Post-nursing school, every graduate sets their sights on becoming a registered nurse. At this stage, the NCLEX exam is the only barrier on their path towards attaining licensure. After taking the exam, you anxiously wait for the results. You later notice that you failed. That’s tough and discouraging but don’t let this setback define you.
Statistics from the National Council of State Board of Nursing show that the NCLEX pass rate is about 72% meaning some test takers fail. So a question arises, How many times can you fail the NCLEX?
There’s no specific number of times you can fail the exam, but there are NCSBN regulations on retaking the NCLEX. The retake policies require you to wait for 45 days before you go for a retake. Further, you’re limited to only retake the exams 8 times a year with the 45-day waiting period.
Apart from the NCSBN guidelines, some state nursing boards have extra guidelines for retaking NCLEX. Check out individual state guidelines here.
What happens if you fail the NCLEX?
When you fail an exam, you’re likely to feel devastated but do not let this deter you! Let’s look at the steps you need to make and pass your exam in the next attempt.
After taking the NCLEX exam, the NCSBN will ent you a Candidates Performance Report(CPR). The report shows your performance in different content areas and you need to use it as a guide to prepare for a retake.
So what’s next?
The NCSBN gives the following rules to guide candidates to retake the NCLEX:
- Contact your state’s Board of Nursing(BON) and notify them of your plans to retake the NCLEX.
- Identify the fees and materials you need to submit to the BON
- Make sure to register with the Pearson VUE and make the payments.
- Wait until you receive the new Authorization To Test(ATT) email
After all the steps above are complete, schedule your new exam.
Tips to Pass the Exam on Your Next Attempt
Passing the NLEX exam on the next attempt will be easy if you follow the rules below:
Understand the NCLEX first
If you know what you’re dealing with it becomes easy to tame it. The first step to ensure NCLEX’s success is understanding how the test works. Unlike traditional grading of exams, NCLEX is a computerized adaptive test(CAT).
Each candidate takes a unique test assembled interactively how they answer questions. The computer determines a tester’s ability based on their responses to each question. This means that you begin with an easy question and upon answering it correctly, the next you’re given a moderate and then a harder one. On the other hand, when you answer a question incorrectly, you’re prompted to an easier one.
When you answer difficult questions correctly, it is possible to pass the exam at 75 questions(minimum). However, you can fail NCLEX at 75 questions if you continuously answer questions wrongly. The maximum number of questions for the exam is 145 and you can pass or fail the exam after answering questions within this range.
Plan Your Study
Before your retake, you need to study differently this time. Use the following strategies and be assured to pass with flying colors:
Use a question test bank
A test bank is important in preparing for your exam since it allows you to read and think about questions differently compared to the first test attempt. It will also prepare you for the type of questions to expect and help you with answers and rationales for each. But how do you identify a perfect question bank? When choosing a question bank, look for the following features.
- Questions have detailed explanations.
- Questions, answers, and rationales are written by qualified nurses and educators.
- The ban emphasizes questions of all difficulty levels.
- The system matches the NCLEX format closely.
Naxlex allows you to access a comprehensive NCLEX test bank that helped over 100000 students pass the exam on their first attempt. Sign up and check out over 3000 practice questions.
You need to master the contents of the NCLEX exam and therefore need quality notes and guides. That’s why over a million students have trusted Naxlex to help them with their NCLEX preparation. We have vivid imagery, illustrations, and in-depth explanations for the contents of the NCLEX.
Extra Naxlex Prep Resources
Tutorials
Get access to live interaction with qualified instructors by signing up for our premium study packages. You will get guidance on areas you have a problem, ask questions, and get answers instantly. We also offer video tutorials, so sign up today and unlock the video library.
Timed Assessment Test
We are the only NCLEX prep site with a 209-minute timed assessment. Our systems use the Computerized Adaptive Testing(CAT) mirroring the real experience of the NCLEX. You have the opportunity to know this distinctive testing format and obtain immediate pass-or-fail feedback on your present performance.
Facebook study group
We also give our members access to our Facebook study group, where you can interact with fellow test takers waiting for the NCLEX. Talk, discuss, and exchange ideas to improve your knowledge about the exam.
Naxlex offers you the best prices for NCLEX Prep courses
To access premium course resources we have the best prices online. Our pricing starts from as low as $69. Check out our pricing page here.
Conclusion
Retaking the NCLEX requires you to think positively. You got through nursing and you can pass the licensure exams too. All you need to do is utilize our prep resources. Our course is designed to boost your knowledge and test-taking strategies. Enroll today and take a big step towards achieving your dream nursing career.
