Welcome to my detailed evaluation of The Princeton Review NCLEX! I’ve taken this course to give you the lowdown on everything it offers, from diving deep into the practice materials and problem explanations to checking out the live classes and bonus tools.
I aim to give you the inside scoop so you can decide if The Princeton Review is the right fit for you. Let’s dive into this expert evaluation!
Overview Of The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review was founded in 1981. For nearly fifty years, Princeton has been famous for helping students prepare for tests like the USMLE and MCAT for doctors.
But now, they’re diving into a new area by launching their first-ever NCLEX prep course. This course includes a question bank and live classes to help students get ready for the nursing licensure exam.
The Princeton Review is known for offering personalized and top-quality resources to help students succeed in their studies.
With this new course, they’re showing their commitment to supporting students in nursing careers, too.
In the next section, I will share my experiences about this course. Keep scrolling!
The Princeton NCLEX Review: My In-depth Analysis
Overall, The Princeton Review left a positive impression on me and was one of the best courses I have taken. Below is my detailed review of it, including its practice questions, rationales, classes, tools, and more. Let’s check!
1. Practice Questions
The standout feature of The Princeton Review is undoubtedly its practice material. They took it up a notch by offering official practice problems sourced from the NCSBN directly (almost 2/3 of the Qbank).
This is something I hadn’t seen with any other prep course, and it made a significant difference in my preparation. This innovative approach stands out when compared to Uworld other leading NCLEX prep courses like Kaplan and Hurst, which utilize a mix of in-house and external sources for their question banks. The quality of these practice questions was top-notch, mirroring the real exam closely.
Their multiple-choice and multiple-response questions were spot-on and helped me get accustomed to the format and difficulty level of the actual exam.
About the quantity, The Princeton Review provided a whopping 3,500 practice questions. Even the remaining 1,500 questions created in-house were of exceptional quality, making it challenging to distinguish between the two sets.
The thoroughness and accuracy of the practice material gave me confidence that I was on the right track with my preparation.
While the number of practice questions was impressive, it could be overwhelming at times. But this is not a disadvantage if you like to study the topic in depth.
Overall, the official NCSBN practice problems set The Princeton Review apart from other prep courses. I highly recommend it to any nursing student who wants comprehensive practice material to ace this exam.
Dr. Cheryl Ross
2. Problem Rationales
In contrast to Archer Review – which offers streamlined explanations aimed at efficient learning, The Princeton Review’s explanations were pretty good. They weren’t too complicated and had helpful pictures and diagrams, which I found useful because I learned better visually.
The explanations were also easy to understand and gave just enough detail. I loved how they walked through each problem logically.
These explanations weren’t just about providing the answer; they helped me understand why it was the answer. And let me tell you, that’s key when you’re prepping for a big exam like the NCLEX.
The explanations didn’t go overboard with too much information. Some other courses give too much detail, but The Princeton Review’s explanations were just right. I mean, they gave me what I needed without overwhelming me.
However, there are a few things that could be better. While the pictures and diagrams were helpful, they could have been more interactive. Don’t get me wrong, they got the job done, but a little extra pizzazz wouldn’t have hurt.
Also, I think they could have used more real-world examples. Linking the concepts to practical situations would have made them even more helpful in preparing for the nursing job.
3. Live Classes
Overall, I liked how the classes were structured. The instructors had detailed lesson plans and covered the most essential topics efficiently. They made the material easy to understand by using real-world examples.
The live classes gave me 18 hrs of instruction. Having a real teacher to talk to and learn from was super helpful. The classes focused on pediatric nursing, medical-surgical nursing, and care management.
The instructors explained everything clearly and showed us the material in the NCLEX with practice problems. If I had questions or needed clarification, I could reach out to them one-on-one, and they were always there to help.
My instructor, Kathleen, had over 40 years of experience, so she knew her stuff! We could interact with her during class through chat or by turning on our video and mic during the classes. It made the whole learning experience feel more personal and engaging.
Other instructors are top-notch. They all have RN licenses, a Nursing Education MSN, lots of teaching and practice experience, and they’re certified as CNEs.
It would have been nice to have a workbook like some other review courses offer. Nevertheless, these live classes were a great help in my NCLEX preparation.
4. Prep Books & Video Lessons
The Princeton NCLEX Review offers over 1,000 study note slides along with animated lessons. And let me tell you, I was seriously impressed with this video. They’re engaging and do a great job of attracting your attention.
But here’s the downside: The Princeton Review still doesn’t offer traditional books. While they provide printed materials, they don’t have a book covering everything you must know.
Now, don’t get me wrong! The video lessons are fantastic, but having a comprehensive prep book would still be helpful. It could be a handy reference guide and provide a different way to review the material.
So, I plan to have videos between video lessons and prep books. They’re more engaging and effective in helping you learn and retain information. But it would still be nice to have a prep book as an additional resource.
5. Bonus Tools
Now, let me share my experience with the extra tools that came with The Princeton Review package!
- Instructor access
First, let’s talk about its instructor access. It allowed me to email my instructor any questions I had (outside of classes). I found this especially helpful when I was stuck on a particular topic or needed clarification from the class.
