If you listen to what everyone has to say about the NCLEX you would think that it is easier to climb Mount Everest . In preparation people will tell you that you have to know something specific (i.e. everything about every drug) or use a certain source unless you desire certain failure. The best thing to do is keep it simple and focus on one resource (maybe 2 resources). After the quarter ended our school had a mandatory Kaplan Review session the week after. I tried to follow the advice of my instructor and use the resources as instructed. It lead to a lot of frustration. Using their decision tree lead me to get questions incorrect that I would have gotten correct if I just answered it as normal. I found that the rationales were not detailed and hunting for the information left out of them was time consuming. All while doing this my scores were not improving. I never broke 60%.
I began to compare study materials with other classmates and I found that they preferred UWorld. They felt like they were learning a lot and people in my class who took the test began to pass in 75. I bought the app and did a test. I finally broke 60%. I read the rationales and they were as amazing as everyone told me they were. So my study plan was to do at least 75 questions a day. I then made my notes into flashcards and began to study those. I made flashcards for incorrect ones and correct ones that I did not understand the rationale to. Three weeks before the test I took my self assessment and had a high chance of passing (57%). Did more questions and then took the second self assessment three days before my exam getting a very high change of passing (65%). I finished the q bank with a 60% with 300 questions left over. I prayed before the test and took it. The exam shut off at 75. I was unsure of how I did because at that point you either pass with flying colors or fail miserably. I was convinced that I was below the passing levels because the questions were not as difficult as UWorld. Long story short, study consistently, have a little faith, and take the self assessment until you at least have a high chance of passing ( who wants to waste their money and time).
edited by on 8/18/2017

Did you get lots of pharma question? Is it true that Uworld is alot more challenging than Nclex? If yes, in what sense? Thanks! Congrats RN!
edited by on 8/18/2017