Passed NCLEX at 85 Qs
I’ve always read people’s NCLEX stories here, and honestly, they were one of the things that kept me going. So here’s my experience too, plus a few tips that helped me along the way 🤍
I’m a November 2025 PNLE passer. I took a short break after boards and officially started reviewing for the NCLEX in January 2026.
I first purchased Bootcamp. I liked the interface and QBank, though at first I felt the questions were easy since my disease concepts were still fresh from PNLE. I also kept seeing people say Bootcamp was easier than the actual NCLEX, so despite having high scores, I still doubted myself. But as you progress through the QBank, the questions definitely become trickier and more challenging. What I loved most were the case studies because every case had a video explaining how they approached the question, which really helped improve my clinical judgment. I followed their study schedule and finished all the crash course videos (though I didn’t fully read all the cheat sheets).
One thing I learned: don’t pressure yourself into reading every single rationale. I mostly focused on the ones I got wrong and the questions I got right but struggled with.
I also recommend skimming through your PNLE notes, but don’t study them too deeply. Some concepts and practices are already outdated, so if you encounter contradicting information, stick with the most recent evidence-based practice (usually taught by Bootcamp and other NCLEX platforms).
After Bootcamp, I purchased Archer because of their unlimited readiness assessments and CAT exams. I followed their 6-week study plan closely and answered practice questions daily. I also watched their lecture videos while annotating the digital handouts. Their videos are LONG (some up to 3 hours 😭), but watching on 1.5x speed helped a lot. Archer filled in concepts that weren’t fully covered by Bootcamp. Their questions really build endurance and critical thinking, though for case studies specifically, I’d still say Bootcamp was better.
I also used SimpleNursing. Compared to other platforms, it’s cheaper, and honestly, their videos are SO good. If you’re a visual learner or already burnt out from reading, I highly recommend it. I mostly watched topics I struggled with, and their visuals and explanations made concepts much easier to understand.
I also listened to Mark K Lectures 1–12, but PLEASE focus on Lecture 12. His prioritization and delegation strategies were incredibly helpful, and I was able to apply many of them during the actual NCLEX.
Lastly, I enrolled in SLRC’s final coaching series. Ube Halaya baby since PNLE days 💜 and I genuinely recommend them. SLRC built my nursing foundation, which made studying diseases much easier. Their final coaching focused heavily on test-taking strategies and question analysis. Even if you didn’t fully understand a concept, they would break it down in a way that made sense.
To everyone preparing for the NCLEX: you can do this. One step at a time. Grab that USRN license 🤍