The responses I got were usually detailed and came within 24 hrs, which was great. However, don’t bombard your instructor with questions all the time. It’s more of a supplemental support rather than private tutoring.
- Flashcards
Onto the flashcards, these were a real lifesaver for me.
The flashcards feature allowed me to take information from the explanations provided with the questions and turn them into flashcards for review later on. It helped me condense all the vital material into bite-sized pieces that were easy to review.
So, I created a bunch of flashcards for the topics I struggled with the most, and I used them religiously during my study sessions. It was a great way to reinforce what I had learned and test my memory on essential concepts.
- Self-assessments and drills
As for self-assessments and drills, they were okay but not as impactful as the instructor’s access and flashcards. The drills helped me practice specific skills or concepts, but I didn’t use them as much as I thought I would.
Similarly, the self-assessments helped gauge my progress and identify areas for improvement, but they weren’t a game-changer for me.
What Do Others Say About The Princeton NCLEX Review?
The Princeton Review has received 1,970 reviews on Trustpilot, of which 70% are 5-star reviews. Most praise the dedicated instructors. Here are some positive reviews on Trustpilot:
However, some users want more and easier questions.
Pros & Cons Of The Princeton Review
To sum up what we’ve discussed, here are the pros and cons of this course:
Pros
- High-quality practice material (+3500 questions), including 2000 official NCSBN questions.
- Excellent explanations: clear, detailed, and come with helpful pictures.
- Live classes with expert instructors. You can talk to experienced teachers who cover important topics well.
- Bonus tools and resources: flashcards and instructors’ support to make studying easier.
- Engaging video lessons
Cons
- No prep books
- Relying mostly on videos
- Sometimes, the explanations might be too detailed and overwhelming.
Who Needs The Princeton Review?
The Princeton Review is a valuable resource for anyone preparing to take the NCLEX exam, especially those who want to ensure they pass on their first attempt.
NCSBN statistics reveal that the overall pass rate for first-time test-takers in 2022 in the US was around 80%. Given these statistics, here are some scenarios where you’ll benefit from the The Princeton Review programs:
- Those seeking an NCLEX pass guarantee
If you want to ensure that your investment in NCLEX preparation pays off with a passing score on your first attempt, The Princeton Review offers a pass guarantee.
- Those experiencing test anxiety
The Princeton Review’s programs feature NCSBN practice questions. Practicing with real questions can help reduce test anxiety by familiarizing you with the exam’s format, content, and difficulty level.
- Those seeking access to qualified instructors
The live courses provide access to seasoned nursing instructors. These instructors have extensive experience in nursing education.
They are equipped to guide students through challenging topics, answer questions, and provide valuable insights to enhance understanding and preparation.
Cost & Course Options
The Princeton NCLEX Review offers three main course options to cater to different learning preferences and budgets: the QBank, the self-paced, and the live course.
- QBank: $175 to $350
This option is ideal for those who prefer self-directed study. It includes around 3,500 practice questions with detailed rationales and supplemental tools like score reports and flashcards.
- Self-Paced: $700/year
This course is a great option for individuals seeking a more comprehensive study experience. This package builds upon the QBank by including animated lessons and study notes, providing additional resources for learning.
- Live Course: around $900
The live course is the most interactive option, offering 18 hrs of live class, email access to instructors for one-on-one questions, and additional tools such as self-assessments and drills.
While it includes everything from the QBank option, it provides the added benefit of live instruction and personalized support.
In comparison to the comprehensive packages offered by Simple Nursing and ATI, which blend affordability with extensive resources, The Princeton Review positions itself within the premium segment, reflecting its investment in quality content and instructional support.
Tips: Princeton frequently offers discounts and promotions, especially for the live course. It’s common to find coupons or special offers that provide significant savings, often reducing the price by a couple hundred dollars.
Is The Princeton Review Worth Your Investment?
Yes. The Princeton Review NCLEX gets a thumbs up from me.
Having tried out and reviewed numerous NCLEX courses, I can confidently say that The Princeton Review stands out as one of the better options despite being relatively new.
It’s evident that they’ve invested heavily in their resources and assembled a team of highly qualified teachers and tutors to develop their materials.
It would be nice if their courses were a bit cheaper, and having a prep book included would be the cherry on top. But honestly, these are just minor grapes compared to all the good stuff they offer.
They have gone all out and bought nearly 2,000 NCSBN official problems. Plus, they’ve thrown in another 1,500 of their creations. Each comes with a super detailed explanation.
So, I have no hesitation in giving The Princeton Review my approval stamp. If you are looking for a reliable and effective way to prepare for the NCLEX, The Princeton Review is worth considering.
In Summary
After conducting thorough evaluations of The Princeton NCLEX Review, it’s clear that this course offers valuable resources and support for aspiring nurses preparing for the NCLEX.
The Princeton Review covers all the bases, from high-quality practice materials to engaging live classes and bonus tools.
While there may be areas for improvement, such as pricing and a prep book, overall, it receives positive feedback from my team of experts. I hope my detailed evaluations have helped you make an informed decision!
