My first semester of nursing school I was swamped with assignments. I had three classes and each one required three or more chapters of reading from dense textbooks. The first couple of weeks had me stressed. It was too much, especially reading the chapters word-for-word, and there was no way I could retain it all.
I began to skim the chapters and take notes on key terms. It was still very time-consuming. There had to be a shortcut. I started searching for something like Cliff Notes for my class textbooks. That’s when I discovered nursing test banks.
What are Test Banks
Test banks are typically sold to faculty by publishers to accommodate textbooks. They feature a big pool of test questions to go with every chapter of the textbook and teachers can select from them to make their own tests or customize them as they see fit. The questions, at least for my nursing textbooks, were mostly multiple choice but some included short answer fill in the blank types.
There appears to be a test bank for almost every school textbook. They can be difficult to acquire, as typically you have to be a teacher. However, thanks to the internet a lot of them can be found online.
Where to Find Test Banks
I found them by typing the name of my textbook followed by “test bank” in Google. You can try Test Bankster, which has a large selection. I had to sift through Google to find my test banks, though.
Some of the sites I purchased through didn’t look legitimate, as their website looked simple, old, and unprofessional, and I thought it might be a scam. However, I took a chance and still received my test bank.
One of my test banks was free, and the other two I had to pay for. Some of them weren’t cheap. One was $40. But to me, it was more than worth it.
The Value of Test Banks
Some teachers don’t make their own tests. They simply throw questions together from the textbooks’ test bank. Two out of my three teachers in my first semester of nursing school did this. Nutrition and Dimensions of Nursing were extremely easy because of this. All of their test questions were pulled directly from test banks, and I was able to recognize the right answer to all of them. All I would do is purposely answer at least one question wrong so as not to raise any suspicion.
It allowed me to free up so much time for Nursing Assessment, a more difficult and important class, and one which the teacher made her own test questions. Given that, the test bank for this class was still a helpful study resource.
How to Efficiently Take Advantage of Test Banks.
The most important information from each chapter of your textbook is already dissected for you and posed as a question/answer format. Some test banks even feature explanations for each question.
What I would do, is copy and paste almost every chapter’s test bank question into Anki, a spaced repetition flashcard software that I highly recommend. I’d put the question and multiple choice answers on one side of the card (question box) and the answer, which I’d make into bold print, on the other side.
Do this as soon as you are assigned your chapters to be read, that way you have plenty of time to review your flashcards before the test.
Are Test Banks Cheating?
Some schools explicitly say they are. It’s written in their code of conduct and that they’re not intended to be used by students. You can search online and find multiple reports of students being kicked out of their programs after having been caught using them.
So if you do choose to use them, be sure not to tell anyone. Don’t get caught, either. Don’t zoom through the test and be the first one to finish. Drag some questions out and look perplexed.
You have your own morals and can make the decision yourself whether you choose to utilize them or not.
Seventa says
Hi I am nursing student I am wondering where my instructor getting their test question from I purchased a test bank for Med surge book but they not using that. I am wondering if the teacher using dismfferent book. Can you help me with that thank you.
lisa says
Try studying for a change
G. Hardknocks says
Fred….And anyone else using this site… Just two things that you best consider
1) These future nurses are not learning–just memorizing answers for a test. These may be the people put in the care of you or your loved one some day.
2) Not only are they less than educated and potentially dangerous nurses, but they are dishonest cheaters. Why would they be honest with their patients or anyone else if they are willing to cheat their way through nursing school.
To even think that someone WOULDN”T consider this cheating is a sad testiment to the future of our world–and our profession. If you have to say things like “All I would do is purposely answer at least one question wrong so as not to raise any suspicion.” or “if you do choose to use them, be sure not to tell anyone. Don’t get caught, either”, well….duh, you know it is dishonest. Face it. You are a cheater.
Jessica Harlan says
Get over yourself, If you knew anything about nursing school you know a lot of it is simply memorizing stuff! Clinical is where you get the hands on stuff..
Chill
Devin C says
Lord have mercy. You CLEARLY have never been to nursing school. Some of the best nurses I know, cheated in some form or fashion in nursing school.
Nicole says
Shut up.
Robin says
The book test is stupid you don’t learn crap it is the hands on that you have to be smart and know how to use.. The text book literally teaches you nothing!!! I didn’t learn anything from it other than my girl flo was the queen of nursing… the text book test is just teaching you a different way to look at things
lisa says
Youre so right. Disgusting practice
Kyla says
If it’s so “disgusting”, why are you even on this page? As if your comment means anything, to anyone of us.
Debra says
Other than zooming through the exam, how would one get caught?
Milli says
Hey Fred,
I am presently enrolled for the same classes and am having a really difficult time with the tests as it is timed and that is a major issue for me. I have prepped by doing the review questions, going through the readings, and reviewing and creating notes from the lab but i am always unable to make it to the last few exam pages. Any advice or referrals to sites that might have prep question to help gear me on a path to successful results. Again, the timing for the exams is what is stumping me please advise. I have alot writing on this grade being a B + or better.
Sam says
Can a school find out who has bought test banks?
Ryu Kenze says
Hello. We can help! We supply any Test Bank or Solution Manual you need to ACE your courses. You can email us with your requests at the following email address and we will reply within a few hours at most: ryukenze at gmail dot com
We look forward to hearing from you. Please make sure you include the name and edition of the book you would like resources for, and we shall reply right away to you with samples ect.
Look forward to hearing from you, Ryu Kenze 🙂
Lorraine says
I personally don’t think studying the test bank is cheating. Test banks are meant to use as study materials and resources. It sets the text book material foundation in the format of the question/answer so that students can get familiar with the testing environment. Many instructors don’t use the test questions directly from the test banks anymore these days. If they do, they are a lazy teacher. I am a grad student and most of the professors write their own test questions and create their own grading system. All in all, test banks can only help you to get familiar with the course materials and students still need to study the overwhelming materials in order to ace the test.
Betty says
Did you pass NCLEX RN? I’m testing in 2 weeks for my nclex RN and I used test banks the entirety of my nursing program. I loved them but I’m not sure they prepped me well for nclex. I am scared to take nclex. But we shall see how I do
Loretta says
I used test banks and bought them. The guilt got to me so I quit nursing school though I do know others in my class were also using test banks though they got theirs for free. Had I not paid for it I feel I might have stayed with nursing as less chance of it coming back that I paid for a product.