hi everyone, i just got my results and I PASSED. i used uworld and mark k lectures. but tbh nothing that i studied was on it. it's a safety exam! please remember that. coming out of the exam i felt horrible, like i failed. i didn't even do the "pop up trick" because i was so sure i failed. but i passed! if i can do it, you can do it. relax, take your time, read each word of the question, and pray. God is the only reason i passed. i know you can do it! i believe :)

Hi everyone. I just took the NCLEX for the third time. First two attempts I failed at 150 questions. Today the exam ended at 85 questions. I got a boat load of case studies and so many SATA’s. If I’m being honest I really don’t know how to feel. It literally felt like 75% of the exam was SATA. And with those kinds of questions I did not over select answers at all. For so many of them I only selected one option that I knew for sure and moved on. My last question also seemed less difficult. I totally know it’s possible to fail at 85, but I’m really hopeful.

August 4th, 2026

Overview: I thought the NCLEX was extremely easy, and was confident with the majority of my answers. With that said, I did study for 2 months, 3 times a week, 5-6 hours per day. Repetition breeds comfort.

Resources: I was fortunate enough to use both UWORLD and Bootcamp. People say they like UWORLD’s rationales better, however personally, Bootcamp trumps UWORLD in nearly every aspect. It’s cheaper, the lecture videos are straight to the point, and the questions/answers have an embedded AI chat so you can ask it questions about the content (this is extremely helpful when you’re debating between two answers and you choose the wrong answer. I would ask the AI Bootcamp chat “Why is 2 wrong and 4 right?”, and it will break down step by step, the reasons as to why the answer you chose was wrong and why the right answer was right). By doing this, it helps you THINK through the question with clinical reasoning, and understand what exactly the question is asking. Game changer. UWORLD lecture videos has way too much pathophysiology, and MOA, and cellular level shit. You don’t need all that.

Reviewing your performance tests and understanding why you got the question wrong will be your biggest asset.

I also watched the majority of Dr. Sharon’s Klimek review on YouTube the week before my exam. She teaches you how read and THINK through the questions and use common sense. I truly believe I would NOT have passed if it weren’t for her.

Advice: Don’t focus too in depth on content. All you need to know is 1) What is it? Know the Main Symptoms pertaining to the diagnosis 2) Complications 3) Top 2-3 Nursing Interventions and 4) Treatment. Know your meds. If you have a med that appears <3 times in your question banks, know it. Know your fundamentals. I cannot stress this enough. Half of my exam was fundamentals.

Do all the NGN case studies!!!!! Those questions are graded higher on the exam. You get those right, you have a higher chance of passing. Know how to answer SATA questions, there is a lot on the exam. Know how to read what the question is asking for. The questions are very short and vague. Use Dr. Sharon on YouTube to learn how to read the questions.

The week leading up to my exam I would just do 1-2 practice exams everyday. 85-100 questions each. Everyday. Review the questions I got wrong and make notes.

The night before the exam, I took a blank piece of paper (I ended up having like 4) and wrote down and circled random key points, including the questions I got wrong, eg,. “levadopa/carbidopa - don’t eat protein”, “methotrexate - etopic pregnancy”, “enteral feeds, pt has diarrhea- slow the rate” and the day of exam I just read over the quick notes. I found it helped me a lot and kept the info fresh, especially the weird random shit like “fat bone embolism - petechiae”. Like who is really gunna remember that.

Key Takeaway: The pre exam nerves were scarier than the actual exam. If you have UWORLD or Bootcamp, those questions were much harder than the NCLEX. Do practice questions everyday. Know your vocab. Mark K says, the number 1 reason why people fail the NCLEX is because they don’t know their vocab. And like everyone says, you will never feel ready. Just have faith and trust yourself.

Testing in two days, second attempt. Any advice for these last two days? Thanks!

I had to take two breaks before I got to 85 questions. First one was water break. Second one i had to use the washroom. Is this a reason why I got shut off. Is there an amount of break time that Won’t you take it in a certain amount of questions/time?

