Took NCLEX today..stopped at 85 questions does this mean I failed?

What Members Are Saying (AI-Generated Summary)

Members are discussing their experiences with taking the NCLEX exam, specifically focusing on the number of questions they received (85) and the types of questions they encountered, such as select all that apply and drug calculations. Some users are seeking reassurance and advice on whether stopping at 85 questions is a good sign, while others are sharing tips like the Pearson Vue trick to determine if they passed. Overall, there is a mix of anxiety, relief, and excitement among users awaiting their exam results.

I need some words of encouragement.. I am feeling pretty low My test stopped at 85.. It had a lot of the "check all that apply" doesn't that make the chances of getting it right lower? I hope I passed.. I am just really feeling afraid at this time. Help!

Take our NCLEX Shut Off Survey to help other readers who are interested in learning the likelihood of whether or not they've passed the NCLEX based on number of questions answered!

I passed.. I found out the day after.. I just forgot to post it on here... :) :yeah:I really freaked myself out... but come to think of it.. the test was pretty easy now that I think about it. I am very happy! I used REA's Interactive flashcard book and Saunders... Good luck to everyone who is still waiting.

I just took my Nclex-Pn today and am kindda discouraged, can't seem to take my mind out of this experience. The computer shut off at 85 questions and i was just into 30minutes of the time, i don't know if i was too fast or not, but i knew that i didn't know most of the questions. I was praying and hoping that the questions would keep coming cos i thot i had a better advantage of passing that way, pls any word of encouragement would do, cos am really dazed now. Passing the nclex mean so much to me, av been checking the nclex website forever, is there a quick site i can go to? cos just stayn like dis and waiting is almost driving me crazy.......

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I just took my Nclex-Pn today and am kindda discouraged, can't seem to take my mind out of this experience. The computer shut off at 85 questions and i was just into 30minutes of the time, i don't know if i was too fast or not, but i knew that i didn't know most of the questions. I was praying and hoping that the questions would keep coming cos i thot i had a better advantage of passing that way, pls any word of encouragement would do, cos am really dazed now. Passing the nclex mean so much to me, av been checking the nclex website forever, is there a quick site i can go to? cos just stayn like dis and waiting is almost driving me crazy.......

You may see your results on your state website ie a license issued if you have passed. If the state participates in quick results then you can pay pearsonvue after 48 hours to see your results. All depends on which state you applied to and whether you have a SSN as some states will not issue a license without a SSN

I just took my Nclex-Pn today and am kindda discouraged, can't seem to take my mind out of this experience. The computer shut off at 85 questions and i was just into 30minutes of the time, i don't know if i was too fast or not, but i knew that i didn't know most of the questions. I was praying and hoping that the questions would keep coming cos i thot i had a better advantage of passing that way, pls any word of encouragement would do, cos am really dazed now. Passing the nclex mean so much to me, av been checking the nclex website forever, is there a quick site i can go to? cos just stayn like dis and waiting is almost driving me crazy.......

try the pearsonvue trick, it really works.

try the pearsonvue trick, it really works.

i tried the pearson trick and it worked for me, it took my mind off the worries, am more optimistic, i'll see my results today and let you know how it goes.....much thanks

What's the pearsonvue trick? I took my Nclex today and shut off at 85 questions too. Is this a good sign?

There is a whole thread dedicated to the Pearson Vue trick, but here's a summary.

Once you log into Pearson Vue, your test should say " Delivery Successful". Click on "Register" and try to register for whatever test you took (I'm guessing the NCLEX-PN since it stopped at 85). If you get all the way to the credit card payment screen, you failed. If it stops you after entering the school and state board you are registering for, and it says "Our records indicate that you have recently schedule this exam. Please contact your Member Board for further assistance. Another registration cannot be made at this time", then you passed!

In other words, if you failed, Pearson will allow you to register again and take the test. If you passed, Pearson doesn't allow you to retake the same test you took and stops you from continuing to the credit card page.

Good luck!

No, I took my Nclex on 1/15/10 and thought the same thing, I received my unofficial results on Sunday and passed.

Well, it has been almost four years since the OP passed. Wonder what they think about things now. Hope they are working and happy as can be!

A lot of nursing instructors have a surprisingly poor understanding of how the NCLEX works. This is a good example of it.

On the NCLEX, both passers and failers tend to score around 50%. What determines pass/fail is the difficulty level of those questions where you're hitting that 50% mark. Do they have to give you really hard ones or really easy ones? That's the determining factor.

Jcarro, 'select all that apply' questions are generally considered to be harder, which is good news for you. Good luck on your results. Let us know how it turns out.

i had a question...i took the nclex on the 19th and i had soooo many select all that apply, diagrams, drugs most especially, audio, and put in order...then the rest followed as usual infection control, maternity, and med surg? i stopped at 161 and now going through the nclex result blues...im just sure i bombed the test...first time i took it i stopped at 88 and failed..this time around i dont know...heard about the pearson vue trick? you think thats accurate? two friends of mine did the trick and they got through the CC page but when they got their results they passed...what do you think?

I just took my test pn Aug. 8 2011 and it stopped at 85 too. I was reading all the post and I was hopeful that I passed too but when I got to the one that said Pearson Trick and I did what it said yes it also said delivery..but I was able to register or so I think I was already to the payment process--but for me I felt that I did well but this post put at the back of my mind that I did not--what do you guys think--I'm not sure when my results will be mailed but just thinking of it gets my nerves on edge....I HOPE for the best...:uhoh3:

shhnay80 said:

Well.. all my nursing instructors told me that your computer shutting off at 85 is usually a good sign.. you need at least 75 questions right and the other 10 are usually free. My and my 2 of my friends computer shut off at 85 and we all passed.

But I def know the feeling you are going through.. even though my computer shut off.. I felt like.. "thats it?.. was I answering all the questions wrong??Im not ready for it to shut off!!" and "I didn't feel confident enough that I answered the questions correctly". LOL.. and then when I was waiting for my results.. I kept getting LPN/lVN NCLEX review seminars being mailed to me!! I thought for sure it was a sign LOL.. but it wasn't.

I say relax.. theres nothing you can do now but wait for the results. And I think there is a pretty good chance you did great! Good luck!

 

I heard all of these and more through the years and honestly I believe that some may not have a very clear understanding of how the nursing NCCLEX exams work.  The easiest way I know how to put it is this: "Imagine a see-saw...with one end being the "fail" and the opposite end being the "pass". And lastly, in the middle- you have the nursing student taking the exam who is; (by answering the each of the questions)…trying to convince the algorithm designed (the boards) that you are qualified to practice nursing and meet the requirements of the knowledge required to do so or that you are not yet safe to practice.  That's why some students get the full 200% questions because they remain in the middle of this pendulum or see-saw and the questions will keep coming until either one more incorrect or correct question will be the tipping point reached by the algorithm, it will either swing all the way to pass or the other end of fail and the computer will shut off...don't know if this makes sense or not to anyone, but this is the way it was described to me before I sat for the boards... my daughter became an RN in 2016 and I remember her going home and throwing up she was such a nervous wreck... LOL.. but she said that she tried to register to take the boards again online and if it allowed you to complete your registration then you did not pass.  If you could not complete your registration then you had passed.. and the best part is that she didn't have to wait 6 weeks for results with snail mail (postal service). LOL!  And also, I studied for 3 months before I got my authorization to test and not ONE question was even remotely similar to the gargantuan amount that I had studied so my point is, know your biology, your diseases processes, pathophysiology, medications used and general nursing 101 and you will be able to critically think your way through most of the situations presented to you during your exam.. Good Luck & Godspeed  to all ! 

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