Took my first test -- found the testbank

[*4!#6]

Well I took my first test today. I studied the material we read, class notes, and did review questions from Saunders and Kaplan NCLEX review books. I was really nervous but when I took the test I felt that the questions look very familiar. Then I realized that they were ALL from Saunder's test review. I did really well, but I feel bad for people who don't have Saunders. At least 50% of the questions, such as on car seat regulations, caring for sick children, etc I wouldn't have known without reviewing Saunders. None of this information was found in any of my textbooks, notes, or even Kaplan. Also, the test was mostly on "developmental stages" so, since I didn't know much about children at all (dislike them, in fact) I wouldn't have any background to go on either. They also didn't lecture on development because it was a required course and "we should know this information already."

I just don't think this is fair testing practice, I mean I understand testing on material from the book not covered in lecture but this material couldn't be found in ANY of the class resources.

[caliotter3]

Apparently your instructor is lazy and you are lucky to have found out the trick.

[2ndyearstudent, CNA]

I just don't think this is fair testing practice, I mean I understand testing on material from the book not covered in lecture but this material couldn't be found in ANY of the class resources.

I suspect this won't continue much longer for you. I also found doing review questions from my Med Surg Book, Saunders, and Kaplan very helpful. Especially for learning test taking strategies and figuring out what I needed to know to do well on the test.

The challenge for instructors is that there are only so many ways to format questions for any focus of knowledge. A good student who uses review materials is going to see some stuff they recognize. Still, I can usually only count 2 or 3 questions that appear to be identical to stuff I just read.

It might also be that your instructors don't care much about being challenging on the development and regulation stuff and just mail it in on that exam. Wait until they start coming up with difficult nursing intervention and prioritization questions and you will long for the days you saw familiar questions.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Well I took my first test today. I studied the material we read, class notes, and did review questions from Saunders and Kaplan NCLEX review books. I was really nervous but when I took the test I felt that the questions look very familiar. Then I realized that they were ALL from Saunder's test review. I did really well, but I feel bad for people who don't have Saunders. At least 50% of the questions, such as on car seat regulations, caring for sick children, etc I wouldn't have known without reviewing Saunders. None of this information was found in any of my textbooks, notes, or even Kaplan. Also, the test was mostly on "developmental stages" so, since I didn't know much about children at all (dislike them, in fact) I wouldn't have any background to go on either. They also didn't lecture on development because it was a required course and "we should know this information already."

I just don't think this is fair testing practice, I mean I understand testing on material from the book not covered in lecture but this material couldn't be found in ANY of the class resources.

That is crappy about the questions. As far as this bolded part, that is how it was in my Peds class. We were expected to know the developmental ages because Psychology Developmental Lifespan was a required Pre Req. They didn't review it in class. The whole point of having the Pre Reqs is to be able to cut back on having to lecture it IN the program, because it should have already been covered and known.