What did you do differently to pass the 2nd time around?

armrn · Mar 13, 2009

In NCLEX, the number of items doesn't matter as long as the computer is giving you question you're still the game.:wink2:

skim410 · Mar 14, 2009

I failed my first time with 75 questions and I prepared by doing questions from Saunders and Exam Cram. To be honest, the questions from both review materials were WAY too easy compared to the actual NCLEX questions. When I took it the first time, I was surprised to see how difficult the questions really were. I guess you can say I was thrown off guard.

Because of my job and other reasons, I gave myself a week to grieve and then went straight back to studying in order to take it close to 45 days after my first try. This time I signed up for Kaplan and took the course in 4 weeks. In classroom, I paid extra attention and took extra notes. During those 4 weeks at home, I did questions from Kaplan's Q bank and the question trainers. Each day I did about 100-150 questions and read the rationales for BOTH wrong and correct ones. Sometimes I re-did the wrong questions.

I took the NCLEX the second time (exactly 53 days after I took it the first time) and passed with 85 questions.

In all honesty, Kaplan had questions that were similar to the actual NCLEX.

It also prepares you and teaches you in how to approach the questions and how to answer it the best way. But my advice is practice practice practice doing questions. It's like a marathon. You have to train and familiarize yourself with the NCLEX-type questions; read the rationales and see WHY you got answers right or wrong. That way, you'll be more prepared with no surprises and it'll ease anxiety. I wish you the best in preparing for the second try!

Michael'sprv8RN · Mar 15, 2009

Just want to make it clear, is there a specific given time to re-take the nclex? or it all depends on u when u want to take it again? I just failed 1st time and will start studying more again. don't want to cram as what I did before.

Thank you and more power to us great nurses!!!!

caliotter3 · Mar 16, 2009

Just want to make it clear, is there a specific given time to re-take the nclex? or it all depends on u when u want to take it again? I just failed 1st time and will start studying more again. don't want to cram as what I did before.
Thank you and more power to us great nurses!!!!

There are minimum times of 45 or 90 days before a person can take again depending upon which state. Otherwise, you set the scheduled test date once you get your new ATT.

magnum_4415 · Mar 16, 2009

i passed on my third attempt. The first time i went to about 120 questions the second time i made it to about 220 before i ran out of time and my reults said i was close in every section. For my third time i simply read the pearson vue exam cram book two or three times and answered all the questions on their cd trainer ( took me about a month ) then i used a saunders 3rd eddition cd to continue to train with computerized questions( i averaged about 75% ) and i bought the saunders flash cards to cary aroudn with me at work for my down time 1000 questions, though i only made it through about 700 of them. I took the week off before my test and did some light studying the few days before.

The pearson exam cram book is short and sweet. and if you need more go to saunders on a particular topic. I think it really helped doing soo many questions.

I hope this helps someone out there.

determinedgal1 · Mar 16, 2009

In NCLEX, the number of items doesn't matter as long as the computer is giving you question you're still the game.:wink2:

Hi armrn,:)

You correct on the NCLEX-RN you can get 75 or as many as 265 but as long as your getting questions you're in the game.

Debbie