Conquer Select All That Apply NCLEX®-Style Questions

When students hear that there will be "Select All That Apply (SATA)" questions on their nursing exams or worse yet, on NCLEX, they groan. Students email HURST Review Services asking for advice on mastering these dreaded NCLEX alternate format type questions. So let's discuss how SATA questions can be conquered!

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) facts:

NCSBN reserves the right to ask you anything in any way. No big deal! If you know your content like you should, it doesn't matter how they ask you a question. So don't let SATA questions send you into ORBIT!

1. SATA questions

a. Will have at least two correct answers.

b. There will be 5 to 7 answer options to choose from.

c. You must get all options correct. There is no partial credit!

1. The majority of your NCLEX® exam is still going to be single-option multiple-choice questions, so don't worry!
2. There will be 15 pilots on the RN exam and 25 pilots on the PN exam. All of your pilot questions may be an alternate format. The good news is that these questions do not count!

Strategies for Conquering SATA Questions

First, when you see a SATA question, do NOT panic! Stay calm; Stay focused!

Next, read the question carefully. Look for hints. Do this before reading the answer choices! Identify the problem? Exactly what is the question asking? Can you answer the question without looking at the answer choices? Great!

Finally, look at each answer option as a true/false statement. If the question is asking for a true answer, then match your true statements to the question. If the question is asking for a false statement, then match your identified false statements to the question. See, it is really rather simple!

February 02

Debra S. McDonough, RN, MSN, EdD