What is your best advice for answering SATA questions?

[757RN]

SATA: Select All That Apply

I took NCLEX in May and did not pass. I'm re-taking it end October. When I first took NCLEX there was SO many SATA questions & prioritization questions. I was wondering if anyone has some magical/enlightening advice that could improve my test-taking abilities with these types of questions. I've done 2,000 questions and have improved tremendously with multiple-choice questions - got that done A+!  BUT CANNOT improve with SATA-type questions..! Help! ?

Thank you ? 

[llg, PhD, RN]

1. Treat each possible answer as a separate True/False question.

2. If you find yourself guessing and really not knowing the material ... go back to make sure you haven't picked any answers that contradict each other. (i.e. "These can't both be true. Therefore, one of these must be false.")

3. Check to see if one possible choice gives you a clue about another possibility. (e.g. "If this possibility is true, then this other possibility must be true, too." or ... "If this answer is false, then this other answer is false, too." etc.)

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I was taught to look at SATA Qs as if each option were true/false. Eliminate the false options.

My other trick is to know the usual number of true vs false options. I think, for example, usually 1-2 options are false.

I remember while taking the NCLEX pn, and reading one SATA, that "none of these applied!" I almost freaked out! But instead I did my best and moved on to the next question.

In hindsight, this was a clue that I was reading the question wrong.

[hm1987]

From a workshop I took previously.. read the answers first figure out whats the question.. then read the questions.. then your able to eliminate the wrong answers.

[757RN]

Just letting you know I passed NCLEX in 75 questions on Dec 2nd! :) Thank you for your words

[757RN]

Thanks everyone for their responses. Just letting you know I passed NCLEX in 75 questions on Dec 2nd! :)