14 Deadly NCLEX Test Preparation Time Wasters and Costly Mistakes You Might Be Making

Here are 14 questions you must ask yourself or any test preparation company before you purchase any NCLEX test preparation study guide. Use the following criteria before selecting a test preparation company, test preparation class, seminar company, book, or online guides.

What makes the company qualified to produce NCLEX test preparation books or software? Did the author take the NCLEX exam? What is his/her professional background? Is s/he a professional writer hired by a large corporation to make a safe, but unfortunately generic study guide?

How many people have really passed the NCLEX exam after using the company's NCLEX test preparation materials? Does the company publish that information?

This is something you must know! Too many NCLEX test preparation companies, especially online NCLEX test preparation companies, put so much into marketing they
forget there are real people out there who have a lot on the line and need to pass their NCLEX exam.

You need real statistics so that you can select the most appropriate NCLEX test preparation materials for your needs.

Does the company keep its NCLEX review course materials up to date and current for the latest exam?

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Some organizations use the same NCLEX test preparation guide from years ago even though the emphasis and design of the test has recently changed. Even the large corporate NCLEX study guides can be several years out of date.

It can take a long time to do the updates, manufacture, and then distribute newer books. Often the stores need to sell the old versions that are still in stock before ordering the latest edition.

Is there any help with strategies to overcome NCLEX test anxiety and instructions to rid yourself of test stress?

As you know, some people get so nervous and worried about the NCLEX exam that it actually hurts their ability to prepare and retain information. At test time they may "blank out" or have trouble focusing, and thus make foolish mistakes. Any good NCLEX test preparation guide must teach you how to handle test stress and anxiety.

Does the test preparation system have NCLEX practice questions?

Practice questions are a vital part of preparing you for the real exam. You should get NCLEX study guides that have practice test questions that are as close to the real NCLEX questions as possible.

If the study guide has NCLEX practice questions, how do the writers have intimate knowledge of your exam?

Do the writers actually follow the domains of the NCLEX exam closely or just provide a general guide on the subject? Do they interview NCLEX test takers who can provide insights into the exam and its content?

Does the NCLEX test preparation company publish pass rates -- or do they keep them a secret, claiming, "We are the number one review center, we are the leader, and we have the secrets?"

Think twice before taking the next step.

How To Increase Your NCLEX Test-Taking Peak Performance Mind Set Success by 200%

Every challenge you face, whether it's a nuclear physics exam or the one hundred meter final at the Olympic Games, is a test of what's in your head. An exam will test both the knowledge and skill that you hold, and your ability to get that knowledge out of your brain and into action.

If your mind isn't in tip-top condition when you step into the exam room, you're not going to get the results you deserve.

You create the future in advance by what you think about all day. You must convince yourself even if you don't believe it at first you'll pass. If you don't believe you'll pass

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chances are you won't. This is where an NCLEX test coach can help keep you motivated and focused on success.

Here's three ways to make sure your mind is programmed for success when you need it most on the NCLEX:

Know the Material. Go Backwards - Clearly, if you know your stuff, the NCLEX exam is always going to be easier than if you guess all the way through it. But to be really at your best, it's not enough to know a bunch of facts. You want to be able to step inside the head of the NCLEX test creators to understand their methods and testing theories. Then, you'll "out think" their NCLEX test questions.

As you look at old NCLEX tests, ask yourself why the examiners choose those particular questions, why they asked them in that way and what they're trying to test. Things that have been on the NCLEX in previous exams will be on your exam in a different form because it is a standardized test. That's how, with research and examinee interviews, the NCLEX Comprehensive Success System was developed and has been so successful.

Every exam has a goal. The goal of a driving test is to make sure that you can drive safely. The goal of a math test is to make sure that you've absorbed the calculation methods. The goal of an English test is to make sure that you understand grammar and punctuation.

Understand the goal of your exam and you're halfway to cracking the code of the NCLEX.

Have an NCLEX Exam Plan - When you understand the goal of your NCLEX test, you can study with that goal in mind. When you've finished revising, you can put together a plan to see you through the exam. That plan should be simple -- but it should be something you stick to! It could be something like: don't spend more than 2 or 3 minutes per question; you can't go back and change any answers, so do your best on each one as it comes; and if you are really stumped, don't dwell on it. Give it your best guess within a minute.

Having a plan in hand to crack the exam will help you to succeed on the test and make the NCLEX less scary.

Keep Your Eyes On The Prize - The NCLEX examiners have a reason for creating the exam the way they do, but you have a reason for taking it. You want to advance your career as soon as possible. The NCLEX exam is simply an obstacle that stands between you and your destination.

Understand that the NCLEX test is not "the" thing -- and that there are many things a great deal bigger -- and you'll put it into perspective. The NCLEX exam will start to look
small enough for your mind to tackle with one good whack.

SECRET FORMULA TO YOUR NCLEX

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

Knock out the stupid answers. Many multiple choice questions on the NCLEX have at least one wild-card answer that looks nothing like any of the others and couldn't be right in a hundred years. Anyone that's a bit familiar with the content of the exam won't choose it. Cross that one out first.

Knock out the answer that's "almost" right. Examiners know that some people will look at the question, have a quick think and look for the answer that's in the ball-park. That's why they include an answer choice that's only half-right. Half-right is WRONG and it's a "trick" answer put in to fool you. Find that answer and cross it out next.

