repeat pass rate lower than first time test takers

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why is the pass rate for repeat test takers (ME) so lower than first time test takers, it alomost like flipping a coin.

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Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

This is a good question, one I have asked before. I am not sure but I think that because the group representing the percentage that didn't pass is a group at risk. So the percentage of passing for this group is lower than the entire group of test takers.

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Specializes in soon to be Peds Onco : ).

I have heard many different things when asking nursing professors why they believe this is so. Two that I believe are huge are number one the people who have already failed are even more nervous than the people who are taking it for the first time and number two you are starting to forget the content and critical thinking skills you were utilzing during clinical and nursing school.

First time test takers: 88% pass

Second time test takers: only about half

Third time test takers: is only about one quarter 25%

Honestly; having come from a BSN program which are known to have lower pass rates than associate degree programs (some people believe based on the way they teach the Bachelors Programs and others believe because the content is spread over a longer period of time). I couldn't remember anything from med surg... by the time I had graduated it had been one full year since I had anything med surg related... and since then I had gone through OB Peds Community Health in PERU and then home health... if you think I could remember one thing you must have been kidding yourself. I took Kaplan and while I did TONS of questions; I truly believe the reason I passed wasn't their strategies or practice questions but the review of content. It opened my eyes to what holes had appeared in my knowledge base over the time since I had been tested on it and made me start to fill those holes back in. In addition their was apparently a TON of STUFF on the NCLEX that I had never even learned in nursing school EVER... I told my mom that I thought I was ripped off 53,000 dollars a year and still I didn't learn everything. So I completely learned that knowledge for the first time. Most of the questions I answered on the NCLEX were stuff that I had relearned or learned for the first time. Prioritization however you have to learn the method to the madness who would you see first etc. In the end I watched all of the content review and made sure I knew everything in it and did about 2500 questions over about 5 weeks... but it was totally worth it because I PASSED and found out today!

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Way to go, tmarti! I am from a BSN program, too, and am worried about how much I forgot already. I think you and Marcos are probably right on all accounts:

1. "at risk" population

2. nerves!

3. forgotten items

I am guessing that the first two are harder to overcome.

Really, if you think about it, it is a lot like the "success rate" for first, second, and subsequent marriages going down.

And perhaps:

4. There is a much smaller sample number with each subsequent test, so each failure kind of counts more, statistically speaking.

In any case, you can overcome these odds, and pass this time! Good luck!

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@ tmarti09 i think that my situation is related to your, i only did questions the first time when i failed and now i am doing a review book by exam cram, me being a lpn already i never had to deal with hospital based questions and also i went through a fast track to bridge to get my rn the first semster was only 6 week and we tested on 22 chapters a week, the second and third semester was about 2 weeks of learning 22 chapter, so i think i only study to pass the test and not apply and comprehend the knowlege in long term memory, now that i am reviewing the content all over, its open my eyes to things i never knew or needed to re-learn.......thanks for your input i hope that i don't become an example of the nclex failure rate the second time.

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Probably has to do with how well a person prepared.

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Specializes in NICU.

Honestly; having come from a BSN program which are known to have lower pass rates than associate degree programs quote]

I know it's not the topic being addressed, but actually BSN programs have statistically higher pass rates than ADN programs. Diploma programs have the highest rate overall.

https://www.ncsbn.org/Table_of_Pass_Rates_2009.pdf

My thought on the lower pass rates for second time test takers echo the previous sentiments. It has to be considered why the person fails also. Did they fail because they are awful at taking tests, despite knowing and understanding the material? Did they not prep enough, but with some more work will pass? Did nerves get the better of them? These people will eventually pass as long as they keep trying and take measures to address whatever problem it is that they are having with the test. I have an idea that most of the people that are unable to pass after many tries are not addressing the problems that are leading to their failure, whether it is study habits, test nerves, question reading strategies, etc. They study, take the test, fail, and then repeat with out ever changing their tactics.

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Specializes in soon to be Peds Onco : ).

Well at least in my area associate programs are known to have a higher success rate... most of them boast a 100 percent pass rate year after year.

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