test taking strategies for nle board exam

7/30/2019 Test Taking Strategies for NLE board Exam

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/test-taking-strategies-for-nle-board-exam 1/5

Sometimes pure hard work and mental preparedness is not enough. The ability to answers exams or any test faster is

a must specially if it is bounded by time. Usually the pressure sets in if the time is working against you and even if

you’ve prepared 100%, it can ruin entirely what you have poured in. We have outlined test taking tips and strategies

applicable not only in the June 2009 Nursing Board Exam but also in any type of multiple choice exams including

NCLEX.

The Parts of a Question The question contains several parts:

the case (sometimes called scenario) – the description of the client and what is happening to him/her

the stem – the part of the question that asks the question

the correct response

distracters – incorrect but feasible choices

Key Words

The most important skill for the test taker is the ability to read the question carefully and determine the key elements

in each question. Each question has key words. Key words relate to the client; to the problem; and to specific aspects

of the problem.

Client

Factors such as age, sex, and marital status may be relevant. When a child’s age is given it often is very relevant to

the answer. Vital signs vary with age. Preoperative teaching methods vary with age. Appropriate toys and

diversional activities vary with age. Always pay special attention to the age of a client when it is given. Also

consider who is the client for this question. That is, who is the focus of the question. The client may be the identified

sick person, or it might be a relative of the identified sick person, or even a staff member.

Problem/Behavior The problem may be a disease, a symptom or a behavior.

Details of the Problem

Is the question asking for nursing actions or client symptoms or family responses? Does the question ask about a specific aspect of nursing care assessment, planning, implementation,

evaluation?

Does the question ask details relevant to a specific symptom or behavior the client exhibits?

Is there additional information about the client or the problem that is important?

Priority Setting

“What action takes priority?”

“What should the nurse do first?”

“What should the nurse do initially?”

“What is essential for the nurse to do?”

Physiologic needs are first, followed by safety needs, then love and belonging, self-esteem and self-actualization.

The first step of the nursing process is assessment! When the stem of a question asks for the initial nursing action

always look to see if there is a relevant assessment answer. The nurse will take an action only when there is enough

data to act. Call the physician only when there is not a nursing action that should be taken first. The stem of the

question may ask for a nursing action and the correct answer may be to assess.

http://nclexreviewers.com/





When the stem of the question asks what is essential for the nurse to do, think safety. Remember many of the test

questions are safety questions.

What is the Time Fr ame?

Whenever a specific time frame is indicated in a question it is very important. Pay attention to it. Time related words

may be like early or late in relation in symptoms, pre operative or post operative, care on the day of surgery or later

postoperative care.

Repeated Words Words from the question are repeated in the answer. Frequently the same word or a synonym will be in both the

question and the answer.

Opposites When two answers are opposite such as high blood pressure and low blood pressure or increase the drip rate and

stop the IV, or turn on the right side and turn on the left side, the answer is usually one of the two.

Same Answer If two or three answers say the same thing in different words none can be correct. If the answers are too alike, then

neither one is correct.

Odd Answer Wins The answer that is different from the others is apt to be the correct answer. It may be the longest or the shortest or

simply very different in content or style.

Umbrella Answer One answer includes the others. There may be more than one correct answer. One answer is better than all the others

because it includes them.

Test I tem Check L ist

Use this handy list to check yourself every time you answer a test question.

Say to yourself, DID I CAREFULLY…

Read the stem?

Read all of the options?

Read the stem again?

Look for key words?

Eliminate obviously incorrect options?

Absolutes Answers containing universal or absolute words are very apt to be incorrect. Very little in life or nursing is always

correct or incorrect. Answers stated in absolute terms should be looked at with great caution.

Deadly Dangerous Safe

all

every

total

nothing

always

each

only

any

nobody

main

chief

avoid

primarily

major

shall

inevitable

eliminate

rarely

usually

almost

frequently

probably

potentially

may

sometimes

partial

some



never

none

impossible

too

might

should

few

essentially

generally

occasionally

nearly maybe

could

commonly

average

seldom

often

normally

Choosing between the two best options

After eliminating the incorrect options and you are having difficulty choosing between two seemingly correctresponses, use the following strategies:

Eliminate Similar Distracters - If two options are essentially saying the same thing or include the same

idea, then neither of them can be the answer. The answer has to be the option that is different.

Reread two seemingly correct options – If two options seem equally correct, reread them carefully; there

must be some difference between them. Reread the stem; you may notice something you missed before.

Look for a global response – A more general statement may also include correct ideas from other options.

Multiple Choice Test Taking Tips

Tips on answering multiple choice questions

Read the question before you look at the answer.

Come up with the answer in your head before looking at the possible answers, this way the choices

given on the test won't throw you off or trick you. Eliminate answers you know aren't right.

Read all the choices before choosing your answer.

If there is no guessing penalty, always take an educated guess and select an answer.

Don't keep on changing your answer, usually your first choice is the right one, unless you misread the

question.

In "All of the above" and "None of the above" choices, if you are certain one of the statements is true

don't choose "None of the above" or one of the statements are false don't choose "All of the above".

In a question with an "All of the above" choice, if you see that at least two correct statements, then "All

of the above" is probably the answer.

A positive choice is more likely to be true than a negative one.

Usually the correct answer is the choice with the most information.



Multiple choice Tests

Multiple choice questions usually include a phrase or stem

followed by three to five options:

Test strategies:

Read the directions carefully

Know if each question has one or more correct option

Know if you are penalized for guessing

Know how much time is allowed (this governs your strategy)

Preview the test

Read through the test quickly and answer the easiest questions first

Mark those you think you know in some way that is appropriate

Read through the test a second time and answer more difficult questions

You may pick up cues for answers from the first reading, or become more comfortable in the testing

situation

If time allows, review both questions and answers

It is possible you mis-read questions the first time

Answering options

Improve your odds, think critically:

Cover the options, read the stem, and try to answer

Select the option that most closely matches your answer

Read the stem with each option

Treat each option as a true-false question, and choose the "most true"

Strategies to answer difficult questions:

Eliminate options you know to be incorrectIf allowed, mark words or alternatives in questions that eliminate the option

Give each option of a question the "true-false test:"

This may reduce your selection to the best answer

Question options that grammatically don't fit with the stem

Question options that are totally unfamiliar to you

Question options that contain negative or absolute words. Try substituting a qualified term for the absolute one, like frequently for always; or

typical for every to see if you can eliminate it

"All of the above:" If you know two of three options seem correct, "all of the above" is a strong possibility

Number answers: toss out the high and low and consider the middle range numbers

"Look alike options" probably one is correct; choose the best but eliminate choices that mean basically the

same thing, and thus cancel each other out

Double negatives: Create the equivalent positive statement and consider

Echo options: If two options are opposite each other, chances are one of them is correct

Favor options that contain qualifiers

The result is longer, more inclusive items that better fill the role of the answer



If two alternatives seem correct, compare them for differences,

then refer to the stem to find your best answer

Guessing:

Always guess when there is no penalty for guessing or you can eliminate options

Don't guess if you are penalized for guessing and if you have no basis for your choice

Use hints from questions you know

to answer questions you do not.

Change your first answers when you are sure of the correction, or other cues in the test cue you to change.

Remember that you are looking for the best answer, not only a correct one, and not one which must be true all of the time, in all cases, and without exception

test taking strategies for nle board exam

Documents