Kaplan NCLEX Review 2024 : How Good is its Question Bank? Who Should Buy It?

Are you a nursing student who is planning to take the NCLEX exam but don’t know where to start? The pressure of performing well and passing on the first attempt could be all confusing. Don’t worry, we got you.

While NCLEX is a rigorous and comprehensive test, proper preparation can enable you to pass with little effort. This is where Kaplan NCLEX Review comes in handy. Kaplan has been an essential leading platform for many years, and it does this by giving nursing students the tools and strategies needed to succeed in exams. 

The variety of personalized support, study options, and expert guidance provided by Kaplan, instills confidence that is essential for passing exams. Let’s take a closer look at what Kaplan NCLEX Review entails.

Quick Summary

Kaplan NCLEX Couse Options 

Depending on the individual needs of the students, Kaplan has various options and packages available. By default, all courses have 180 days of access.

Self Paced Program ($425): It has a self-paced program that allows you to study at your speed and schedule. There are various types of study materials available such as flashcards, instructional videos and practice tests. The course also has progress-tracking plans and expert educators to offer supplementary support.

In-person Class: Kaplan has also an in-person class option which is a more traditional setting that contains live instruction and group interactions. However, this program is not available everywhere but in selective locations. The program provides students with a chance to participate in class discussions, ask questions and receive immediate feedback from the instructors. A more personalized approach is also available for students that prefer a one-on-one session.

Live Classes Online ($525): This is same as in-person class but the interaction happens virtually. This is one of the most popular live class option in NCLEX prep industry.

For those planning to take the Live Online course, I strongly suggest allocating 6-7 days to complete the preparatory work required before the first live session. This involves tackling a few practice tests and watching orientation videos. Additionally, revisiting challenging content from your nursing school curriculum can be beneficial. By addressing these weaker areas in advance, you’ll be better equipped to participate confidently in the live sessions

With all the 3 options above you get

1. 2,100+ Test-Like Qbank Questions: Practice with an extensive set of questions that resemble those you’ll encounter on the test.
2. 3 Full-Length Computer-Adaptive Tests: Take comprehensive tests that adapt to your skill level, emulating the real exam’s environment.
3. Live or On-Demand Full NCLEX Course: Access comprehensive lectures that together span 8 hours, available live or on-demand for your convenience.
4. Live or On-Demand NCLEX Channel Lessons: Benefit from a variety of specialized lessons, available whenever you need them.
5. Content Videos Covering 300+ Essential Nursing Topics: Deepen your knowledge with educational videos that cover a wide range of crucial topics in nursing.
6. On-The-Go Study Plans on the Mobile App: Keep your studies flexible and efficient with study plans that you can access anytime, anywhere from your mobile device.
7. 700+ page ebook

Adaptive Computer Test and Qbank Purchase Options

• Qbank Only: Available at $159, this option provides access to a large collection of practice questions for self-paced study.
• Computer Adaptive Test Only: Priced at $129, this option includes access to computer adaptive tests that adjust to your skill level.
• Both: For $229, you can get access to both the Qbank and the Computer Adaptive Tests. All these materials are available for a 6-month period.

QBank + CAT + Nursing Channel

• Price: $279
• Details: Kaplan’s comprehensive package combines the Qbank, adaptive tests, and a suite of educational content. This includes live and on-demand video lessons to enhance your test preparation journey.

Regardless of the option that you will choose, you are sure to get access to a wide variety of resources and course materials. The only difference in the options is the ability to give you convenience depending on your preferences. 

Course Content

Here is a breakdown of content covered in Kaplan NCLEX Review.

• Anatomy and Physiology: It includes the function and structure of the human body including the reproductive system, digestive system, cardiovascular and nervous system. In this context, the normal and abnormal physiological processes and how they affect human well-being and health are outlined.

• Pharmacology: It covers drug classifications, their actions and interactions, and their effects. The content familiarizes students with knowledge of administering medications safely and effectively and monitoring the patients for any complications that might occur.

• Medical-Surgical Nursing: It covers medical-surgical nursing which deals with care for patients with medical and surgical conditions. Here, students learn about the assessment, diagnosis, and management of these conditions.

• Maternal Child Care: This involves care for women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It also involves caring for newborns and children. In this section, students learn about assessment, diagnosis, and management of conditions such as neonatal jaundice and preterm labor.

• Mental Health: The course covers mental health care and behavioral disorders. Students learn about the assessment and diagnosis of disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and depression.

Study Guide

The study guide glues the various parts of content lessons, question bank and study notes together. It is a step by step outline of the recommended use of each resource. This document will help you design your study process.

Is Kaplan Question Bank Similar to NCLEX? 

