Reassurance about "easy" vs "hard" questions

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jun 16, 2006

Great point, Elizabells. While there are question types that we can sometimes identify as higher-level (like select all that apply, priority, etc) or lower-level (like math), the content of a question is going to make it so that what seems easy to one might be ridiculously hard to another.

It all boils down to this: Before you become seriously depressed, resign from your new job, question all that you ever became, and decide to commit seppuku, at least wait the 48 hours (1 week, 2 weeks, whatever it is in your case) to hear pass/fail from the official source. And never assume that just because your friend's test stopped at 75 questions, you must fail if you go to 90. People pass and fail after all different numbers of questions.

elizabells, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2006

Eric, te adoro.

Also, don't commit anything until, and actually, after, you get your results. Here's another piece of reassurance for the waiting time:

Standardized tests and I are like soulmates. I got a 1500 on my SAT I. 2350 on my SAT II. GRE? 740/670/5. I got 75 questions on my NCLEX and I was POSITIVE I had failed. Everyone around me was all yeah, yeah, false modesty, test-o-girl, but I was SURE. And then I didn't. The whole POINT of the NCLEX is that you are choosing the BEST answer, so all of them are sorta-kinda right, for the most part. I honestly know, like, two people (and that includes all my allnurses buddies) who walked out of there thinking they passed.

LeesieBug · Jun 16, 2006

It all boils down to this: Before you become seriously depressed, resign from your new job, question all that you ever became, and decide to commit seppuku, at least wait the 48 hours (1 week, 2 weeks, whatever it is in your case) to hear pass/fail from the official sourve. And never assume that just because your friend's test stopped at 75 questions, you must fail if you go to 90. People pass and fail after all different numbers of questions.

:rotfl: Thank you for that laugh as I sit, not-so-patiently waiting for results...trying not to over analyze anything and avoiding "seppuku". Too funny.

While I am in not the type to freak out over these things, I am surprised about how anxious I actually am.

ut_utRN · Jun 16, 2006

Yap, you are right!

hoping26 · Jun 17, 2006

i too am waiting anxiously for my results...it is day two for me

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Jun 17, 2006

Eric, te adoro.

That's really sweet, elizabells.

Even more than a sticky about the number of questions or a sticky about easy/hard, an 'NCLEX Myths and Facts' sticky might give people lots of good info right on one screen. Things like:

- You can't tell pass/fail strictly based on the number of questions. People pass and fail at all different numbers.

- You can't tell pass/fail strictly by whether you got the last question right or wrong.

- Both passers and failers tend to get around 50% of their questions right. The determining factor is the level of difficulty of those questions.

- etc, etc

I'm sure we could come up with lots of info, but I'm not sure if it would dramatically reduce the traffic through the forum. Much of what we see is just frustration, nervousness and anticipation. It's a tough test - what better way to spend your 48 hours (or more) waiting on results than to vent about it on Allnurses? :)

all4schwa · Jun 17, 2006

- Both passers and failers tend to get around 50% of their questions right. The determining factor is the level of difficulty of those questions.

when determining your compentency level, the test will take you (everyone) to the point where you are missing %50...so if you miss the last few, that's okay, you are supposed to be missing %50, its just about where you are on the continuum...if it seems like the questions are ungodly hard, they may be, but that doesn't mean they were intended to be answered correctly...

btw, i'm still waiting for my att, not that i'm ready to test yet anyway...or am i? :uhoh3: