how to dissect any NCLEX question . . . i cracked the code

NURSING.com sent this email to their subscribers on December 9, 2024.

NURSING.com,

Have you ever stared at an NCLEX® question and thought, "What are they even asking?"

You’re not alone.

But here’s the thing—mastering the NCLEX isn’t about memorizing facts; it’s about critical thinking and truly understanding how to approach every question.

Now, don't worry . . . we've done the hard work of learning of spending hundreds of hours studying the NCLEX - how it works, what it takes to pass, and so on . . . so your don't have to. (side note: that's how we were able to secure a patent for SIMCLEX, our NCLEX simulator, which we are giving away free on Christmas day)

[WARNING: this is a LONG email - but value packed]

Let's go . . .

One of the best ways to prepare is to know exactly what types of questions you’ll face.

The NCLEX® is based on Bloom’s Taxonomy for the Cognitive Domain—a fancy way of saying that the test is structured to evaluate how well you can think critically and apply knowledge.

In fact, the NCSBN even states in its test plan:

“Bloom’s taxonomy . . . is used as a basis for writing and coding items for the examination.”

So, What Is Bloom’s Taxonomy?

Think of it as a ladder of cognitive skills, starting from basic recall and moving all the way up to creation and evaluation. Each level builds on the one before it. For nursing, this means questions focus on higher levels like application, analysis, and evaluation—not just memorization.

Here are the levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (from simplest to most complex):

Remember: Basic recall of facts.
Understand: Grasping meaning, like explaining concepts.
Apply: Using information in real-life scenarios.
Analyze: Breaking information down into parts.
Evaluate: Making judgments and decisions.
Create: Generating new ideas or solutions.

Secure Your Free SIMCLEX

Why does this matter for you? The majority of NCLEX® questions are written at the application or higher levels. This is why rumors swirl about SATA (Select All That Apply) questions—because they require more critical thinking and are often written at the evaluate level.

The Problem With Nursing School

Here’s where things get tricky:

Nursing schools often teach to the remember level of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Professors say “critical thinking” over and over, but rarely teach how to critically think.
Students aren’t shown how to ask good questions or cut through the clutter to focus on what really matters.

Think about it: How many times have you sat through a 2-hour lecture with 4,746 PowerPoint slides or been told to “read pages 2–876 for tomorrow’s test”? 🙄

That’s where most students get stuck. Nursing schools focus on cramming information, but the NCLEX® requires a different level of thinking.

What Can You Do?

You can take control of your learning by focusing on these two things:

1️⃣ Learn to Ask Better Questions. Don’t just memorize facts—dig deeper. For example, if you’re told steroids cause osteoporosis, ask, “Why?”
2️⃣ Cut the Clutter. Not everything in your textbook is essential. Identify the key points and focus on mastering them.

Anatomy of an NCLEX® Question

Now let’s break down what an NCLEX question actually looks like. Every question is made up of 5 parts:

Item: The full question and answer options.
Stem: The actual question being asked.
Options: The possible answers.
Correct Answer: Pretty self-explanatory. 😉
Distractors: The incorrect answers designed to trip you up.

(starting to feel overwhelmed? understandable . . . if you want to skip the rest of this and just lock in you free SIMCLEX: CLICK HERE)

Types of Question Stems

There are 4 ways an NCLEX stem might be written:
1️⃣ Complete Sentence: Straightforward questions.
2️⃣ Incomplete Sentence: Needs the correct answer to complete it.
3️⃣ Positive: Asks what is true.
4️⃣ Negative: Asks what is false (look for words like except, not, never, or contraindicated).

Pro Tip: Negative stems are often missed because students fail to read the entire question carefully. ALWAYS read the question fully to identify what’s being asked.

How to Train Your Brain for NCLEX Success

Start practicing higher-level questions now. Every question you tackle should challenge you to think critically and apply your knowledge. Our question bank is loaded with analysis-level questions and detailed rationales to help you do just that.

👉 Lock in Your FREE SIMCLEX Now

Remember, the NCLEX® isn’t just testing what you know—it’s testing how you think. By understanding Bloom’s Taxonomy, dissecting question stems, and practicing critical thinking, you’ll be ready to take on any question the NCLEX throws at you. You CAN do this!

Happy Nursing!