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Spot two answers that look similar. By now, your options should include two choices that look very similar. One of those answers is right. The other is almost-right.

This is the real trick to multiple choice questions on the NCLEX test: every right answer has a wrong answer that looks almost exactly like it. If the answer you're thinking about
choosing doesn't have a partner like this, it's probably wrong. When you spot two answers that look very similar, one of them is likely to be the right one.

When you've got these two answer choices in hand, you've got a 50 percent chance of picking the right one. And that's already a good start. This doubles your probability of
getting the correct answer and a passing NCLEX score even if you're not 100% prepared or know all the answers.

Determine in advance how much time to spend each day studying. Do this by taking into account your work or school schedule, family commitments, etc.

Now is not the time for a lot of "extracurricular" activities like going camping, seeing movies, or going shopping. Save these for the after-exam celebration.

You need to allocate at least two hours per day of study time, but based on your self-analysis and how much time you have before the test, you may need to do more.

Once you have a daily time allotted, pick a fixed study time each day and stick to it. This isn't always possible, but the more consistent your study is, the more effective it'll be.

Have a specific place to study. A dedicated study area helps keep you organized and puts your mind in "study mode" because you associate the location with the specific task of studying. You'll get more done and your study time will be more effective.

Now you're ready to really hit it. Then, I tell you HOW TO REALLY HIT IT Hard!

LIST OF TASKS TO MAKE IT IN YOUR NCLEX

Here's how you do it:

Make a To Do List - First, make a list of all the things you have to do. Put down everything, even the things you're going to do anyway (like cleaning your bedroom or doing the laundry).

Prioritize Your Work - Rearrange your tasks in level of importance so that the important things are at the top and the least important ones are at the bottom. (Avoid procrastination.)

Rearrange Your List – This will be interesting. Reorder your list so that the job in first place looks important, but isn't. Make it the kind of job that you have to do some time, but it doesn't really matter when (a job you can put off easily
without getting into trouble).

When you procrastinate and avoid doing that important-looking job, what you end up doing will be a more important one.

For example, your list of tasks for today might look something like this: Review NCLEX study guide section 2; Take NCLEX practice test on Chapter 3 content; Read through notes; Check email

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But what if your list of tasks looked like this: Read through notes; Check email; Review NCLEX study guide section 2; Take NCLEX practice test on Chapter 3 content.

LOOSE SCHEDULE?

Here's how you do it:
Write out a List of Everything You Think You Have to Do. Put everything on this list, from reviewing last week’s NCLEX practice test to putting out the cat. What are the odds that you'll keep to that schedule at the end of the day?

Putting all the things you need to remember on paper rather than trying to carry it around in your head can help you drop half of your test stress and anxiety. You'll probably sleep a lot better at night and worry a lot less about forgetting important things you have to do tomorrow.

Highlight the Three Most Important Things On the List. Now cut your schedule down to a realistic size and complexity. Now follow the previous lesson about procrastination to list the three most important tasks that you want completed by the end of the day and ignore everything else. Decide what tasks that are 1/4 of the items on your list that will give you 3/4 of the results you're looking to achieve. Don't confuse movement with achievement. You need to focus on the results you want to achieve for the day, not a bunch of activities.

Make A New Schedule. Now create a brand new schedule that only has those three tasks on it (or 1/4 of the activities that give you 3/4 of the results that are most important to you -- like passing the NCLEX).

You may say that you have a lot more than three things to do! Yes you do, but you must choose the top three things that, if completed today, would move you closest to your goal of doing well on the NCLEX exam. This strategy has tremendous power of focus that will yield the greatest progress towards your goal of a great NCLEX score.

Your schedule won't have more than three things on it: At 8:00am, review part 2 of the NCLEX study guide. At 9:00pm, review anatomy index cards. At 10:00pm, do the practice questions in the NCLEX Comprehensive Success System.

Obviously, you're going to do a lot more than those three things. You're also going to look at your emails, watch CNN, make yourself some tea and have lunch. Maybe even call your dad.

Complete 100% of Each Activity Before Moving to the Next. Make sure you do activity number one first thing (before reading the news, checking your e-mail, etc.) and see it to 100% completion before starting on activity two. Do activity two to 100% completion before starting activity three.

You're going to do those things no matter what else happens. Whether the kitchen is cleaned today won't have much impact on you in one year, but passing the NCLEX will. Only the truly important things, like reviewing part 2 of the NCLEX study guide, need to be put on your schedule.

Work in Blocks of Uninterrupted Time. Turn off your phone and put a do not disturb sign on your door. Communicate to others that during certain blocks of time, you can't be disturbed. You absolutely need uninterrupted time to fully concentrate on the task at hand when you're doing your top 3 items for the day.

Every time a phone is answered, or a person comes in to chat, it wastes a lot of time. Then it takes even more time to get back to where you were. This destroys your productivity and jeopardizes your success.

Remember our discussion of procrastination? Even if you do procrastinate, you'll simply find yourself doing the NCLEX practice test in the morning in order to avoid reviewing Chapter 2 of the NCLEX study guide, or working on a practice test in the afternoon when there's nothing left to do.

You can start today, and tomorrow guarantee that you will pass.