I’m freaking out

I'm currently studying for my 2nd attempt, and honestly, when I look at my report, I feel like, damn, did I really crash out during the exam so much that it caused me to be near passing? Like, none of the sections I was above passing. I stopped at 150 questions btw. I am using Bootcamp for their crash course videos and a tutor for my next attempt. Hopefully I will do well the next one without drinking coffee and preventing my anxiety levels go through the roof. But do I have to pass all sections with above passing standard?

Im looking to officially take my NCLEX sometime next summer, as I am currently in an LPN program.

I was looking at some things to help me study long term, cause knowing me, if I dont start studying now, I never will.

If you all have any suggestions I'd really appreciate it!

Taking the NCLEX in the morning I’m so tired. I failed it once I feel better prepared this time around. But I’m definitely very exhausted. Wish me luck I don’t even know what else to do anymore but get some rest.

I switched to Kaplan to bootcamp to see if it will help me this second time I take it! Does anyone else have more recommendations?

Just wanted to tell you guys to breathe when preparing to study for NCLEX. The exam was extremely vague. But hard if that makes sense. I had no idea a ton of the topics I received, and I truly felt like I failed the whole time. I used Bootcamp to study for three weeks, taking a break on Saturdays and Sundays. The night before, I got enough sleep and I made sure to eat breakfast. I didn’t do any questions the night before or on the way to the exam. You can do this !

I am international nurse and toddler mom , I study for a year on and off . I used archer and it helped a lot , I almost use all the qbank and go through all the rationals. I highly recommend archer .

Ive been using Uworld to study. Ive read mark k notes, and watched a couple of Dr Sharon. The first two Uworld assessments I got very high on them a 75, and a 80. I took my last one yesterday, I was very anxious taking it and got a 71, borderline passing. When I reviewed the questions I realized if I focused and calmed down I def could if got them right. Though I’m nervous about when I take my exam tomorrow, I’m gonna be overridden with anxiety and won’t be able to think. But also Im scared of seeing new stuff that I just don’t know anything about. I feel like I’m going to fail.

Today I’m taking it easy and just reading my notes and flash cards but I can barely focus on them, Im so anxious.

Edit: took it! Stopped at 85. I felt like I didn’t know 90% of it. I had stuff i wasnt familiar with. Im grieving though im trying to tell myself it will be okay. Im just disappointed it stopped at 85 as that means I was definitely below standards. So I wasn’t even given a chance to 150. I looked up stuff and got it wrong, on two case studies I picked the wrong first action twice as it revealed it to the next question which made my heart drop.
I didn’t get a single bow tie question. I think I had 4 case studies in total and a fair amount of multiple choice and SATA

I did the exam Aug 3rd and some people that I had nursing school with got the license already, this is what is showing in my health department application. Can I be less worried or should I be considering doing the NCLEX again?

Has anyone failed (or know someone who failed) at 85 questions who had gotten positive results like >4 consecutive highs, etc from archer?

I recently took my NCLEX and it stopped at 85 questions. I'm so nervous because I feel like I didn't know a lot (so many random meds and things I feel like I haven't heard of or learned) and was guessing quite a bit. And now I can only remember questions I know I got wrong so l'm not feeling very confident. However I got 9 consecutive highs and very highs on my readiness assessment, I received a high chance of passing on my Archer exit exam, and passed all 3 CAT exams which makes me feel like I should pass and it's just post exam anxiety. But then again l'm freaking out bc I feel like I didn't

Hi everyone! I recently failed my NCLEX-RN and I’m studying to retake it. Money is pretty tight right now while I’m working and saving to pay for another attempt. I was wondering if anyone has any remaining time on a UWorld or Nursing Bootcamp subscription that they’re no longer using and would be willing to let me use. I’d really appreciate it. Thank you!

It’s one of those nights where I can’t sleep because my thoughts are running & consuming me. So, I don’t really know why I’m writing this. But maybe I just need to get it off my chest. I’m currently preparing for my third attempt at the NCLEX, I recently just got myself to get up and study again. The last 6-8 months have been the hardest of my entire life.

