Top NCLEX Nursing Exam Courses 2023 (2023)

FAQs

Is the NCLEX really changing in 2023? ›

What's Changed on the New NCLEX in 2023? The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) decided to update the current NCLEX to adapt to the evolving demands of the healthcare system and to better assess students' clinical judgment skills.

The NCLEX-RN has a minimum of 75 questions and a maximum of 145, and you have five hours to complete the exam. If the maximum amount of time has elapsed and you have not answered the minimum number of questions, this indicates you failed the NCLEX in 2023.

This increased client acuity means that new NCLEX questions are more difficult, with an increased focus on caring for more critically ill clients.

Effective with the launch of the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) on April 1, 2023, Multiple Response (MR) Select All That Apply (SATA) items will be scored using the polytomous model. This allows partial scores of items with multiple points to evaluate partial understanding.

To pass the NCLEX, you must answer at least 60% of the questions correctly. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing uses a minimum standard score of at least 0.

Depending on the time of year tested and the year, the NCLEX pass rates for first- time, US-educated test takers are usually between 80-90% +/1. So ATI says they predict that 59.9% of students will pass the NCLEX (with a 90-100% probability) when usually around 90% pass.

What is the hardest part of the NCLEX? ›

None. There is no “easy” state to take the NCLEX. The NCLEX is a national exam administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Because it's national, the NCLEX will be the same regardless of what state you choose to take it in.

Does 145 questions on NCLEX mean you failed? No, if you answer all 145 questions on the NCLEX, that does not mean you fail. In fact, if you answered 145 questions and each question was progressively more challenging, then that is a good sign that you passed.

You must get at least 75 questions correct, or achieve a 95% confidence level, to pass the NCLEX.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU STUDY FOR THE NCLEX? To pass the NCLEX, students should plan to spend a minimum of 1-2 months studying.

If they fail, they'll need to wait 45 days before retesting. After failing three times, though, they'll need to complete a board-approved remediation program before the next retake. test-takers have six attempts to pass in total.

If you happen not to pass the exam, you can retake it after 45 days. And if you are wondering how often you can take the NCLEX, the NCSBN retake policy allows for a retake eight times a year, ensuring 45 exam-free days between each test.

Recommended study times may vary depending upon the level of preparation needed and can range anywhere from four to twelve weeks or more. Although this article provides a guide to studying NCLEX in one month, it is highly recommended you allocate more than just four weeks to prepare for your exam.

When the new NCLEX rolls out in 2023, the SATA will change. You will be able to get partial credit on a SATA. This means that if you choose one of the correct answers you will get a point. But if you choose an incorrect answer you will get a point taken away.

Myth #4: “Select all that applies” questions show how you're doing on the NCLEX. A common myth about Select All That Applies (SATA) questions is that if you get a lot of them on your test, you're definitely passing. Again, this is definitely not true—and it's actually very subjective.

Which state to take NCLEX unlimited? ›

Pennsylvania: Unlimited attempts. Ohio: Unlimited attempts. New York: Unlimited attempts. Canada: 3 attempts maximum.

It is commonly recommended that you spend at least six weeks studying for the NCLEX. However, you can take a couple of practice quizzes and tests to evaluate how prepared you are. If you feel prepared and do well on the practice tests, then two weeks may be enough time to study and refresh your knowledge.

Answering more than 75 questions can also be one of the good signs you passed the NCLEX-RN. The computer adaptive testing format used on the NCLEX estimates your ability to test on more complicated questions based on previous answers and the level of difficulty of the earlier questions you answered.

Analysis, synthesis and evaluation questions would be considered higher-level NCLEX questions. Synthesis questions are based on creating or proposing solutions, such as a plan of care.

1. New Hampshire. New Hampshire boasts the highest NCLEX pass rate average in the U.S., over 14% higher than the national average. In 2022, five of the state's eight bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) programs reported first-time pass rates above 90%, including a 100% rate for Plymouth State University.

Failing the test can result in not answering the minimum amount of 70 questions within the allotted time. You can answer the first 69 questions correctly, but you will automatically fail the exam if you don't reach number 70.

While there is no official pass rate specifically associated with 75 questions on the NCLEX, most test takers who finish the exam this early pass the exam. Assuming the candidate is adequately prepared for the NCLEX and felt confident in at least a few questions, mathematically, the odds are more in favor of passing.

The NCLEX is scored using dichotomous scoring, so you can either pass or fail the exam. Currently, to pass the NCLEX-RN, the standard is 0.00 logits–or answer questions correctly at least 50% of the time. The NCLEX-PN standard is -0.18 logits.

Is a 51% passing the NCLEX? ›

The test cuts you off at a level where you have answered over 50% of the questions correctly. If you have 49% of the questions incorrect and 51% of them correct, the test will end at 75 questions and you will pass.

