How To Pass the NCLEX (the First Time You Take It)!

You’re almost there. You can see the light at the end of the nursing school tunnel as you near graduation and completion of your hard-earned degree! 

But along with the feeling of elation is the knowledge that now you have to pass the NCLEX. You learned a huge amount of information during nursing school, and the idea of being tested on it all can be daunting and anxiety-inducing.

This is where Blueprint can help—we’re going to share with you some useful tips that’ll show you how to pass the NCLEX the first time you take it, and manage your NCLEX test anxiety along the way!

Before getting into how to pass the NCLEX the first time you take it, let’s begin by taking a look at why you want to pass it on your first try.

Why is it important to pass the NCLEX on the first try?

As graduation nears and your nursing school professors and peers begin talking about the NCLEX, you can almost guarantee there will be discussions about the benefits of passing the exam on the first try. 

Why? According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), the pass rate for first-time NCLEX takers in 2024 was almost double that of second-time test takers (i.e., 94% for 1st time baccalaureate prepared nurses versus 47.8% for US-educated repeat test takers). 

While these statistics show the likelihood of passing significantly decreases after a first failed attempt, they also prove that with such a high first-time pass rate, you can definitely pass it the first time around!

 So, what can you do to ensure you pass the NCLEX on the first try? Here are some good tips! 

How do I pass the NCLEX the first time around?

1) Use an organized study platform. 

If you’re wondering how to pass the NCLEX the first time you take it, one thing we’d like to say right off the bat is you’ll want to avoid just doing it all yourself (aka, “DIY’ing” your exam prep). 

This is where study platforms, like Blueprint Nursing, can be your best friend. Trying to decipher all the information that needs to be studied, how much to study each day, while predicting the amount of time you’ll need to prepare for the exam can be overwhelming. I’m sweating just thinking about it, and I took my NCLEX seven years ago!

Tried-and-true resources, like the ones offered by Blueprint, supply all the information you need, and you won’t stress about whether you’re studying efficiently. Additionally, Blueprint’s test preparation courses are proven to work with a 99.7% pass rate on board exams. Having a reliable resource like Blueprint will make you confident you know how to pass the NCLEX the first time and you’ll go into the exam feeling ready. 

As of April 2023, the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) is the gold standard. With an increased emphasis on critical thinking and more interactive questions that measure clinical judgment, it can be challenging to properly prepare for these new question types. Luckily, Blueprint has studied these changes and offers resources that are up-to-date with the NGN so you can be confident that you know how to pass the NCLEX the first time you take it. 

The variety of resources offered by Blueprint are tailored to meet the needs of different types of learners. Below is a brief overview of the different options available:

Crash Course

This self-paced course gives you abundant resources including instructional videos, test-taking strategies, 150+ quiz questions with rationales, and a customizable study plan. This is great for people that prefer independent study with a bit of structure!

Live Study Group

This course gives you four days of a Zoom live study group environment with TWO expert, board-certified instructors that help you improve your critical thinking skills, track your learning, supply a day-to-day study calendar, and have live Q&A sessions. This course also comes with test-taking strategies, hundreds of practice questions with rationales, and our “You Will Pass” guarantee.

TikTok Live Courses + YouTube Channel

Blueprint offers FREE weekly LIVE videos, classes, and tips on TikTok and YouTube. We talk through all the NGN question types, plus other challenging topics to help boost your confidence!

2) Have a reliable study plan.

If you want to know how to pass the NCLEX the first time, another key thing to do is have a well-mapped-out and organized study plan. A successful study plan will give you enough time to prepare without feeling rushed and burnt-out. With Blueprint’s study resources, a full study plan is included so you know exactly what, when, and how long to study for each day.

A well-planned study schedule should be realistic and recognize that exam and test-preparation anxiety is REAL. That means a study plan should include days off to recuperate and relax. And limiting the number of hours spent studying each day is crucial to ensure you retain information and don’t want to quit before you’ve even started!

3) Give yourself enough time to prepare.

There’s nothing worse than feeling overwhelmed and underprepared for a test, especially one as important as the NCLEX. Give yourself enough time to thoroughly prepare for the exam and avoid late-night cram sessions that cause exhaustion and stress. 

We recommend allotting 2-3 months to exam prep. However, if you need more days off or extra preparation time, it’s OK to schedule the exam a little further out. The most important thing is ensuring you feel prepared to enter the exam confidently and with a good mindset. This will set you up wonderfully to pass on the first try!

4) Have an anxiety-intervention plan.

For some people, knowing how to pass the NCLEX the first time can come down to knowing how to manage exam anxiety. As mentioned before, test anxiety is REAL! Even if you’re overly prepared (if that’s even a thing), anxiety leading up to and on test day can interfere with your ability to perform your best. 

It’s crucial to have an anxiety-intervention plan and work on reducing exam anxiety when you start studying for the NCLEX. In fact, it should be part of your overall study plan. If you’re new to anxiety-reducing strategies, ask yourself what gives you energy and helps you relax? This can include practicing deep breathing, making time for exercise each day, and ensuring you properly hydrate and eat. Just like we tell our clients to!

Another helpful intervention is to practice focusing on the day-to-day. Focusing on each day individually, rather than letting your mind wander to the next month of studying, can help ease stress and anxiety. Recognize that some days, we just need a mental break to decompress. Use the scheduled time in your study plan to do things that give you energy! For me, that’s being outdoors. For others it could be binging your favorite show, hanging with friends, or scrolling through TikTok. Reducing anxiety is different for everyone, but start paying attention to what works for you.

5) Keep this advice in mind!

Some additional tips on how to pass the NCLEX the first time include: 

Practice tests, practice tests, practice tests! 

Keep running through those practice questions and practice tests. Our NCLEX Qbank offers 1,000+ NCLEX-style questions designed to help you practice! 

Try not to compare yourself to others. 

While it’s great to have a supportive group while you study, recognize that everyone learns at different paces and in different ways.

Don’t forget about your go-to study method! 

What got you through nursing school? Did you use flashcards? Rhymes? Write things out? Keep doing what works for you.

Be confident in your knowledge. 

You’re completing nursing school! You have the knowledge you need to pass this exam.

Eat well, sleep well, and hydrate. 

Give your body and brain the advantage it deserves.

Final Thoughts

As the NCLEX approaches, it’ll occupy what feels like all of your brain space. Keep these recommendations in mind so you can confidently study, ditch the anxiety, show up to test day oh so ready, and pass that NCLEX on the first try!

💜 For more information on decreasing anxiety and passing the NCLEX on the first try, check out this podcast episode with Sarah Michelle and Anna!

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