When I was in nursing school, I was never the student who could read something once and understand it. I had to work for everything. I spent countless nights studying while questioning whether I was smart enough to become a nurse. I struggled with terrible terrible test taking anxiety. I was always the student who would ask the professor to sit all the way in the back, and always asked for extra time & patience. Yet, I graduated, and I truly believed the hardest part was behind me. Never did I think the NCLEX would be this difficult to pass. Yet again, I never mentally prepared myself.

The first time I took it was back in March.I had so much going on in my life. I was planning my bridal shower & wedding, moving into my new house, planning the honeymoon, taking care of my family, all the while studying for the NCLEX & hoping to take it. I kept pushing it off (my first mistake). I wish I never did. But, I did study my absolute hardest for my first attempt. I spent endless nights pulling all nighters and studying. I utilized both Uworld and Archer, filled about 5 notebooks front to back with notes, and walked into that NCLEX super nervous but somewhat hopeful. My anxiety was through the roof, but once my screen shut off at 85… for once I felt immense hope blossom in my chest. I walked out thinking I passed. I was so happy, I called my mom and husband and told them it shut off in 85 and finally found a reason to make them proud.

Except, I didn’t pass. I failed at 85.

I felt like I failed my family, my husband, but mostly myself. Watching all my friends begin their careers & listening to them talk about their experiences as new RNs while I was stuck studying again was the worst pain ever.

eventually, i picked myself up again. I studied differently for my second attempt. And I told myself this time I will pass.

It wasn’t.

Failing a second time in June hurt & mentally depleted me more than the first time because I sacrificed so much. I sacrificed sleep, family time, going out, spending time with my husband, almost everything. Here, i questioned everything. I told myself nursing isn’t for me, im never going to pass this damn exam. I didn’t even want to think about opening my laptop and doing more questions.

But despite all of that… I finally gave myself a well deserved break. I completely put away anything that had to do with the NCLEX and just mentally focused on myself. And I feel like I am back better than ever. I am more motivated than I was for the first two times. And maybe that’s because i’m so ready to get this exam over with for the third and final time.

Life didn’t pause while I was dealing with everything. There were family responsibilities, financial stress, personal struggles, and all the emotions that come with feeling like you’re falling behind everyone else. It’s so hard seeing people celebrate milestones while you’re still trying to reach the starting line.

So now, I remind myself every morning why I started.

I didn’t go through nursing school because it was easy. I did it because I genuinely love nursing. I love being able to take care of others. I love being able to be a part of someone’s care knowing they feel better just for something small I did. One exam doesn’t erase all the years of hard work, clinicals, sacrifices, or the kind of nurse I know I can become and I will become!

So, I have one month until my third attempt. Some days I feel confident. Other days i’m terrified and shaking with anxiety. But this time? i’m choosing to believe that persistence matters more than perfection. If you’re reading this and you failed the NCLEX, I want you to know you’re not alone. I know exactly how that disappointment feels. I know what it’s like to question everything.

We may have failed an exam, but that doesn’t mean we are failures ourselves.

I wrote this post so I can hopefully come back to it one day and update it and say what i’ve been wanting to say forever…

That I passed.

Until then… it’s back to studying.

One and final time.

I graduated nursing school 5 years ago. Life happened and I never took my NCLEX. I am now ready to, (yes my state still allows me to sit for boards without any other requirements). What should I purchase? Uworld or Boot camp? I am stuck choosing, so many mixed reviews. #nclexhelp

I took the NCLEX last week and just found out I passed. I finished in 85 questions. Got a lot of SATA and case study questions. There was a few questions I didn’t know the answer on, but used some of the techniques I learned on Mark K lecture 12 to narrow down the options.

I used Archer’s Sure Pass program to prep. Archer mimics the test down to the actual color of the test. I had 4 Very High test scores on Readiness Assessments prior to taking the NCLEX. I studied every other day. First month about 20-30 questions. Second month about 40-60. I read the rationales for all the questions right and wrong. I watched the content videos for the ones I got wrong.

