Pay attention in class. Most nursing exams cover material that is directly touched upon in class. A teacher will go over material related to biology, chemistry and proper care of patients when lecturing students. Listen closely to the teacher's words. Raise your hand if material is unclear to you.
Read textbooks closely. A nursing education is built on a standard foundation of knowledge. Most nursing textbooks cover similar materials. Read each page of assigned text. If your budget allows, purchase the textbooks so you can make marks on each page. Underline material that you find confusing so you can bring it up with an instructor during a class. Look up definitions of words that you don't understand. Complete all homework assignments to learn if you have correctly mastered material.
Find out what the exam will cover. A professor should be able to tell what will be on the test. Nurses must take the NCLEX exam (National Counsel Licensure Exam) in order to get their state licensure. Topics covered by the NCLEX are known in advance. You should be able to get hold of sample tests in advance and study from them. If you are struggling with a specific area such as microbiology or chemistry, focus your attention on that area in the days before you take the exam.
Meet all requirements. Come to the exam on time. Do not be late. An instructor may not give you extra time to complete the exam. Make sure you have the right writing implements. If you have a favorite pencil, bring it. The NCLEX exam is given via computer. Students who do not feel comfortable in front of a computer should take some time to familiarize themselves with the set up of a computer. Make sure you are wearing comfortable clothes. Your attention should be on the exam and not on what you are wearing.
Fill in all answers. The NCLEX exam is a multiple-choice test. Make sure you answer all questions you are given. If you are taking an exam with essay questions, make sure that you write full sentences. Emphasize your knowledge of nursing. Draw on your understanding of policies and procedures such as how to administer medication or how to respond to a patient who is upset.