Given the new NextGen style questions, practice questions are one of the critical part of preparing for NCLEX. In that respect, Kaplan mirrors the content and format used in the NCLEX main exam quite well. The questions are designed to assess student understanding of the concepts and identify strengths and weaknesses.  You can customize the practice sets according to difficulty level and topics/subtopics.

After practicing these questions, you will get immediate feedback on topics/subtopics you need to focus on.You get answer explanation of each of the questions in a quite detailed way at the end of the set of questions. Though, it is not at par with Uworld which has best answer explanations, it does the job quite well. We found the difficulty level and realism of Kaplan questions better than UWorld and Archer though.

One aspect of Kaplan that doesn’t resonate with me is the fact that answers are only revealed after completing the quizzes (ie lack of tutor-mode in the quiz). As a result, I’ll suggest to tackle 10 questions at a time, review the rationales, then aim to complete at least 50 questions daily.

Try to get at least 60% of questions right while attempting 75 questions set.

Kaplan Full Length CAT Tests

The platform includes three computer adaptive tests, modeled after the NCLEX. These tests provide comprehensive feedback upon completion, detailing your performance across various subsections. This personalized feedback helps identify your strong and weak areas, enabling you to adjust your study plan and enhance your nursing knowledge before the actual exam.

Note that most students find Kaplan CAT is harder than real NCLEX. Note that this also helps you breeze through real NCLEX as it feels easier. You should not get discouraged by one bad score in full length Kaplan test.

Test-Taking Strategies

The program also provides the students with test-taking strategies that help them approach the NCLEX exam with confidence. These strategies include critical thinking, time management, and prioritization of patient care.

One of the notable feature of live lectures, delivered both in person and online  is underscored by Kaplan’s unique Decision Tree method, provide a structured approach to critical thinking for NCLEX questions.

The program includes a vast array of review material, consisting of over 3,000 questions complete with detailed explanations. This helps students understand the reasoning behind correct answers and the problems with incorrect options. Kaplan suggests tackling 75 questions daily for effective NCLEX preparation, and students also have the flexibility to create custom practice tests focused on specific areas.

These strategies help students eliminate incorrect answers, and choose the best option based on the scenario after analyzing a specific scenario. Time management is also an important aspect of succeeding in the exam. 

The program also has a NCLEX-RN Trainer which simulates the main NCLEX exam experience with a sense of what to expect on the day of the examination. 

Kaplan Video Lessons

Kaplan offers extensive video content covering a wide range of NCLEX topics, which can serve as useful refreshers for past nursing school material.

Depending on the membership type, students can also access study plans, an e-book review guide, and the Online Study Center from day one of their enrollment. The Online Study Center features video-streamed question and content review lectures, test-taking workshops, and a strategy seminar.

Mobile Friendly: Kaplan’s NCLEX preparation platform is designed for flexibility, allowing you to access their resources from any device, including mobile. This feature accommodates on-the-go studying.

Features and Benefits

There are many reasons why Kaplan NCLEX Review is the choice of most nursing students. It has various features and benefits that help students prepare for the NCLEX exam. Here is a closer look at its components.

• Comprehensive Content Review 

Kaplan NCLEX Review offers a comprehensive review crucial for nursing content which is examinable in the main NCLEX exam. Students that concentrate on this program showcase exemplary results in their exams. The success rates over the last years are something to showcase the ability of this program in achieving its objective. The content provides an in-depth view of topics from physiology, anatomy, to pediatric nursing. This ensures that nursing students get a good foundation of necessary skills and knowledge in their careers.

• Personalized Study Plan and a Progress Tracker

After registering with Kaplan, each student gets a chance to enjoy a personalized study plan that focuses on individual strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, students can focus on the weak areas and put in more effort by requesting personalized help. This plan will ensure that students get a good chance to grasp the content before they sit for their examination

Through the progress tracker, students can view other scores, areas of strengths, and weaknesses. This feedback is essential in enabling them to identify areas that need more concentration.

• Practice Questions

The practice questions in the Kaplan program are formatted in a way that simulates the real NCLEX exam. As such, students can have a chance to assess their knowledge of a particular topic and identify areas that need more hours of learning and practice. Students can choose the full-length practice exams or the quizzes and also get immediate feedback about how they have performed.

• Diagnostic Test

Kaplan recognizes that students have varying levels of proficiency across different topics. To address this, they’ve developed a diagnostic test to pinpoint areas where students may need additional support. This valuable tool helps students tailor their study plan to concentrate on identified problem areas, while reducing time spent on sections they’re already comfortable with. Some of these diagnostic tests are even available for free on Kaplan’s website.

• Test-Taking Strategies

Kaplan will never leave you in the wilderness and confused without giving you essential tips on how to effectively tackle the test. The program supports you with different approaches to the exam to obtain the highest score possible. These strategies include critical thinking and time management and will help you eliminate incorrect answers depending on a specific situation.

