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Complete Overview & Prep

What Is the NCLEX-RN® Exam?

The NCLEX-RN® (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) is a computerized adaptive test that determines whether nursing graduates are prepared for safe, entry-level nursing practice. Unlike nursing school exams that primarily test recall and recognition of facts, NCLEX-RN® tests clinical reasoning and application.

Instead of asking "What is the normal potassium range?", the NCLEX-RN® presents a patient scenario requiring you to recognize hypokalemia, understand its relationship to digoxin toxicity, and determine the priority nursing action. This fundamental difference means your study approach must shift from pure memorization to practicing clinical decision-making.

How CAT Scoring Works

The exam adjusts question difficulty based on your responses — correct answers lead to harder questions, incorrect answers lead to easier ones. The NCLEX-RN® uses a logit scale where the passing standard stays constant while question difficulty varies. After each answer, the computer recalculates your ability estimate and compares it to the passing standard. When it reaches 95% confidence that your ability is clearly above or below the standard, the exam ends — which is why some candidates finish at 85 questions and others continue to 150.

• 85 questions — computer reached a confident decision quickly, could be a clear pass or clear fail.

• 100–149 questions — computer needed additional data points to determine your ability level.

• 150 questions — maximum length reached. Pass/fail depends on your ability level at question 150.

Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN)

Since April 2023, NCLEX-RN® includes NGN items designed to measure clinical judgment directly. These use the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM), evaluating six skills: Recognize Cues, Analyze Cues, Prioritize Hypotheses, Generate Solutions, Take Action, and Evaluate Outcomes. NGN items use partial-credit scoring — you earn points for each correct element.

NGN items come in five formats:

• Case Study — a multi-phase patient scenario with 6 questions following the patient over time. Read the full scenario first. Track condition evolution. Each question targets a different NCJMM skill.

• Bow-Tie — center shows the patient condition; left side select causes; right side select actions. Identify the central problem first, then work outward. What led to this? → What is it? → What do I do?

• Trend — a data table showing patient values over time (vitals at 0800, 1200, 1600). Compare across time points, not just against normals. Look for trajectories and trends.

• Enhanced Hot Spot (Cloze) — a nurse's note with dropdown menus for selecting correct clinical terms. Read the entire passage first. Each dropdown tests specific judgment — condition, action, parameter.

• Matrix / Grid — a table with checkboxes to match conditions to findings or actions to patients. Evaluate each row independently. Don't assume equal checks per column.

Unlike traditional NCLEX® items that are scored right or wrong, NGN items use partial-credit scoring. In a Bow-Tie question with 5 correct selections, getting 3 right earns partial credit rather than zero. This means you should always attempt every element — never leave blanks.

NCLEX-RN® Results & Scoring

There are no numerical scores on the NCLEX-RN® — the only results possible are Pass or Fail. You will receive your official results from your state Board of Nursing within six weeks after taking the exam. If your state participates in the Quick Results Service, you can access your unofficial results two business days after testing for a small fee.

Retaking the NCLEX-RN®

If you don't pass, you can retake the exam. You'll need to wait 45 days between attempts, and you'll need to re-register and pay the exam fee again. You may take the NCLEX-RN® up to eight times per year.

What Is the NCLEX-PN® Exam?

The NCLEX-PN® (National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses) is a computerized adaptive test that determines whether nursing graduates are prepared for safe, entry-level practical/vocational nursing practice. Unlike nursing school exams that primarily test recall and recognition of facts, NCLEX-PN® tests clinical reasoning and application within the LPN/LVN scope of practice.

Instead of asking "What are the signs of wound infection?", the NCLEX-PN® presents a patient scenario requiring you to recognize early signs of infection, understand when to report findings to the supervising nurse or provider, and determine the priority nursing action. This fundamental difference means your study approach must shift from pure memorization to practicing clinical decision-making.

How CAT Scoring Works

The exam adjusts question difficulty based on your responses — correct answers lead to harder questions, incorrect answers lead to easier ones. The NCLEX-PN® uses a logit scale where the passing standard stays constant while question difficulty varies. When the computer reaches 95% confidence that your ability is clearly above or below the standard, the exam ends — which is why some candidates finish at 85 questions and others continue to 150.

• 85 questions — computer reached a confident decision quickly, could be a clear pass or clear fail.

• 100–149 questions — computer needed additional data points to determine your ability level.

• 150 questions — maximum length reached. Pass/fail depends on your ability level at question 150.

Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN)

The NCLEX-PN® includes NGN items designed to measure clinical judgment directly. These use the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM), evaluating six skills: Recognize Cues, Analyze Cues, Prioritize Hypotheses, Generate Solutions, Take Action, and Evaluate Outcomes. NGN items use partial-credit scoring — you earn points for each correct element.

Every NCLEX-PN® exam includes 18 clinical judgment items organized into three case studies of 6 questions each. Each case study follows a single patient scenario and addresses all six steps of the NCJMM in sequence.

NGN items appear in various formats and may include charts, tables, graphics, and other multimedia. All item types undergo an extensive review process before being used on the exam.

Unlike traditional NCLEX items that are scored right or wrong, NGN items use partial-credit scoring. This means you should always attempt every element — never leave blanks.

NCLEX-PN® Results & Scoring

There are no numerical scores on the NCLEX-PN® — the only results possible are Pass or Fail. You will receive your official results from your state Board of Nursing within six weeks after taking the exam. If your state participates in the Quick Results Service, you can access your unofficial results two business days after testing for a small fee.

Retaking the NCLEX-PN®

If you don't pass, you can retake the exam. You'll need to wait 45 days between attempts, and you'll need to re-register and pay the exam fee again. You may take the NCLEX-PN® up to eight times per year.