Jon Haws, RN
Founder, NURSING.com

Text-only version of this email

nursing.com logo blue NURSING.com, Have you ever stared at an NCLEX® question and thought, "What are they even asking?" You’re not alone. But here’s the thing—mastering the NCLEX isn’t about memorizing facts; it’s about critical thinking and truly understanding how to approach every question. Now, don't worry . . . we've done the hard work of learning of spending hundreds of hours studying the NCLEX - how it works, what it takes to pass, and so on . . . so your don't have to. (side note: that's how we were able to secure a patent for SIMCLEX, our NCLEX simulator, which we are giving away free on Christmas day) [WARNING: this is a LONG email - but value packed] Let's go . . . One of the best ways to prepare is to know exactly what types of questions you’ll face. The NCLEX® is based on Bloom’s Taxonomy for the Cognitive Domain—a fancy way of saying that the test is structured to evaluate how well you can think critically and apply knowledge. In fact, the NCSBN even states in its test plan: > “Bloom’s taxonomy . . . is used as a basis for writing and coding items for the examination.” SO, WHAT IS BLOOM’S TAXONOMY? Think of it as a ladder of cognitive skills, starting from basic recall and moving all the way up to creation and evaluation. Each level builds on the one before it. For nursing, this means questions focus on higher levels like application, analysis, and evaluation—not just memorization. Here are the levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (from simplest to most complex): * Remember: Basic recall of facts. * Understand: Grasping meaning, like explaining concepts. * Apply: Using information in real-life scenarios. * Analyze: Breaking information down into parts. * Evaluate: Making judgments and decisions. * Create: Generating new ideas or solutions. blooms-taxonomy1-700x571-1-1 Secure Your Free SIMCLEX Why does this matter for you? The majority of NCLEX® questions are written at the application or higher levels. This is why rumors swirl about SATA (Select All That Apply) questions—because they require more critical thinking and are often written at the evaluate level. THE PROBLEM WITH NURSING SCHOOL Here’s where things get tricky: * Nursing schools often teach to the remember level of Bloom’s Taxonomy. * Professors say “critical thinking” over and over, but rarely teach how to critically think. * Students aren’t shown how to ask good questions or cut through the clutter to focus on what really matters. Think about it: How many times have you sat through a 2-hour lecture with 4,746 PowerPoint slides or been told to “read pages 2–876 for tomorrow’s test”? 🙄 That’s where most students get stuck. Nursing schools focus on cramming information, but the NCLEX® requires a different level of thinking. WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can take control of your learning by focusing on these two things: 1️⃣ Learn to Ask Better Questions. Don’t just memorize facts—dig deeper. For example, if you’re told steroids cause osteoporosis, ask, “Why?” 2️⃣ Cut the Clutter. Not everything in your textbook is essential. Identify the key points and focus on mastering them. ANATOMY OF AN NCLEX® QUESTION Now let’s break down what an NCLEX question actually looks like. Every question is made up of 5 parts: * Item: The full question and answer options. * Stem: The actual question being asked. * Options: The possible answers. * Correct Answer: Pretty self-explanatory. 😉 * Distractors: The incorrect answers designed to trip you up. anatomy-of-question-e1428349053755-1 (starting to feel overwhelmed? understandable . . . if you want to skip the rest of this and just lock in you free SIMCLEX: CLICK HERE) TYPES OF QUESTION STEMS There are 4 ways an NCLEX stem might be written: 1️⃣ Complete Sentence: Straightforward questions. 2️⃣ Incomplete Sentence: Needs the correct answer to complete it. 3️⃣ Positive: Asks what is true. 4️⃣ Negative: Asks what is false (look for words like except, not, never, or contraindicated). Pro Tip: Negative stems are often missed because students fail to read the entire question carefully. ALWAYS read the question fully to identify what’s being asked. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN FOR NCLEX SUCCESS Start practicing higher-level questions now. Every question you tackle should challenge you to think critically and apply your knowledge. Our question bank is loaded with analysis-level questions and detailed rationales to help you do just that. 👉 Lock in Your FREE SIMCLEX Now Remember, the NCLEX® isn’t just testing what you know—it’s testing how you think. By understanding Bloom’s Taxonomy, dissecting question stems, and practicing critical thinking, you’ll be ready to take on any question the NCLEX throws at you. You CAN do this! Happy Nursing! Jon Haws, RN Founder, NURSING.com pass-with-simclex (1) NURSING.com, 11918 Division Street #2114, PORTLAND, Oregon 97266, United States

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