As of the third quarter, the 2022 pass rate for the NCLEX-RN examination fell to its lowest point in a decade for both first-time NCLEX test-takers and all takers. The first-time rate fell to 79.9%, more than 10 percentage points below the 2012 rate of 90.3%. For all test-takers, the drop was even larger, almost 13%.

If the last question is below the level of difficulty needed to pass, the candidate fails. If the last question is above the level of difficulty needed to pass, the candidate passes.

What are NCLEX Priority Questions? Priority questions are designed to test your conceptual comprehension. They are generally written at the analysis level, meaning you'll need to analyze the choices and apply your knowledge in order to answer the question correctly.

9, 2022. Last year, 63.88 percent of registered nursing students passed the NCLEX, down from 64.79 percent in 2021 and 68.92 percent in 2020. Florida has had the lowest NCLEX pass rates in the country since 2017, according to The Tampa Bay Times.

Unlike nursing school exams, which test for knowledge, the NCLEX tests your ability to apply and analyze situations using the nursing knowledge you gained in school. Logic and critical thinking, rather than rote memorization, are emphasized in this test—making it much more difficult and comprehensive.

If a student got all 265 questions, that would mean they are really straddling the competency line. The NCLEX algorithm is complicated, but it's a very smart, adaptive test. After you get past 75 questions, once it determines whether you're above passing or below passing, it will shut off.

We recommend that you complete about 2,800 practice questions before your exam. If you are giving yourself a month to study, that means that you would be doing about 100 NCLEX practice questions per day.

You must get all options correct (even if you miss one, it is considered wrong; there's no partial credit). You may get around 10-25 SATA questions in total, but that will depend on how you're answering your NCLEX questions.

What if my NCLEX shut off at 75? ›

If your exam shuts off at 75 questions it either means your ability was clearly above the passing standard and you passed or it was clearly below the passing standard and you failed.

The only way you will receive your official results is through your nursing regulatory body. This takes place approximately six weeks after you take the NCLEX. Some things to note: If you have not received your results after six weeks, contact your nursing regulatory body.

Learners with an average QBank score of 56% pass the NCLEX at a 92% rate. While your average UWorld QBank score gives you important information, studying each question's explanation is the most valuable way to spend your time.

Answering all 145 questions on the NCLEX-RN alone does not mean you failed the exam. However, with each correct answer you provide, the test should give you a question that becomes increasingly more difficult than the previous one.

The NCSBN published a study that showed that the optimal time to prep for NCLEX is about 45 days . . . so if you've got a good content base - you should be fine with a 6 week NCLEX study plan.

These newer concepts focus on patient safety and effective nursing practice within the context of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model. The NGN will also introduce new features, including but not limited to, extended multiple response questions, matrix/grid items, and a partial scoring system.

What Types of Questions Are on the Next Generation NCLEX? The NGN features a mix of current NCLEX question styles and new NGN items designed to demonstrate entry level nursing skills, clinical judgment, and overall knowledge. The exam also continues to use computer adaptive testing (CAT) technology.

Two new question types (or items) appearing on the new Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) are Multiple Choice and Matrix Multiple Choice. Matrix Multiple Choice items are a type of question that presents test-takers with a matrix grid of options to evaluate and select the best answer.

How many questions on the NCLEX do you need to get right to pass? You must get at least 75 questions correct, or achieve a 95% confidence level, to pass the NCLEX.

Can you pass with a 75 on the NCLEX? ›

Yes, you can pass the NCLEX-RN by answering only 75 questions. Keep in mind, the number of questions you answer may be a sign you passed, but it is not a definite sign. If your questions got progressively more challenging until the test stopped, this is one of the good signs you passed NCLEX in 2023.

Failing the test can result in not answering the minimum amount of 70 questions within the allotted time. You can answer the first 69 questions correctly, but you will automatically fail the exam if you don't reach number 70.

Never choose an answer that contains the following words: always, never, all, and only. These words do not allow for the possibility of an exception, and therefore the answers that contain these words can be automatically eliminated. Never choose an answer that describes the nurse's actions as "vigorous."

If you happen not to pass the exam, you can retake it after 45 days. And if you are wondering how often you can take the NCLEX, the NCSBN retake policy allows for a retake eight times a year, ensuring 45 exam-free days between each test.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) allows National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) test-takers up to eight retakes per year with a forty-five-day wait period between each test. These extra opportunities can often bring nursing school graduates a sigh of relief.

The NCSBN Board of Directors voted in December 2022, to uphold the current passing standard of -0.18 logits for the NCLEX-PN Examination through March 31, 2026.

Next Generation NCLEX Scoring

All of the new items are either correct or incorrect. Some will have partial credit. This is referred to as polytomous scoring. With traditional NCLEX items, answers are either right or wrong.

Unlike your math exams where everyone had to answer the same questions, the NCLEX is dynamic. It's a test that watches you, reacts to you, and tailors itself to you, which means it's very unlikely any two test takers will have the same NCLEX experience.