NCLEX test-takers do not receive a percentage score; the NCLEX scoring system is based off of a comparison to a predetermined passing standard. Read on to learn what the passing standard is and how it's determined.
Scoring NCLEX Exams
The National Council Licensure Examinations (NCLEX) given by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) use computerized adaptive testing. This means that the testing system is constantly evaluating test-takers' ability levels as they answer questions on their exams. The computer system determines whether their responses are right or wrong and uses them to select questions at a difficulty level test-takers have as much chance of answering correctly as incorrectly.
Test-takers' abilities are then compared to a predetermined passing standard that is reported in logits. A logit measures the differences between the skills demonstrated by a test-taker and the difficulty of the questions being answered. The score requirement for the NCLEX-RN test will be 0.00 logits until March 31, 2023. The logit score requirement for the NCLEX-PN is -0.18, also effective through March 31, 2023.
Rules for Passing
Each test is evaluated based on 1 of 3 rules that take the number of questions answered, their difficulty levels and the exam length into consideration.
The 95% Confidence Interval Rule
This is the most common evaluation method used. A test-taker will continue answering questions until the computer system is 95% certain of whether a test-taker's abilities fall above or below the passing standard. In this scenario, a test-taker may not need to complete all possible questions on the exam.
Maximum-Length Exam
A test-taker must answer all questions on the exam if his or her ability level is considered too close to the passing standard to use the 95% confidence rule. The results of all answers are considered to determine if an individual meets the passing standard.
Run-Out-Of-Time Rule
This applies when individuals are too close to the passing standard for the computer system to make a determination about whether they passed or failed and the test-taker isn't able to complete all questions in the allotted time.
A test-taker must have answered the minimum number of required test questions to be eligible to pass. For examinees taking the NCLEX-RN, at least 75 questions must be answered. A minimum of 85 questions must be completed on the NCLEX-PN exam. Test-takers who do not answer the minimum number of questions within the time limit automatically fail the test.
Individuals who do complete the minimum number of required test questions have the final 60 questions they answered assessed. Test-takers' abilities are evaluated based on these answers to determine if they meet the passing standard.
Creating a Passing Standard
The passing standard is set by the NCSBN's Board of Directors (BOD). Its goal is to ensure that all individuals who pass the NCLEX exams are qualified to fulfill entry-level nursing positions. There are a number of factors that are considered when the BOD evaluates and, if necessary, adjusts the passing standard:
- Panel of Experts: A panel of experts in nursing complete an exercise and the results are evaluated.
- Survey Results: The BOD not only looks at the passing standard set in previous years, it also reviews surveys that are completed by educators and employers. These surveys help to determine if the individuals who received nursing licenses were suitably qualified.
- High School Graduate Education Information: The BOD also looks at the ACT scores of high school graduates interested in nursing careers in order to take their academic preparation into consideration.
Setting the Difficulty Level
There are 15 questions individuals must answer that are not included in their score. The answers are used to determine the difficulty level of these questions should they be included in future test versions.
NCLEX Test Resources
To prepare for your NCLEX exam, use reliable online study resources to help you cover the relevant material you will be tested on. Study guides, such as the ones linked to here, can help you focus on exam content through short lessons that can be worked on at your own pace.
FAQs
The NCLEX does not provide a raw score or a percentage of correctly answered questions. Instead, it employs a pass/fail system based on your performance relative to the passing standard. You will pass if you consistently demonstrate competency or fail if your performance falls below the passing standard.
How many questions do you need to get right to pass NCLEX? ›
The number of questions on each NCLEX exam will vary depending on how well you answer each question. The minimum number of questions is 75 and the maximum is 145. If you answer most of the questions correctly, then you could pass the test after answering only the minimum of 75.
How is the new NCLEX graded? ›
0/1 scoring: Candidates earn 1 point for each correct response and points are not deleted for incorrect responses. Points are summed together to get the item total score. Dyad/triad: In a dyad, candidates earn one point when both responses in a paired set are answered correctly.
How does NCLEX score select all that apply? ›
Points are accumulated by selecting the correct option in each drop-down. Selecting the incorrect option results in earning 0 points. The total item score is the sum of all drop-down scores.
