NCLEX Exam Tips

Before the NCLEX Exam:
> Organize a study plan for yourself and stick with it for at least several months before the NCLEX exam.
> Organize a study group with some of your classmates. Be careful, however, not to let the study group slow your progress down.
> Become familiar with the different parts of a test question.
1. Background Statement: A brief statement that describes the situation. This statement may or may not offer any information that will assist you in finding the correct answer.
2. Stem: The question or statement that contains the actual problem portion of the question.
3. Options: The list of possible answers.
4. Correct Answer: This one's self explanatory...right?
5. Distractors: The incorrect options that try to steal your attention from the correct answer.
> Answer as many practice questions as possible in the months prior to taking the NCLEX exam. The more practice you get, the better you will do.
> Make flash cards and keep them with you at all times. When you have spare time, review your flash cards.
> Spend extra time studying any topics that are hard to understand.
> When you are doing practice questions, mark the ones that you get incorrect. This will allow you to review them later.
> Don't cram the night before the NCLEX exam. Cramming is not usually helpful.
> Be prepared. Know where the testing location is prior to going to take the NCLEX exam.
> Be prepared. Have your identification and exam admission ticket in a secure location prior to going to take the NCLEX exam.
> Get a good nights sleep on the night before the NCLEX exam so you will be well rested
NCLEX Exam Day:
> Eat a good breakfast on the day of the exam.
> Wear comfortable clothes to take the NCLEX exam.
> Arrive early to the NCLEX exam site, but don't study when you get there. Use this time to relax.
> Relax during breaks; try to focus on something other than the NCLEX exam.
> Completely read the question before reading any of the choices.
> If more than one option seems correct, re-read the entire question.
> If a question doesn't make sense, try rewording it in your own words.
> Pay close attention to bold or italicized words in the question. These usually give some clue as to the correct answer.
> Before answering the question, try to identify what the question is asking. Is the question asking for nursing interventions, medical interventions, patient symptoms, family responses, etc.?
> You're not allowed to go back to a previous question... so answer carefully.
> As with any test, on the NCLEX exam it's generally not a good idea to change your mind about an answer.
> Plan on using all five of the allotted hours for taking your test.
> The NCLEX exam is computerized and consists of between 75 & 265 questions. Don't worry about how many questions it gives you before the computer cuts off, that gives no indication as to whether you are passing or failing.