Collect your notes, textbooks and exams from past nursing training. These materials will come in handy throughout the study process and provide reference material as you go through the test plan.
Go to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing to retrieve the test plan for your license level (either RN or PN). This guide includes all of the categories covered on the test as well as information about how the test is administered.
Study each section mentioned in the test plan. For example, both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN include questions regarding accident and injury prevention, ergonomic principles and high-risk behaviors. Use your textbooks and notes from nursing training to carefully review each section of the test.
Enroll in a test preparation class or purchase test simulator software for your computer. You can also purchase an NCLEX review guidebook, which contains sample questions and category reviews. Each of these methods will help prepare you for the actual test setting through practice exams and study guides.
Review the information about test administration at the end of your test plan the day before your exam. This will remind you of what to expect when taking the exam and may help calm your nerves.