How To Prepare for the nursing school entrance exams
It can be difficult to get into nursing school.In addition to high grades, work experience, volunteer experience and a successful interview, applicants must take a nursing school entrance exam when applying to any accredited nursing program.If you want to attend nursing school, you need to know how to prepare for the entrance exams since they are a crucial part of the application.
Step 1: Make a list of the exams you need to take.
You need to know which test you will be taking in order to study for the nursing school entrance exam.The National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam is the most common nursing school entrance exam.
Step 2: There are nuances to that exam.
There are different entrance exams for nursing school.Knowing the parameters of each test will allow you to focus on specific areas.The HOBET exam measures your social skills and ability to cope with stress, while the TEAS test only measures basic math, reading and science skills.
Step 3: The necessary materials and support should be acquired.
You can buy study materials online or in a bookstore.Ask your prospective school's academic advisor for recommendations for study guides.The materials can be used to make flash cards and notes.If you know other people who are preparing for the same test, you can form study groups.
Step 4: There is a study to be done.
Content driven nursing school entrance exams will test what you already know or should know.There are techniques that can be used to study content.chunking is a type of studying where a large amount of material is broken down into smaller units.Don't cram.Make sure you have enough time to study.If you have already worked and volunteered in the field, you will know a lot of the information, but don't use that as an excuse to wait to study.
Step 5: Take practice exams.
You can find a practice test for the type of nursing school entrance exam you will be taking online, in your study guide or at a local community center.If you take the practice test, you can identify areas in which your performance was weak and fix it before the exam.As they will cover different material, take as many practice tests as you can.If you find areas of weakness, you should spend more time studying the material and seek the help of a tutor.
Step 6: You should schedule the exam.
You can submit your application materials, along with the test score, to your prospective school before the submission deadline if you arrange an exam date that will give you plenty of time to study.Check your calendar to make sure you don't have scheduling conflicts on the day of your exam or in the days that precede it.It's important that you have the days leading up to the exam free for study and preparation.
Step 7: You should know the details of the exam.
The nursing school entrance exam will be administered before the exam date.Leave yourself time for a final review of the materials and make sure you get a good night's rest before the exam.
Step 8: Arrive on time.
Arrive at the testing site at least 30 minutes early.If necessary, bring your picture ID and pencils.Don't bring your cell phone, calculator, food, drinks, or study materials to the exam room.There are many people taking exams at the same time so noise-canceling headphones may be issued.
Step 9: A section plan is needed.
The nursing school entrance exams break down into different sections and the overall exam has a time limit.Plan to spend a pre-determined amount of time on each section.Don't forget to allow yourself some time to review your answers in each section before moving on.
Step 10: Take the exam.
Multiple choice questions are the majority of the exams.Carefully answer each question.If you get caught up on a question, skip it and come back to it during the review period.Don't leave questions unanswered.Guess if you don't know the answer.You may be able to get some extra points.There are strategies you can use to quickly answer multiple choice questions.Cross off any obviously wrong answers.It is not the correct answer if the answer is always or never, but if it is generally or sometimes.
Step 11: Make sure to double check your exam.
You should give your exam one last look before handing it in.You may notice that you failed to answer a question when you read back over your exam.
Step 12: Decide on your career path.
There are two types of nurses.After obtaining a bachelor's degree, registered nurses are more often employed in hospitals and are expected to take on more important tasks that involve a greater degree of critical thinking and decision making.After about a year of nursing education, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) can get a nursing certificate.Long term care facilities often use LPNs to fill administrative roles and oversee the basics of patient care.In settings where LPNs and RNs work together, the nurses do more intensive and critical duties.There are separate tests for LPN and RN programs in most nursing school entrance exams.
Step 13: There are nursing schools to choose from.
One or more nursing schools can give you a degree or certificate after you finish their program, if you choose to become a RN or LPN.Make sure the school you choose is accredited.The school will tell you which entrance exam is needed to get into the nursing program.
Step 14: You can learn the specifics of the test.
You should find out the specifics of the test so that you know how to study for it.The exams take between 2 and 3.5 hours to complete.The exams can be done using a computer or pencil and paper.After completing the computerized version of the test, you will be able to see your scores.
Step 15: Prepare for the NLN exam.
The NLN PAX exam has 215 multiple choice questions.Verbal skills, math and science sections are included on the NLN PAX exam.Some of the questions on this exam will not be graded, as they are used to gauge responses for future testing.You won't know which questions will be graded at the time of the exam, so answer each one to the best of your ability.It is not possible to use a calculator for this exam.The exam costs $60 to $100 and takes about 3 hours to complete.After the initial testing date, you will not be allowed to take the exam again.
Step 16: Prepare for the test.
The TEAS exam is a test of basic knowledge that you should have learned in high school.The exam is broken down into English, reading skills, science and math.There are over 100 multiple choice questions in the TEAS exam.You won't be allowed to use a calculator.Fees can range from $20 to $60.
Step 17: Prepare for the exam.
The HOBET exam is administered by the same company that operates the TEAS exam and tests candidates for the exact same generalized knowledge, but also measures an individual's potential to work in healthcare.Basic math, reading comprehension, test taking, critical thinking, social interactions, and your ability to cope with stress are some of the skills that the HOBET examgauges.The section requires knowledge of many math functions.You have to pass the reading comprehension section to get a tenth-grade reading level.You won't be allowed to use a calculator on the test, which takes between two and three hours to complete.If you fail to achieve success in your first few tries, you are probably not an ideal candidate for healthcare work, as many schools limit the number of tests for its candidates.Depending on the school, the fee for this exam varies.
Step 18: Know the location of the exam.
You can register for the nursing school entrance exam in your area.There is a fee for the nursing school entrance exam.You can get this information from your prospective school or from websites maintained by the exams administrators.Before your test date, give yourself enough time to study.
Step 19: You should know how the test will be weighted.
You should research the nursing program you want to apply to.Your grade history and personal history are more important than your exam scores in some schools.