10 Tips To Master Select All That Apply (SATA) Questions in Nursing School

Let’s be real — there’s something about SATA questions that makes even the most confident nursing student pause. You read the question. You feel pretty good. Then boom — it’s a Select All That Apply. And suddenly, your brain is like, “Wait… is it 2 answers? 4? All? None?” The guessing game begins, and before you know it, you’re second-guessing everything. 

I’ve been there. And I can tell you this: SATA questions are not your enemy. They’re just misunderstood. 

Once you really understand how they work and how to approach them, you’ll go from “oh no” to “I got this.” So, let’s break it down. Here are real, helpful tips that can help you master Select All That Apply questions and walk into your next exam feeling a whole lot more confident. 

1. Remember there’s no partial credit 

This is probably the most frustrating part — you either get it completely right, or it’s completely wrong. Even if you selected 4 out of 5 correct options, that one mistake can cost you the whole question. That’s why it’s so important to slow down and think through each choice individually. This isn’t a guessing game — it’s a logic test. The more focused and accurate you are, the better. 

2. Read the question slowly and carefully 

Don’t rush. Seriously. SATA questions love to test how well you pay attention. The wording of the stem is everything. Is it asking what’s appropriate for a nurse to do? What findings are expected? Which symptoms are abnormal? You might know the content, but if you misread the stem, you’ll pick answers that don’t fit what the question is actually asking. Slow down and read it twice if you need to. 

3. Break it down: true or false 

The best tip I ever got? Treat every option as a true or false statement. Don’t try to “feel” your way through all the options at once. Go one by one and ask yourself: is this statement true based on the question? Not “does it sound right,” but “is it definitely true in this context?” If it’s not 100% true, don’t select it. This method helps you stay objective and keeps emotions out of it. 

4. Don’t assume there’s a pattern or a certain number of right answers 

One of the biggest traps is thinking, “There have to be at least two right answers,” or “It can’t be all of them.” But SATA doesn’t play by those rules. Sometimes only one option is correct. Other times it’s all six. Your job is not to guess a pattern — it’s to focus on what’s true. Trying to force a number of correct answers will only lead to overthinking and confusion.

5. Pay attention to keywords in the question stem 

Words like “requires intervention,” “expected findings,” “immediate action,” “priority,” or “newly diagnosed” are more important than they seem. They guide your thinking. If the question is about expected findings, you’re not looking for abnormal signs. If it’s asking what needs intervention, you’re hunting for things that aren’t safe. These little words change the meaning of the whole question, so don’t ignore them. 

6. Know your nursing foundations — especially safety 

Here’s the truth: SATA questions are usually testing more than facts. They’re testing whether you understand what’s safe, appropriate, or necessary in a real-life scenario. That means you need a solid grasp on basic nursing concepts like infection control, medication safety, patient prioritization, mental health, maternal and pediatric care, and therapeutic communication. The better your foundation, the easier it is to confidently select the right answers. 

7. Practice with rationales, not just scores 

If you’re just doing question after question and moving on after checking your score, you’re missing the most valuable part — the rationale. Whether you got it right or wrong, read why. Understand what made an option correct or incorrect. Rationales train your brain to think like the test wants you to think. And over time, you'll start seeing patterns in the way questions are asked. 

8. Stay calm and don’t second guess yourself 

Test anxiety is real, especially when a SATA pops up. You start to overthink. “What if I missed something?” “Maybe this is a trick question?” But usually, your first instinct is right — especially if you’ve been studying consistently. Trust your judgment. Take a breath. Read each option slowly and go with what you know, not what you feel like might be right. 

9. Create a strategy that works for you 

Everyone’s brain works differently. Some students like to answer the question in their head before even looking at the options. Others need to talk it out quietly to themselves. Some like to eliminate wrong answers first. Try different methods during your practice sessions until you find what helps you feel calm, focused, and accurate. The best test strategy is the one that makes you feel in control. 

10. Practice every day — even just 5–10 SATA questions 

Consistency matters. You don’t need to do 100 questions a day. Even 5–10 SATA questions every day can train your brain to get familiar with the format. Use NCLEX-style question banks

and focus on the subjects you’re weakest in. Over time, the format won’t feel scary anymore — it’ll feel like second nature. 

SATA questions aren’t going anywhere — they’re a big part of nursing exams and the NCLEX. But with the right mindset and strategy, they don’t have to be the thing you dread. They’re just another way to test how well you can apply what you know in real-life scenarios. And the truth is, you’ve already got the knowledge — now it’s just about trusting yourself to apply it. 

Keep practicing, stay focused, and remind yourself: you’re not here to be perfect — you’re here to be prepared. You’ve got this.