Hi Kim.. I’ve been worried about how the test set up would be if I take my second try.. Do they give same questions in writing listening and reading as what I had in my first try? Q.
Dear Q,
Have I sent you these suggestions before?
Passing the CELBAN is not about getting a score on an exam, it is about knowing the English language. If you have not passed the exam previously, it is not about points, it is about your understanding of the English language. The CELBAN is about benchmarks, where each benchmark is equivalent to a grade. How much work did it take you to go from one grade level to another? A whole year. How long will it take you to go up one benchmark? A whole year. If you failed by more than one point, more than one grade, it will take time and dedication to get the score. And with the fact that you only get three chances to take the CELBAN, and your exam will expire in two years but it will take longer to become an RN, you really can not take any chances. You must pass the next time. You must be confident that you will pass, with high scores, in all areas.
Is there any question about your decision?
Do you really want to trust your career on whether you get the same questions or not? Or do you really want to take the time to learn the language and the Canadian culture, so that you pass?
What are you going to decide?
The provincial colleges of nurses have a responsibility to Canadian patients. Their responsibility is to ensure competent nurses. Communication is vital in health care teams. If you are unable to understand doctor’s orders, or the patient is unable to understand you; a patient can be harmed as a result of poor communication. This is simply not acceptable.
And yet here you are deciding.
I just searched through my inbox to see if you told me your score. I discovered you have been writing to me since November 2012. At that time you had not taken the CELBAN. So you must have taken it some time since then. You have been going back and forth, between deciding about taking CELBANPrep or not taking it. So much time has passed. Had you simply made the decision in November, I would have encouraged you not to take the exam until we are both confident that you will pass in both the speaking and writing. Having worked with me and your writing coach, you would have practiced so much you would have been able to turn your weaknesses into strengths.
And yet here you are still deciding.
Meanwhile over a hundred nurses have made the decision and taken CELBANPrep. Many have taken the exam, passed and are on the next step of their licensure process.
And here you are still deciding.
Time is passing. Valuable time is being wasted. Let us consider something.
- If you subscribed to CELBANPrep in November, you could have taken the exam by now.
- But you did not, so let’s say you subscribe now, 8 months later.
- Or maybe you allow indecision to prevent you from subscribing for a whole year.
Let’s go fast forward to two years from now.
- Having taken CELBANPrep in November, you are an RN in the summer of 2015. You are making $35/hr.
- Having subscribed to CELBANPrep in July, you are a Graduate Nurse in the summer of 2015. You are making $25/hr. It will take you another 8 months to become an RN. You have lost 8 months wages at $35/hr. You have lost $45,000.
- Having waited a whole year, you are still a nursing assistant in the summer of 2015. You are making $18/hr. It will take you another year to become an RN. You have lost a years wages at $35/hr. You have lost $70,000.
There is a cost to indecision and procrastination.
What are your losses going to be $45,000 or $70,000 or even more? And now I ask you, in considering how much you have already lost, how does the price of CELBANPrep compare?
It is your decision. Indecision is a decision. Are you going to continue making that decision? Or are you going to act?
Are you still deciding?
Kim
Dear Kim 
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