What does it mean when NCLEX shuts off at 85? ›
When the NCLEX-RN shuts off at 85 questions, it means you either did very well or very poorly—enough so that the CAT model is 95% confident in your success or failure after only one-third of the possible 265 exam questions. Further, in an 85-question test only 70 questions are counted toward your passing score.
How many questions out of 75 do you have to get right to pass NCLEX? ›
The use of CAT also means that the NCLEX-RN has a variable length. To pass the test, you must answer at least 75 questions correctly, and you will not be asked more than 265, which means the test may be comprised of anywhere from 75 to 265 questions.
Can you pass the NCLEX with 50% of questions right? ›
The NCLEX does not provide a raw score or a percentage of correctly answered questions. Instead, it employs a pass/fail system based on your performance relative to the passing standard. You will pass if you consistently demonstrate competency or fail if your performance falls below the passing standard.
What percentage is considered passing on NCLEX? ›
Because of how the NCLEX test is structured, your passing or failing grade will equal zero. A letter grade or percentage isn't the purpose of the NCLEX. The sole purpose is to determine whether or not you're ready to be a nurse based on how many questions you answer correctly.
What is the average NCLEX score? ›
Therefore, test-takers typically answer between 75 and 145. Since the test is adaptive, the NCLEX percentage to pass will vary for each candidate. The test will constantly challenge the test-taker until it finds the kind of questions that they will have a 50% chance of passing.
Does the last question on NCLEX matter? ›
If the last question is above the level of difficulty needed to pass, the candidate passes. If you took a test longer than 75 questions and failed, you were probably familiar with most of the content you saw on the exam but you may have difficulty using critical thinking skills or taking standardized tests.
The NCLEX is computer adaptive and items are selected based on each candidate's ability. Each exam adheres to the test plan content area percentages. The items fall across all difficulty levels and cover all areas of the test plan.
What are considered hard questions on NCLEX? ›
Hard NCLEX questions typically require you to think beyond the basic level of knowledge. They may involve analyzing complex patient scenarios, prioritizing interventions, making clinical judgments, or applying nursing concepts in unfamiliar contexts.
What does near passing mean on NCLEX? ›
Having near passing standard means it is not within the competence level that the adaptive test is looking.
What are signs you failed the NCLEX? ›
Your test presented questions that did not progress in difficulty level. With every correct answer you give on the NCLEX, the more challenging the following questions become. If you are given questions that stay within the same difficulty level or become easier, this is one of the signs you failed the NCLEX.
Is NCLEX Next Gen harder? ›
And this is what I said in my show before, if you are a high performing student, the next gen NCLEX will be much very much easier for you. But if you're in the moderate the low performing student, it might cause you to fail the exam more.
How do you know if you failed the NCLEX right away? ›
The only definitive way to know if you've passed the NCLEX is to wait for your official score. You will be able to access unofficial results shortly after taking the exam, which means you can look online to see if you passed or failed.
How many questions can you get wrong to pass the NCLEX? ›
You can miss up to 85 questions before officially passing the NCLEX exam. But it's important to note that pass and fail scores are more based on the NCLEX's confidence interval. You technically pass when correctly answering enough questions to remain above the passing line with a 95% confidence interval.
Do the first 15 questions count on NCLEX? ›
3 | NCLEX Examination Question Types
The NCLEX-RN consists of 74-145 questions. This includes 15 pre-test questions that do not count toward test takers' scores. The NCLEX-PN consists of 85-205 questions, including 25 non-scored questions.
What are the 3 NCLEX pass or fail decision rules? ›
The CAT algorithm determines whether you pass or fail based on one of the following three rules: the 95% Confidence Interval Rule, Maximum-Length Exam Rule, or the Run-out-of-time (ROOT) Rule. These are sometimes also referred to as the exam “stopping rules” that indicate when the exam will end.
Can you pass NCLEX with 85 questions? ›
Can You Fail the NCLEX in 85 Questions? Yes, it is technically possible to fail the NCLEX after 85 questions. Failing within this limited number of questions suggests one would generally need to demonstrate extreme unpreparedness.
