter why. It just is. And having a hold placed doesn't make you any less likely to pass than if there WASN'T a hold placed. Go with it.

Quick Results are OFFICIAL 'pass' or 'fail' results, released by Pearson Vue for a fee of $8. These results are for the test ONLY, and don't indicate when or if a license will be issued in your name: that's up to the State BoN you applied to.

WHEN will your State BoN post your license info? Varies tremendously by State. Some do it within a day or two, others a week, others a few weeks or longer. If you are sure there is nothing in your background that precludes you from being issued a license, DON'T sit there freaking out that you don't see your name on the BoN's website! Waste of good celebrating time, honestly.

Some States don't participate in Quick Results. For you, "Results Not Available" will ALWAYS show up as a pop up when you try to find out (AFTER 48 HOURS, please!) what your QR's are. Sorry!

Time for a wrap up! ?

  1. Don't read more into the type of questions, number of questions than you know at face value.
  2. Don't think a hold indicates a pass or fail....it indicates only a hold.
  3. Don't do the PVT before 24 hours and think you know something. You don't.

And above all, try to remember that while everyone HATES this test, it IS only a test....one of SO MANY you took since you started school! It isn't designed to test proficiency, just minimum competency.....so BREATHE!! You got through school, you got through test prep....you GOT this!!

Thanks for the reply! So, the only way to test the PVT is to wait the 24 hours after taking NCLEX and try the credit card entry?

Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

But it's not guaranteed as its the exploitation of a registration glitch and there is always a relative (theoretically small) risk of being charged a non-refundable $200 for a false negative or celebrating a false positive. Does your state participate in quick results? If so, wait 48 clock hours and pay the $8 for accurate results. You can always check your BoN license verification system to see if a license was issued (absolute accuracy) before risking a $200 charge trying the trick or paying $8 for just pass/fail results.

Good luck

My state (Indiana) does participate in quick results. If I tested at noon on Thursday, do I have to wait exactly 24 hours to attempt the PVT?

Do you know if my state BoN will update before the 24 hour?

twilliams9259 said:
My state (Indiana) does participate in quick results. If I tested at noon on Thursday, do I have to wait exactly 24 hours to attempt the PVT?

Do you know if my state BoN will update before the 24 hour?

I think you're confusing two different things.

The PVT is an unsanctioned "glitch" of the computer software registration program that Pearson Vue uses; for the most part if you attempt it prior to 24 hours you aren't any more 'in the know' than if you wait a full 24 hours, and only risk non-refundable charges. AFTER 24 hours from time of COMPLETION, it's been *mostly* accurate but by no means 100% AND it's just guesswork, not an official result.

Quick Results is a fee-for-service that Pearson Vue offers. The fee you pay is $7.95, is the official pass/fail result of your exam, and is only available 48 hours from COMPLETION of your exam. Sometimes it's available an hour or two earlier, but 48 hours is the standard.

I have no idea if your State will update it's webpage prior to that. You can always check it and see.

I'm not confusing the two, I'm just anxious. I just reread my post and I see it's all over the place and I didn't make myself clear. What I meant to ask is, do I need to wait exactly 24 hours before trying the PVT? I tested at noon yesterday, so should I wait until exactly noon today to attempt it? You answered my question anyway (I guess after so many comments on these forums you can understand crazy-talkí ½í¸œ).

My next question about my BoN, I wanted to know if they would post my license status when they received the second score (in the 24 hour time period). I answered my own question when I logged in my Pearson Vue account. I took my LPN boards (on 7/14/07) but wasn't issued a license until 48 hours later (7/16/07).

I think my best option is to wait for the quick results. I'm not sure what time I completed my exam, and I'm not going to stress myself even more trying to pinpoint the when the PVT should be attempted. Thank you for your feedback!

Specializes in critical care.

Bumping this beautiful creation.

:yes: This needs to be automatically read by everyone before they are allowed to even post a comment about

taking the Nclex..:sarcastic:

I got a good pop-up after 24hrs. BON for FL says waiting for result. I did the Search Quick COnfirm and nothing came up under my name.

This is so true, I tried the trick 24 hrs after the test. Good pop-up but my name is not on BON yet. It's only 24 hrs after taking the test. I just tried the quick search now, could not find my name. I totally agree with you.

Specializes in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Thank you for taking the time to research and get these answers! Very helpful!

You're welcome ?

Only thing I'd add to this is that in recent months the PVT has been a bit more "iffy" than it used to be. At one time, it was almost unheard of for a "pop up" that one received AFTER 24 hours to give an unexpected result. What you got....you got.

However, over the last couple/few months in particular, there is an increasing number of reports from people who say they submitted credit card info, a charge attempt was made (or actually charged) which was always considered "the bad pop up" and in the end they DID PASS. It would seem that PV simply began making more charge attempts when people continued to willingly submit funds :no:

I guess in the end, "forewarned is forearmed", and people will do what they will!

Considering the number of posts that begin "I'm freaking out...!!!!!" I think I'll bump this.

People, don't freak out. It doesn't look good on you and frankly it's never once helped anyone...ever.

You need to do your best to remain calm, think rationally. "Freaking out" does you no good whatsoever.

Breathe ?