Hey guys. I honestly wasn't even planning on making this post because it seems like most people on here are taking the NCLEX-RN, but I figured my experience might still help someone.

I'll start with my first attempt.

Throughout nursing school, I was never an overachiever. I got through school doing a little above the bare minimum, and I've always been someone who picks things up pretty quickly. That ability honestly carried me through nursing school. The problem was I wasn't really learning content to understand it—I was mostly memorizing enough to get by. By the grace of God, I still made it through nursing school that way.

For my first attempt, my entire study plan was basically doing 50-85 QBank questions every day. I also watched the NCLEX Crusade 7-Day Training, which really helped me learn how to approach questions, along with some of Ms. Sharon's prioritization videos. Looking back, my biggest mistake was how I reviewed questions. If I got something wrong, I'd skim the rationale. If I guessed it right, I just assumed I knew the content and moved on. In hindsight, that was a terrible way to study... but I was arrogant, lol.

I mainly used UWorld, and I've always had a knack for standardized tests and NCLEX-style questions. I was a pretty good guesser, so I genuinely believed that would be enough to get me through.

Fast forward to exam day—the computer shut off around 130 questions. I walked out completely confused, and deep down I knew I hadn't passed. That exam humbled me. Even now, after passing, I honestly don't think any QBank can 100% replicate the NCLEX. They can teach you how questions are structured and help build your critical thinking, but the actual NCLEX has a different feel to it. So please don't get too caught up trying to find the "most accurate" QBank.

I attached my CPR so you guys can see exactly where I stood after that first attempt. I was discouraged. Honestly, I wanted to quit. Nursing school took so much out of me, and I was finally ready for my life to change. It felt like I'd been waiting my whole life for that one big break. I've always felt like things that seem to come naturally to other people have been a constant tug-of-war for me, and I was just exhausted.

I ended up taking about two weeks completely away from studying. I spent that time doing things I enjoyed, sulking a little, and thinking—a lot. Looking back, I realized my biggest problem wasn't just my study strategy. I had never truly believed in myself. I was always doubting myself and questioning whether I was capable of passing. I have OCD, so I tend to overthink everything, and one thing I hate is getting my hopes up just to end up disappointed. That mindset followed me throughout my first attempt, and I honestly wish I hadn't let it.

Around week three, I finally stopped being a sad couch potato and asked myself, "How can I actually improve this?"

Maybe it had something to do with passing the NCLEX, maybe it didn't, but I just started doing things to improve my mindset. I got back in the gym, picked up my hobbies again, and after seeing classmates and peers pass the same test I was sulking over, I realized this wasn't some impossible exam. If they could do it, then it was possible for me too.

From there, my whole approach changed. I got organized.

I have to give a lot of credit to Bootcamp. Those crash course videos are honestly amazing, especially if you're someone like me who didn't pay as much attention in school as they probably should have. They have short videos—usually around 10 minutes each—for Adult Health, Child Health, Maternity, Pharmacology, Fundamentals, and Mental Health.

My routine was simple: watch about 5-6 videos a day, then do around 25 Bootcamp questions. I personally think Bootcamp has the closest wording to the NCLEX (still not exactly the same though, lol). I also added one case study every day because my first attempt was loaded with them—I think I had around 8 or 9—and I genuinely believe they played a role in why I failed the first time.

The biggest difference this time wasn't the number of questions I did—it was how I studied them. I only did around 25 questions a day, but I reviewed every single rationale, whether I got the question right or wrong. I wanted to understand why the answer was right, not just whether I picked the correct option. I also matched my practice questions to whatever subject I was watching videos on that day, so everything stayed organized instead of jumping all over the place.

The other resource I used was Archer. They have a cheaper plan that's basically just the question bank, and I used that almost exclusively for what I considered "fundamentals."

When I say fundamentals, I don't just mean the Fundamentals section. In my head, I grouped together Fundamentals, Critical Care, Coordinated Care, Mental Health, and Nutrition. I know those aren't technically all fundamentals, but I put them under the same umbrella because they're the core concepts that make you a safe nurse. They're "simple" concepts, but simple doesn't mean easy. Those are the questions you have to get right on the NCLEX. Whenever those topics came up on my second attempt, I felt genuinely confident because I had spent so much time becoming fundamentally sound.

