Want the inside scoop on the NCLEX? As a nursing instructor, I recently interviewed some of my graduates about their experiences taking the exam. Here’s what I found out -- and I offer my advice for facing the one thing standing between you and your license:

Think Critically
Many nursing graduates have a great deal of experience answering NCLEX-like questions. Surprisingly, though, several new grads found the questions to be more difficult than they anticipated. They felt a key factor in success was being able to think critically—really analyzing the given information and making thoughtful judgments based on the analysis.

The questions require you to do much more than just memorize a lot of information about a variety of diagnoses. You have to be prepared to reason through the exam.

Embrace Your Study Style
There were mixed reviews regarding taking a review course. Some students felt it helped them structure their study time better. Review courses also can reveal to you the areas on which you are weakest and, accordingly, ought to concentrate. Others said that self-study (especially for those who are self-disciplined and self-motivated) was enough.

Ask yourself: What is my learning style? What helped me be successful in nursing school? Did I do better working with a study group, or was it easier to focus by myself? Were lectures and reviews helpful? Did re-reading chapters in a textbook help synthesize the material?

Take a good look at yourself—and keep doing what helped you be successful in the past.

Focus on Weak Areas
Whether in a review course or from an NCLEX review book, taking practice tests can help you learn specific areas that are most problematic for you. If you miss a lot of OB or peds questions, go back and review those areas. Cramming every little piece of information from every area won’t work.

Pace Yourself
Set up a daily study schedule for about a month before the exam. Last-minute memorization isn’t going to do much for you.

Get Comfortable
On the day of the exam, make certain you’ve gotten a good night’s sleep, eaten a nourishing meal before the exam, and are wearing comfortable clothing. If you’re someone who gets cold, make sure you have a sweater. If you’re always hot, don’t overdress. The key is to feel as comfortable as possible going into the exam.

Then...just let all your hard work pay off. You can do it!

Related: Confidence, NCLEX, New Grad, New Nurse Tips