Select All That Apply

Our instructors told us it will never be just one and very rarely all.

We were told it could be just one. I'm in my fourth semester of nursing school and I've seen that be the case once. I wouldn't rule it out, but I think most of the time there will be more than one answer.

I was remediating a student recently and we found several websites with SATA type questions. You can get a better idea if you look at samples.

There's a whole big thread on "Why you don't need to fear SATA questions" on the NCLEX forum. I recommend it. :)

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/why-you-dont-902671.html

In answer to your initial question, there is no rule about that. There are often SATA questions with only one correct choice, doubtless because test constructors know about this old (or not-so-old) wives' (students') tale.

I just took the NCLEX and there were a ton of SATA. I had two that I only picked one answer for. Seemed odd to do it, but the other answers just didn't fit. I also had a ton where I picked all but one.

I was taught to go through each option and ask yourself whether it is correct or incorrect in relation to the question, and either select or eliminate it. Most importantly, if you are choosing or eliminating an answer, have a rationale in mind. There is no golden rule for these questions, because they are intended to test your knowledge rather than allow you to make educated guesses. So you may have a,b,c,d,e all selected or just a.

There is a great ATI (integrated testing program similar to Kaplan, used by many nursing programs) video on YouTube that helps you approach these types of questions. It really reinforces the way I was taught to tackle select all that apply questions.

Good luck and keep taking practice questions to get comfortable! :)

We have had sata that were only one answer, and some that were all of the choices. The approach I have used that is helpful is to break each individual answer down with the question and see if it rings true for what is being asked.

Yes, I've definitely had some answers that were all correct, but I've not yet encountered one with only a single correct answer. That said, I've only been in school for a month. Thanks for the feedback all!

I would assume that there would be no concrete rules for SATA questions. If I would have to come up with one it would be that there will always be at least one correct selection. This would be due to the fact that for many testing applications will not allow you to continue without a selection. Don’t know if the NCLEX follows this rule though.

Funny thing is that I have noticed many patterns depending on which testing resource or application you are using. There is one testing program we used in class that you could usually assume that if there was 5 possible selections then there would be 3 correct choices, and if there were 6 possible selections then there would be 2 or 4 correct choices. The only SATA questions that I encountered in which all possible choices were correct were the ones written by our fundamentals instructor.

I believe that the best way to proceed would be to have a good grasp on the subject and take each selection as an individual T/F question. If you start depending on patterns then you would also take exams and think to yourself “you know I haven’t selected C for some time now, this answer is C.” Also don’t talk yourself into answers by interjecting a plausible situation or event. For example if the question is talking about orthostatic hypotension, and come across a selection that says “get out of bed as normal” then choose “no”. Even if you are aware that the body can overcome this effect once it is used to being exposed to some medications for an extended period of time. That is an overly simplistic question/situation but I have known fellow students that would fall for it every time.

Either way remember that you may never get everyone correct, but you can increase you results by practicing these questions.

Good Lord, even reading the thread title made me hiss and swipe at my screen like an angry cat.

I have encountered both one and all answers being correct on the SATA questions, and about a third of my NCLEX questions were select-alls.

I've learned to read the question carefully, go with my gut, imagine my test whispering "May the odds be ever in your favor," and go on.