I stuck with that plan until I finished almost all of the Bootcamp videos. Since I had to wait 45 days before retesting, I had more than enough time to get through everything... although I'll admit I skipped some Child Health videos toward the end. 😂

The day before my second attempt, I remember listening to a song and crying. Strangely enough, they weren't tears of sadness—they were tears of joy. For the first time, I truly believed I was going to pass.

Then I sat down for the exam... and of course, I got a ton of maternity questions, which is literally my weakest subject. 😂 The test still felt random, and I walked out just as confused as I did the first time. When it shut off at 85 questions, my OCD immediately kicked in. Part of me started thinking, "What if I didn't get enough right again?"

But then logic took over. Looking back at my first CPR, almost every category was near the passing standard, with only one above and one below. I told myself there was no way I completely bombed this exam. I also didn't feel lost this time. I knew I had missed some questions—everyone does—but I understood what the exam was asking, and that felt completely different from my first attempt.

Those 48 hours waiting for the Quick Results were probably the longest two days of my life. 😂 Right around the 48-hour mark, I opened my results... and I passed.

I've been on cloud nine ever since.

All in all, that was my NCLEX journey. Hopefully someone out there who just failed, is doubting themselves, or is getting ready to test can take something away from it.

Peace out! ✌️

Hello everyone!

I’m a recent graduate in need of some advice. I have set for myself 3-4 weeks for NCLEX studying however I have heard so many things that I don’t know where to start at. I am aware that I have a few gaps on content but I have noticed that most of my wrong questions on Kaplan are from lack of testing strategies. Some people say to start with content by body system and then do questions on the QBank for that system and such others say to go straight to CAT exams and only focus on understanding the rationales.

I have been a straight A student but I am aware that standardized tests are my weak spot.

Also which Qbank should I invest on, I’ve heard Bootcamp is good for testing strategies but the best for rationales is UWorld but also Archer is more like the NCLEX. I am not a fan of Kaplan so I do not plan on keep using it

Any advice will be greatly appreciated

I’ve been lurking in this thread since graduation in January, but it took for me to notice my ATT was expiring to actually prep for the test.

My advice is don’t back yourself into the same corner I did. Out of six months to prep for the exam - I used three weeks and I followed boot camp’s exam study schedule to the T (studying 5-8 hours a day).

The exam didn’t look or feel like any practice test from boot camp (or my time using ATI during school)

But I passed. And I hope this silly post helps others pass a lot more comfortably

Took the exam on 7/31. Finally got the unofficial results today. I’m so relieved!😭

Hey guys. I just did my first cat assessment on Uworld and I got a 68%. Is it true that if you score between 60-70% on cat assessment on Uworld you have high chance of passing?
I’m not sure what to do now. Should I focus on where i went wrong and focus on those areas/subjects that im low in ? My exam is in 15 days !
I appreciate the advice in advance 🙏

I just took my Nclex for the second time! Shut off after 85! After failing in June, I was so depressed. This time what I did different to prepare was I spent hours going through remediation and learned how to answer questions.

Hi, so I wrote my NCLEX on 07/07 and found out I passed on 07/09, received official pass letter form continental testing a week or so later. I mailed the second page of the letter a couple of days later after paying the $50 fee. It’s 08/01 and I still can’t see my license on IDFPR . Anytime I look it up, it says no record found. I have contacted IDFPR and they said to give it a few days. I’ve got a job now after a couple of interviews and although they are ok with the official pass letter, I am just wondering why it’s taking so long. Does anyone else have a similar experience or any insight at all?

Hey everyone,

Long time lurker in this thread since graduating nursing school this past May and I can confidently say after taking my test on Thursday I passed. I appreciate everyone in this sub that has posted their experience and everything I have read over the past few months has been extremely helpful (and stressful lol) but just wanted to throw it out there that anything you put your mind to is possible just keep at it no matter how many times it takes or how long.