• Live and On-Demand Classes ( via NCLEX Channel)

Kaplan understands that students’ schedules might not always align with the hours given for lessons. As such, the program offers the flexibility of live and on-demand classes that will accommodate all students. Students have the chance to interact with the instructors and other students for social growth and convenience purposes.

• Mobile App

Kaplan’s mobile app enables students to study on the go. Through the app, students can access study materials and resources and stay on track with their studies. 

• Supportive Community

Kaplan is a community of expert nursing educators that supports all students. Students can take advantage of this and ask questions and also connect with others who are preparing for the exam.

• Money Back Guarantee

Kaplan NCLEX Review offers an option of a money-back guarantee for students that do not pass the exam on their first trial. This is a nice option since it gives you a chance to redeem yourself and work hard for a second attempt.

Disadvantages

Although Kaplan NCLEX Review has its advantages, it also has some disadvantages, although these can be effectively managed. However, you should know that many nursing students swear by this review course because of the previous successes witnessed.

• Overwhelming Amount of Information

Kaplan NCLEX Review offers thousands of pages of content, many practice questions, and numerous test-taking strategies. While all these are made available to ensure that students pass their examinations, they may be overwhelming to some. However, the content is designed this way to leave no stone unturned. With thorough preparation, there is a high possibility of passing.

• Not Cheap for the Self-paced Course

For live class option, Kaplan NCLEX is quite affordable but for self paced course, pricing is on higher side compared to similar courses such as Nursing.com.

•  Practice Test Questions are harder than real NCLEX

Some students might get discouraged but tough questions help you mentally prepare for real NCLEX better rather than other way around.

Kaplan NCLEX Supplemental Study Resources

The biggest and most popular resource for Kaplan NCLEX is NCLEX Qbank. This is a database that provides practice questions that are designed to simulate questions that students will meet in the main exam.

NCLEX prep books are also offered as guides that give students a concise overview of the content that will be covered in the exam.

Kaplan also offers a review video series that covers all the topics. The video is prepared by expert instructors who give a detailed explanation of the concept.

Success Rates

According to Kaplan’s website, the NCLEX Review course has helped thousands of students achieve their career goals. They have an 85% success rate which is accredited to the comprehensive content. 

Nonetheless, you should note that success rates may vary depending on an individual’s previous knowledge of nursing education, exam readiness, and study habits before the main exam.

In addition to the claims on the Kaplan website, numerous testimonials credit their success in the NCLEX examination to Kaplan. They have reported useful tools, personalized instruction, and comprehensive content as the main drivers.

Final Thoughts

Kaplan NCLEX Review offers an affordable and flexible study option for nursing students. It has a track record of producing exemplary results in students who have used it to prepare for their NCLEX exam. Whether you want an exclusive online study, in-person class, or self-paced learning, Kaplan is your NCLEX Review comprehensive option. Find the best Kaplan NCLEX offers here.

If you still confused between Kaplan and UWorld, check our detailed comparison here or check our top picks here.

FAQs

Is Kaplan Review for NCLEX worth it? Is Kaplan good for passing NCLEX?

• If you’re on the lookout for live class options to give structure & NCLEX-like practice questions and mock tests, then Kaplan might be right for you.
• If you have limited time to prepare and basic concepts are fresh on your mind, Nurse Plus or UWorld practice questions would be a better fit.
• If you prefer the convenience of studying via your smartphone or tablet, then this course is tailored for you.

Is Kaplan NCLEX harder than actual test?

It is hard to judge computer adaptive tests as every students face different level of questions. But yes, it has been widely reported by students that Kaplan CAT is harder than real NCLEX. Note that this also helps you breeze through real NCLEX as it feels easier. You should not get discouraged by one bad score in full length Kaplan test.

Is Kaplan or UWorld better for NCLEX prep option?

Following a thorough analysis of both preparation options, we recommend Kaplan over UWorld for NCLEX preparation. With the exception of issue explanations, we assess Kaplan’s NCLEX preparation materials as being superior in almost every category.

Is Kaplan NCLEX Free?

Kaplan offers one on demand practice test with 50 questions for free. Apart from that they offer 7 days free trial for selected courses.

Is Kaplan NCLEX suitable for repeat test takers?

1. Utilize the Kaplan NCLEX Channel which includes a video specifically designed for repeat test takers.
2. Adhere to a study plan that involves answering 75-150 questions daily.
3. View the complete “crucial content” series while taking notes.
4. Watch all the decision tree videos. Although the live review is beneficial, it was during my second watch that I found most value. If you can’t devote 3 hours per session, try to view at least an hour of each video and download the accompanying notes.
5. When you answered a question in Qbank incorrectly, watch the related videos or review your notes.
6. If you have access to the 150 most common drug flashcards, make sure to utilize them.