One of the areas covered in the NCLEX is a nursing student's practical abilities. A study guide helps students prepare from this angle, giving a precise, yet comprehensive overview of the topics relevant to the test. Study guides published by Prentice Hall, Kaplan and Saunders cover the subjects as they appear on the actual exam. Various free downloadable study guides are also available on websites such as Study Guide Zone. If you find yourself weak in a particular subject, there are specific study guides you can select to focus on that area.
The NCLEX asks facts that are easy to memorize with flashcards. Flashcards help you to study small bits of information in a targeted manner, and repeatedly using the process ensures the information is drilled into your memory. The cards are also easy to carry around and come in handy for a quick revision when you have a few spare moments. Along with the traditional paper flashcards, digital flashcards that can be stored on your smart phone or laptop are available.
Websites such as StudyStack provide activities such as crosswords, scrambled words and matching puzzles, which can help you review important concepts. Using these activities in combination with a study guide and flashcards helps to reinforce your knowledge of the fundamentals. Moreover, the variety of formats takes away the drudgery of studying and helps you prepare with greater enthusiasm and less distraction. When taking the quizzes it is important you pay attention to the answers -- both the ones you got right and the ones you got wrong -- to reinforce your knowledge base.
NCLEX practice tests are an effective way of checking your level of preparation for the actual exam. Moreover, they help you get familiar with the exam's format. Questions on the NCLEX can be quite tricky, with answer options being closely related or more than one answer being correct in some cases. Therefore, taking a practice test helps you get used to using your critical-thinking skills to decide the correct answer. Take the practice tests available on websites such as Study Guide Zone and Caring 4 You to hone these skills.