The NCLEX® Examination-RN is a "computer adaptive test." In other words, after you answer a question correctly, the computer will ask a harder question next. If you answer a question incorrectly, the computer will ask an easier question next. Scoring varies; an exam could have from 75 to 265 questions. The goal of the exam is to find out your competence level in the different areas the exam covers.
Fifteen of the questions on the exam are experimental. They will neither help you nor hurt you. You will not know which questions are experimental.
You will be given five hours to complete the exam, which includes the tutorial at the beginning, a mandatory break, and an optional break.
The test is user friendly. You will receive instructions on how to use the computer and an opportunity to practice before the timing begins. You will use a minimum number of keys (space bar and enter key). You will give your answer then be asked to hit the enter key to confirm that this is the answer you want.
You will proceed through the questions and will not be allowed to go back to revise your answers. You can not skip a question.
Read each question carefully. Quickly try to answer the question before reading the responses. If your answer is in one of the responses, you are more likely to answer the question correctly.
NCLEX® Examination questions basically ask "What should you do in this situation?" When studying, always think in terms of how you should handle a nursing problem.
If you are having trouble remembering material, try to remember people you've cared for with similar problems.
Think conceptually rather than specifically. For example, understand how classes of drugs work and how side effects are related to actions. In this way, you will not need to memorize all the details about each drug.
Remember to think about what the priority would be in each situation. For example, in an emergency always think of the ABC's first--Airway, breathing, and circulation.
Chose nursing actions before medical actions. For example, you would try repositioning before giving medications.
Think about the nursing process when answering questions. I.e., you would assess a situation before doing an intervention.
Do not select uncompromising answers such as "never" or "all."
Remember that the person is your client, not the person's machine.
Remember that your correct response will be what you, as a nurse, should do, not who you should call for orders.
Be alert when answering questions related to children. Their responses to medical conditions often vary from the adult response.
Be sure you identify the client, the problem, and the part of the nursing process the question addresses. For example, if the question is about assessment, a response about intervention would be incorrect.

The RN NCLEX® Examination covers "Meeting Patient Needs." The four areas of patient need it addresses are:
**Safe and effective care environment
**Health promotion and maintenance
**Psychosocial integrity
**Physiological integrity

When a question concerns delegation:
Remember that assessment, nursing diagnosis, and evaluation of care are activities done by a professional nurse; these should not be delegated. You would not delegate the care of an unstable client or complicated interventions to nonprofessionals.

As of April, 2003, "Innovative questions" will be added to the NCLEX® Examination. These could include fill-in-the blanks questions, questions with more than one possible correct answer, or questions that ask the candidate to respond to a diagram. The advantage of these questions is that they allow candidates to demonstrate their knowledge in multiple ways. The questions are developed and tested by expert nurses and statisticians. They will be tested before used, just like the multiple choice questions. Therefore, they will not be scored until after the April, 2003 exam. Item difficulty will be taken into account, just as with the present multiple choice exam. Items will be scored as "right" or "wrong."

Become well versed in all topics that the exam is likely to cover.

Take a review course or organize a study group with others planning to take the exam.

Ask an instructor, tutor. or colleague for help if you encounter material that's unfamiliar or difficult to grasp.

Schedule your exam at a test site near your residence, if possible. This way, you can familiarize yourself with parking facilities and travel time before the test date. If you must travel far and stay overnight, make hotel arrangements well before the test date to make sure you have a convenient place to stay.

Schedule your examination for the time of day when your performance peaks. Some people work best in the early morning; others, in the late afternoon or early evening.

Get a good night's sleep the night before the test. Staying up late for last-minute cramming probably will hurt rather than help your performance.

Eat a nutritious breakfast on the day of the test.

Try to avoid last-minute anxiety that can sap your energy or disturb your concentration. Although mild anxiety is normal and can heighten your awareness, too much anxiety can impair your performance.

Keep your admission ticket and identification where you can easily retrieve them when you arrive at the test site. You must present your "Authorization to Test'' from the ETS Data Center, along with two forms of identification with your signature, including one photo ID. Without them, you won't be permitted to take the test.

Read each case study carefully. It contains information you'll need to answer the question correctly.

Pay special attention to such words as "best, most, first, and not" when reading the questions. These words, which may be italicized, capitalized, or otherwise highlighted in some way, usually provide clues to the correct response.

Try to predict the correct answer as you read each question. If your predicted answer is among the four options, it is probably the correct response.

Read each question and all options carefully before making your selection. If two options seem equally correct, reread them; they must differ in some way. Also reread the question; you may notice something you missed before that will aid your selection. If you're still not sure, make an educated guess.

Remain calm if a question focuses on an unfamiliar topic. Try to recall clients with problems similar to those in the question. Determine the nursing principles involved in your clients' care and how they may apply to the test question. This may help you eliminate some options and increase your chances of choosing the right answer.

Take the necessary time for each question without spending too much time on any one item. You will have up to 5 hours to take the test. Pace yourself accordingly. Pay no attention to other candidates or the time they need to complete their tests. Because each test is individualized, some tests contain more questions than others.

Take advantage of breaks during the test to give your mind and body a needed rest. The first mandatory break is given after 2 hours of testing and lasts 10 minutes. Candidates may take an optional break 90 minutes after testing resumes. If you tend to get hungry, bring a small snack with you to eat during the breaks. Do some stretching exercises, too, during breaks to help you relax.

Remember that your first choice for an answer is likely to be your best guess. Changing answers typically does not work.

Don't worry about how much time the other test-takers are taking for the exam.

Avoid panic; taking some deep breaths if you are feeling stressed during the exam. Purposefully relax your face, neck, shoulders, arms, legs, and feet in succession before going on and on your breaks.

Use the paper and pencil provided for you during the exam to make outlines or diagrams or otherwise help you remember.

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