Test Taking Frustration

jjjoy, LPN · Feb 12, 2009

Sounds like you're having trouble with the particular type of questions being asked.

I found some nursing school tests a total drain on confidence because the rationales for why "the best" answer was better than the reasonable, but apparently not best, alternative answer weren't always very convincing to me. I could see why BOTH answers were reasonable and justified but sometimes the not-best-answer sure sounded like the better answer to me! And when I tried to get an explanation, I sometimes got a dismissive non-explanation such as "if you used your critical thinking skills, you would see why this is the better answer."

Some instructors have a very quirky way of writing test questions. If you otherwise understand and retain the content, it may be that you need to read the test questions differently. Instead of thinking "based on what I've studied, what is the best answer here?" it helped me to think "based on previous experience, what would the instructor probably say is the best answer here?"

Good luck!!

Rayder16 · Feb 12, 2009

Thank you jjjoy, your advice does make sense. I am glad I am not the only one who has felt like this. It is so true that you end up selecting answers that make sense to you, but then the professor has their own rationale, which tends to only make sense to them and does not reflect what you have studied. I will definitely look at the exam and choose my answers differently. Thank you. :mad:

athena55, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2009

this may sound kind of silly, but have you attempted to reach out to your instructor? Not sure how they would react, but I know when I was having troubles - I was on academic probation my entire first year of nursing school - I went to the instructors and told them I needed more help, tutoring, practice questions, articles to read, ANYTHING....And, they were all helpful to me.

I would certainly hope that your instructors would be willing to help you, even a wee bit....?

I think of it this way: All your instructors can say to you is "No". What is that expression? Nothing ventured, nothing gained?

Sigh, I feel for you, I do.

athena

Rayder16 · Feb 12, 2009

Hi, athena:

I have met with my instructors and they are really not much help. All they tell you is to practice more questions and read the text. I have gone to the tutors but it has been a waste of time because they are also students and they help you to understand the material, which I do not have trouble with, but they aren't much help as far as strategies to passing these exams. I have classmates that have graduated from elites schools, such as Colombia University, Duke, and NYU and they are also struggling in the program and cannot ace these exams. It is so disheartening. Thank you for your advice.

NamasteNurse, BSN, RN · Feb 12, 2009

Mybe if you get one of those NCLEX test books like saunders and practice. They give you the right answers and the rationale for why. Also, the 'right' answer is usually straight out of the book. You have to read the material at least three times for it to sink in. (At least I do, and I have a college degree). Do all of the questions at the end of the chapter, do all of the vocabulary. DO every practice question you can. Then when you take the test, there's alomost always two totally dumb answers you can cross out. The other two will both be good, but one will be better. You have to pass the tests so do it their way and suck it up. It's the only hope! :bowingpur

Ashley195 · Feb 25, 2009

Thats crazy how your school makes the passing grade 4 points higher the second time you take the course. I suppose it makes sense in theory because its supposedly easier the second time around. However, I can sympathize when you say its just as hard the second time around. It seems like for the nursing exams I've taken, a lot of questions have seemed hit or miss. I look back on some of the old questions I got right and sometimes think that a big part of the reason why I get them right is luck. Not so much because we don't know what we're talking about, but because of the way these questions are worded and what our professors are looking for.

I do have a suggestion though. You say you study all the time, so clearly thats not your problem as long as you're studying the right material. Maybe one of your problems is overthinking the questions. I know my professors are always telling my class to go with our first instinct and stick to it. But sometimes we think too far ahead and get ourselves mixed up. So I'm thinking you're issue might be overthinking due to stress. I would suggest you take the day before your test and just relax. Let everything sink in in a natural, stress free way. Do something nice for yourself the day before the test. You can think about some of the topics (thats only natural), but don't busy yourself by looking over all your notes over and over again. That way you've given your brain enough time to categorize all your learning material. Its worked for me. Good luck!

jjjoy, LPN · Feb 25, 2009

It seems like for the nursing exams I've taken, a lot of questions have seemed hit or miss. I look back on some of the old questions I got right and sometimes think that a big part of the reason why I get them right is luck. Not so much because we don't know what we're talking about, but because of the way these questions are worded and what our professors are looking for.

I definitely felt that way about some questions. :icon_roll