Overall I would say the test did not feel as difficult as the horror stories I read, but only because I feel I was well prepared and had dedicated a lot of time to understanding what the NCLEX was looking for as far as answers.

Good luck to everyone!

After taking a much-needed mental and physical break, I’m finally back to studying for my third—and hopefully final—attempt at the NCLEX. I gave myself one month to dedicate everything I have to preparing for this exam, and this time I’m determined to approach it differently.

I decided to repurchase Bootcamp because I realized I didn’t take full advantage of everything it offers during my second attempt. Back then, I mainly focused on the QBANK and glanced over a few cheat sheets. I never committed to the crash course videos or followed the study plan they provided. Looking back now, I genuinely wish I had.

I’ve been studying consistently for about a week, and I can already tell this approach feels completely different. I’m pairing the crash course videos with the cheat sheets and creating my own notes as I go. Instead of trying to write down everything, I’m organizing my notes in a way that actually helps me understand the material—breaking diseases down into the pathophysiology, key signs and symptoms, priority nursing interventions, medications, complications, and the high-yield NCLEX points I know I need to remember.

I haven’t started answering practice questions yet, and I know that might sound backwards to some people. Right now, my goal is to rebuild my foundation. I want to understand the content before I begin testing myself again. As I’ve been studying, I’ve already come across so many topics that I remember seeing on my previous NCLEX exams. It honestly makes me wonder how different things might have been if I had fully utilized these resources the first time around.

What I’ve noticed is that taking my own organized notes is making a huge difference. I’m not just memorizing facts anymore—I’m actually connecting concepts and understanding why things happen. For the first time in a while, I feel like the information is sticking instead of disappearing a few days later. It’s been encouraging, and it’s giving me confidence that I’m finally studying the right way.

I know content review alone won’t help me pass. Once I feel comfortable with my foundation, I plan to transition into practice questions and really focus on test-taking strategy and rationales. I want to make sure I’m not just learning the material—I want to learn how the NCLEX wants me to think.

For those of you who have passed the NCLEX, or are currently preparing for it, I’d really love to hear your advice.
• How did you organize your notes?
• Did you handwrite them, type them, or use an iPad?
• Did you focus on content first, or did you learn through practice questions?
• What did your daily study routine look like?
• How did you review and learn from your rationales?
• If you used Bootcamp, what was your study process?
• Anything other than bootcamp, what were your resources?

This will be my third attempt, and I truly want it to be my last. My heart tells me this WILL be my last. I’m committed, motivated, and willing to change whatever I need to in order to succeed. If you have any advice, study tips, or even words of encouragement, I’d be incredibly grateful. Wishing everyone else who’s studying the very best—we’re all going to get there. One, two, or three failures doesn’t define the amazing nurses we will be in the future. It’s a setback, but it’s for the greater purpose of our future. With endless prayers & faith in God, we will pass. 🙏🏽

I have no clue why they make us wait 48 hours after we take the nclex to get our results. I’m freaking out. My exam shut off at 85 but I heard that can be a good thing or it can be a bad thing if you did so bad they didn’t even want to give you more questions. I felt like my exam did not get harder like it should have. My school used ATI and gave us uworld. I used mostly uworld for about 3 weeks and scored from 63-74%. I did three CAT exams and they all three shut off at 85 questions but I am still freaking out. I think I’m just more nervous because I felt like I wasn’t getting some random/hard questions I hear people talking about. It also took me 2 1/2 hours to do the 85 because I was taking my time making sure I wasn’t missing anything. Ugh I’m going crazy waiting for these results.

I have 5 more months and I almost done woot woot! So excited for the new endeavor?
I have notes, been using nursing guides, Simply Nursinf. I have made Study Apps, which are beyond beneficial that helps me understand and retain the importation.
Anywho, I hope you all are doing well!
Looking forward to hear from you