Hey everyone, I recently took my NCLEX and passed at 150.
In the days leading up to it I felt fine, but during that last two day stretch? I was panicking. I was overthinking what I did and didn’t know to the point where I started speed running videos. On the day before, I tried to relax and just do practice questions (didn’t really help lol) but it was at 8AM the next day so not much time to stress myself out.
First half of the exam was good, I took a break at 40 questions expecting to be shut off at 85. Then 85 came. Then 100. Then 120. At that point I felt so defeated but I kept trying to remain positive. The last 20 questions I just sped through because I was mentally exhausted. I finished in 2.5 hours (this includes my 15 min break). I’m usually a fast test taker but this was me really trying to slow myself down here lol.
Anyways, I freaked out, went down reddit rabbit holes, asked around, and just felt defeated but ALAS!!!!! I PASSED!!! One and done. To God be all the Glory. I used Bootcamp and nothing else. I tried U-World but I only used it scarcely for a couple months and hated it. I DID NOT watch any Mark K, Dr. Sharon, Nurse Sarah, NONE OF IT. For me, less resources and more content worked best. Bootcamp had it ALL for me.
I truly believe if you watch all the crash course videos, do all the readiness exams, and hit the targets the set for you, you’ll be fine. The bootcamp videos are never longer than 15 minutes and they give you great tips to remember. Literally 3 videos a day + their study plan and you’ll make it through. They also have “cheat sheets” but I didn’t use those (but I am sure they will be of use to someone!!) I bought the two month bootcamp. I attached my stats to this post!! For my readiness exams I got Borderline, High, High, Very High.
If you buy bootcamp, towards the last couple of weeks make sure you narrow those practice questions down to two categories. “Learning” and “Mastered” that way you know what you don’t know and can watch videos on the topics. If you have too many in “Reviewing” it gets overwhelming.
SOME TIPS:
PLEASEEEE DO NOT go in thinking you’re going to complete just 85 questions. This is where I fumbled. Prepare yourself to do 150. If it shuts off before then, great. The amount of questions it shuts off at doesn’t matter. You can pass at 85 but you can also fail at 85.
TAKE THOSE BREAKS!!! I took one but after that 85 mark they offer you one and I didn’t take it. I think it would have eased my anxiety and prepared me mentally to do more questions. You have 5 hours to do the test… take a break.
DO SOMETHING EVERYDAY!!! Honestly some days I could literally only do the 40 practice questions but it HELPS.
DON’T GO DOWN THE REDDIT RABBIT HOLE!!!!! This one is the most hypocritical cause I did it… you’re doing it now… but if you read this entire post… stop here. It literally helps you feel some sense of security while you’re studying but after you test—it feels like a burning building that you’re stuck in. Trust your schooling, trust your critical thinking. You didn’t do years of school for nothing.
This was lengthy, but you got this RN! Don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t deserve to be here. This test is not a reflection of all the work you’ve put in.
ASK ME ANYTHING!!