Failed my first try in 150, Passed my second in 85
Found a lot of inspiration on this Sub. Im free now :)
The biggest changes I made between tests was study platforms and stress management
I got kaplan as part of my schooling and used its qbanks and practice tests for the first exam. I didnt really get along with it that well. Particularly when it came to the rationals. Maybe its just a me thing but I felt kaplan was just explaining general nursing concepts in the rationals that didnt always explain why a given answer was right or wrong. I also just dont jive with the decision tree method, thats not how I organize things in my head and it felt very unnatural to me.
My first test was emotionally intense, and my anxiety was very high, especially watching the question counter climb higher and higher. My biggest regret was I didnt take the optional break because I was caving to my anxiety and just wanted it to be over. Was nauseous, stressed, and had an incredible sense of impending failure afterward. Sure enough it was right, i failed. I was a little crushed.
After I got done grieving my results, I decided I would give Uworld a try. I bought one month access and It instantly made more sense to me. studying came much easier with less frustration. In that month I cleared 75% of the q bank and my average was in the mid 70's by the end of the subscription (which was aug 6). After that I spent the next week listening to all 12 of the Mark K lectures (which i was able to find on a drive file thanks to someone on this sub), in order, twice leading up to my exam. I wish i used uworld the first time and I wish i knew about the mark lectures before my first try.
The other thing I did was learn to manage my anxiety. I knew immediately after my first test that I had made it harder than it was on myself. Everyday leading to my exam I practiced relaxing and finding an outlet for my anxiety. I mentally prepped for not just the test but the anxiety that would come it. The day before the test i didnt look at a single thing nursing related.
The day of my 2nd test couldnt have gone better. I was not nervous. I was not anxious. This is a little ridiculous but if I felt it creep in during I would literally push my chair away from my desk close my eyes and deep breath until it was gone. And I took my optional break. I left the building and I KNEW I had passed. NO stress waiting. NO nausea. And NO feelings of failure.