There is one mistake that you have to avoid if you want to increase your chances of passing NCLEX. It doesn’t matter if you are taking the current NCLEX or the Next Generation NCLEX, because the mistake I’m about to tell you about applies to both formats.
The Biggest Mistake You Can Make on NCLEX
The mistake I’m talking about is misunderstanding how Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) works, which can cause you to over-analyze questions and lead to a devastating effect on your mindset and your ability to answer the questions correctly.
This occurs when you start trying to analyze your test performance based on the types or number of questions you are receiving.
NCLEX Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT)
NCLEX uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) on most questions, with the exception of a few static questions that will be included in the new case studies on the Next Generation NCLEX.
CAT is different from your average test you take where you bubble in the answers with your #2 pencil, and everyone is getting the same type and number of questions.
Instead, NCLEX’s CAT method uses the answers your provide to dynamically evaluate your ability as an individual to achieve their passing standard, and each new question becomes easier or harder, depending on whether you answered the previous question correctly.
Here’s the dilemma: you can’t accurately judge whether the next question you are receiving is actually easier or harder from the exam’s perspective, because the exam is pulling from its own statistical data.
You may feel the questions are getting harder or easier from your own perspective, but you don’t know whether they are actually harder or easier from the exam’s perspective.
How This Messes Up NCLEX Test Takers
Here’s how this can mess you up. Let’s assume you’re taking the NCLEX, and you attempt to analyze your performance as you’re taking it, based on the difficulty of the questions. You may be scoring well, but you start thinking to yourself, “These questions seem to be getting harder (or easier)! I must be failing!”
You may then become anxious, doubt yourself, start second-guessing your answers, and begin rushing through the rest of the exam to get it the thing completed.
I’ve had so many people throughout the years say things to me like, “I felt like I was failing the exam, and I was so depressed. I just gave up and started guessing toward the end.”
Never Begin Guessing on Answers on NCLEX
Guess, what? Guessing is the worst thing you can do on a CAT-style exam! If you begin to go down through questions and just start selecting random answers to hurry and get NCLEX over with, you’ve just increased your chances of failing dramatically.
The computer’s program will grow more and more confident that you don’t know what you are talking about, and you’ll end up failing the exam.
The same holds true with trying to guess whether you’ve passed NCLEX based on the number of questions you received. In other words, if the computer shuts off at 85 questions, the only thing that means was that the computer had a high enough confidence to determine that you either passed or failed at that point.
You may have done really well or horribly. You won’t know until you receive your results. Therefore, there’s no use in trying to predict your outcome or getting upset once NCLEX shuts off. Instead, wait until NCLEX gives you your official results.
Conclusion: Don’t Analyze the Questions
In conclusion, you never want to go down through the exam and “guess” by selecting random answers to complete the exam faster. And you don’t want to analyze your performance based on the difficulty of the questions, or worry about the number of questions you end up receiving. Instead, focus on one question at a time, and do your very best.
That’s exactly what I did when I took the exam, and I passed NCLEX on my first try in 75 questions. I made sure that I didn’t waste my time getting caught up in all of that thinking.
I know the NCLEX can be very stressful, and there is a lot on the line, such as getting a job and your future nursing career. However, you made it through nursing school, so you can do this. You can pass this exam.
Even if you fail the NCLEX on your first attempt, you can take it again, so don’t give up.
If you’re studying for NCLEX, you might find our NCLEX study tips and NCLEX review lectures helpful.