The pop-up trick, also known as the Pearson Vue trick, is a controversial method that some nursing students use to try to determine whether they passed or failed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). The trick involves attempting to re-register for the exam immediately after completing it, and if the system prevents the student from doing so and redirects them to a payment page, it is believed to be an indication that they passed. Conversely, if the system allows the student to re-register for the exam, it is believed to be an indication that they failed.

While the pop-up trick is widely known and discussed among nursing students, there is no official endorsement or validation of this method by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) or Pearson Vue, the company that administers the NCLEX. As such, the accuracy of the pop-up trick is highly debated and cannot be relied upon as a definitive indicator of whether a student has passed or failed the exam.
There are several reasons why the pop-up trick is not a reliable method for determining NCLEX results. First, the system response that students receive may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as server connectivity or system glitches, rather than their actual exam performance. In addition, the system response may vary depending on the individual’s testing history and location, making it difficult to draw accurate conclusions from the results.
Second, the pop-up trick relies on the assumption that the registration system is connected to the NCSBN’s database of exam results. However, there is no definitive evidence that this is the case. While it is true that the Pearson Vue registration system is used to schedule NCLEX exams, it is unclear whether it is directly linked to the NCSBN’s database of exam results or if the system simply uses a predetermined algorithm to generate the response that students receive.
Third, the pop-up trick is not a transparent or reliable method for determining NCLEX results. The NCSBN states that exam results are only released to candidates via their official test reports, which are made available on their website within 48 hours of completing the exam. The pop-up trick, on the other hand, relies on a potentially unreliable and unofficial source of information that cannot be independently verified.
In addition to these concerns, it is worth noting that relying on the pop-up trick can also cause unnecessary stress and anxiety for nursing students. Waiting for the official exam results can be a stressful and emotional time, and the uncertainty of not knowing can be difficult to manage. However, using an unvalidated and unreliable method to try to determine results can only add to this stress and may ultimately prove to be more harmful than helpful.
In conclusion, the pop-up trick is not a reliable or accurate method for determining NCLEX results. While it may provide some students with a sense of relief or anxiety, it is not endorsed or validated by the NCSBN or Pearson Vue, and the system response that students receive may be influenced by a variety of factors. Nursing students are encouraged to wait for their official exam results and to focus on their ongoing professional development, rather than relying on potentially unreliable and unvalidated sources of information.