Test question

Catys_With_Me · Feb 17, 2005

Does most of the class get the same percentage as you on tests at times?
A few days ago we took a big test, & the class statistics after the test were at 70%, which is what I got also about, also.
Isnt that strange most of us got low C's, or is that of the norm?

We don't get stats, I wish we did. From word of mouth it appears that in our class most people are clustered around the pass mark (75%), with several who make Bs and quite a few who don't pass. With each test we'll get probably 2-4 out of about 30 who got an A (93%). Some tests no one makes that A at all.

For most nursing schools most students find that it's fairly difficult to perform at the same level as they did in "regular" college. It can and is done, it's just harder to do. So it's normal that those scores fall for a lot of people, especially for the first exam when no one is quite sure what the tests are going to be like.

beautimouslove · Feb 17, 2005

Does most of the class get the same percentage as you on tests at times?
A few days ago we took a big test, & the class statistics after the test were at 70%, which is what I got also about, also.
Isnt that strange most of us got low C's, or is that of the norm?

:angryfire

Consider you self very lucky. 74 or below is an 'F'. and most people are avg. a 74 this semester. 9 out of 23 students are failing. And the instructors are fine with it.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 17, 2005

Tests can be developed to yield different grade distributions and schools design their tests to suit their particular purposes. Each school has its own philosphy about grades, tests, etc. Some schools use the tests to "weed out" those students who are performing below the desired level. Others place less emphasis on the tests and do the "weeding out" in the clinical courses ... or in their admissions processes ... or a few certain extra-tough classes. Some do very little "weeding out" and allow a large number of students to graduate who then can not pass the NCLEX exam.

Many years ago, when I first went to nursing school, every test was graded on a curve. The average score (the mean) was set at that point between a B and a C. Everyone who scored higher than average got a B (or better). Everyone who scored below the average got a C (or worse). In order to get an A or an F, you had to score more than 2 standard deviations above or below the mean. Because that is so statistically rare, few people got A's ... but then, few people got F's either.

llg

klone, MSN, RN · Feb 17, 2005

Does most of the class get the same percentage as you on tests at times?

In general, no.

I think last semester, the majority of the class got a B for their class grade, which is good.

mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 17, 2005

Our tests are curved...which I can only thank all higher powers for that or I would be failing (82% is failing in my program). After each test you get your grade and then the class avg. The class avg. is almost always above passing...so that's good. We tend to all do bad on a test together or all do good on a test together. It's weird.

HopefulRN2006 · Feb 17, 2005

thanks guys.

This is my second semester, and it seemed that most of us either do real bad, or most of us do real good on the tests. It seems like they are kind of set that way. Kinda weird, I wonder why. A student who sits behind me got an A last semester, and with this last test, she got the class average of 70%. I guess i don't feel so bad with my 69.4%! :chuckle

TifRN2B · Feb 18, 2005

78% is the lowest passing grade in my program. And all of our tests seem to be out of 40 points... which makes it a thin line to pass them. You can only miss 9 questions to get a 77.5%... so 8 really to be considered in the clear. Not a whole lot of room for error. It's tough... but I've made it this far.

Tif

crb613, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2005

78% is the lowest passing grade in my program. And all of our tests seem to be out of 40 points... which makes it a thin line to pass them. You can only miss 9 questions to get a 77.5%... so 8 really to be considered in the clear. Not a whole lot of room for error. It's tough... but I've made it this far.
Tif

78% is also the lowest passing grade in my program and they do not curve. We also have to take the HESI at the end of each class & that is 10% of your grade. We were told there would be no rounding of grades until the end of the semester otherwise you could gain points. :uhoh3: So if you are on the edge & bomb the HESI you are outta luck & we do have a few that are on the edge.

gerry79 · Feb 18, 2005

Just took my first nursing exam and scored an 84. passing in my program is 73, the average was 76. Quite a few did not pass. No curve, no compassion, no kidding! So what you score is what you score. Did well in my science classes with minimal studying, but know that I must continue to stay on top of the nursing material! Our nursing exam questions are NCLEX based, so needless to say they are very tricky! On test down 3 more to go until a short breather! Good luck everyone!!!!!!

fishbabies · Feb 18, 2005

Hi! Anything below 80% is failing in my program. If you go all the way through the semester and end up with 79.9%-you fail! They do not round up for any grade. Usually by the third test, the class starts thinning out because their average in the class has gotten so far below the 80%, that they will not be able to bring it back up! Very stressful!... I will be so happy when this semester is over, then I will only have two more semesters to go! :)

manna, BSN, RN · Feb 18, 2005

Passing in our program is a 74% or above - no curve. We also don't get statistics, but I wish we did.