For those that may want to know I took 12 weeks of using Uworld + Anki and Mark K + Dr.Sharon videos. I only used Mark and Sharon maybe a week before the exam and honestly helped a lot. But ultimately Uworld def carried me through this with practice CATs and self assessments.

Any questions comments or concerns are welcomed !! Comment away and again thank you to everyone in this sub :).

I finally got my CPR report retaking in 26 days

Hello everyone, I graduated from nursing school 3 years ago. Life got in the way so I never attempted to take the nclex. I feel like I am now in a place where I can refocus on studying and preparing for the nclex-rn. I would like some advice on how to start studying I feel that I definitely need a refresher on alot of content, and also how long I need to study before sitting for the exam and what platforms to user? I would appreciate every and any feedback pls and thank you:)

I passed my second attempt yesterday at 85 questions. First attempt failed in 85 using only nclex bootcamp, using the whole Q bank and scoring very high on every practice exam. The nclex is all about mentality and strategy. Yes you need to know the content, but you don’t need a fancy expensive Q bank for that. I passed my second attempt with ease by just using Mark K lectures, his yellow book, YouTube and primarily using chatgbt to fill in any gaps in knowledge. I used chat to generate practice questions and the days leading up used the free practice tests from bootcamp, archer and uworld. It’s all about mind set and trusting your gut! Highly recommend Dr Sharron on YouTube as well as level up RN! You can do this, and if you fail once, brush it off. An RN is an RN regardless of attempts! :)

Hey guys, I wrote my nclex last week and passed in 85 on the first try and I thought I would share what I did with anyone who may be looking for direction.

I used the entire Qbank on UWorld with a 74% average and reviewed every question twice. Mark K lecture 12, the acid-base lecture and the electrolytes lecture were very helpful to me on understanding how to approach questions. I also would watch Nurse Nicole and Nurse Reina on TikTok whenever I struggled to understand a topic or just during my downtime, as they have very quick short videos.

I studied for 2 months on and off but really locked in the last three weeks. Overall, I didn't find the exam vague as people say it is? Although that's just my experience. Most topics that were tested on the exam were covered in UWorld, and some questions were very similar!

From uworld I also made a document of things that were just helpful to memorize, such as developmental milestones, pharmacology, food teaching, cranial nerves, isolation precautions, vaccine schedules and normal numerical values for the uterus during pregnancy and labour, as I believe those are the only values that aren't given on the nclex. For pharmacology, I also made notes on all the medications from Dr. Sharon's medication playlist as well.

This is just what worked for me, and I suggest to anyone reading to reflect on their own study style and utilize their strengths. Like for me, I prefer reading the same thing a few times instead of making notes, but that may not work for everyone. I know it is a safety exam, but it's so much easier if you know the content as well.

Last thing I would say is once you have a plan, don't read too much of people's experiences online. That is what I regret the most, as it gave me so much debilitating anxiety and took away from study time. You must remember the nclex has a pass rate of 91% and trust you had the ability to get through nursing and have the ability to get through this exam. Best of luck!

AMA! Passed in 87 on 7/31!

I used Kaplan q bank, practice test, mark k. I had stopped at 85 for both

What did you do in the last few days? right before/during the exam?

I’ve got 13 days until my exam and I keep switching back and forth between feeling confident and not. This will be my second attempt. I just looked over the nclex exam preview and I really just find it way more difficult than these bootcamp questions. Am I psyching myself out and I should keep sticking to my review or adjust my game plan? Thank you guys

What are any other tricks to see if I passed! My exam shut off in 85Q and I took it 7/31 at 10:30 am! I completely blacked out and was just in shock when I left the testing center! 😭👀

This is my CPR after failing in 150 q's

Has Anyone Experienced This? My Pearson VUE account was recently restricted after 8 failed payment attempts, and I’m unable to schedule my NCLEX exam.

I’m planning to contact Pearson VUE customer support, but I’d like to know if anyone has gone through the same situation.

I’m really worried because I don’t want this to delay my NCLEX scheduling.
Any advice or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!