The NCLEX exam, short for National Council Licensure Examination, is a high-stakes test that all nursing graduates must pass to become licensed and begin practicing as a registered nurse. With such high stakes, it’s only natural for test takers to wonder about the passing requirements – namely, what percentage of questions you need to answer correctly in order to pass the NCLEX.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about the NCLEX passing requirements, including:
- How the NCLEX is scored
- What percentage of questions you need to pass
- How the computerized adaptive testing works
- Strategies for answering NCLEX questions
- How to interpret your performance report
Armed with this knowledge, you will have a much better grasp of what it takes to pass the NCLEX and be able to set appropriate goals as you prepare and sit for the exam.
How is the NCLEX Scored?
The NCLEX uses a pass/fail system, not a percentage or numerical score. You will not get a score at the end saying you got 72% of questions right.
Instead, the computerized exam is constantly evaluating your ability as it asks you questions. The questions will get harder or easier depending on how you answer previous questions.
The exam ends when the computer determines with 95% certainty that you are clearly above or below the passing standard. The standard is determined by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) based on entry level nursing abilities.
So in essence, you don’t need to answer a set percentage of questions correctly. Rather, you need to demonstrate the minimum level of competency expected of a newly licensed nurse.
What Percentage of Questions Do You Need to Pass NCLEX?
Because of the NCLEX’s pass/fail system and computerized adaptive format, there is no magic percentage of questions that exam takers need to pass.
With that said, most nursing graduates tend to answer around 50-60% of questions correctly on exams throughout their studies. Since the NCLEX aims to evaluate minimum competency, getting around 50-60% of questions right is likely in the safe passing zone.
However, this does not mean you should aim for only 50%! You should strive to correctly answer as many questions as you possibly can. The more questions you get right, the quicker the computer will determine you are above the passing standard, and the exam will end.
Incorrectly answering many questions in a row is what will signal to the computer that you lack entry level nursing abilities. At that point, the exam will end and you will unfortunately fail.
So while there is no set percentage needed to pass, your goal should be to correctly answer as many questions as possible to quickly demonstrate your nursing competence.
How Does Computerized Adaptive Testing Work on the NCLEX?
As mentioned earlier, the NCLEX exam is a computerized adaptive test, or CAT. This means the computer algorithm adapts and responds to your performance in real time.
The exam begins with relatively simple questions. Based on your answers, you will either see harder or easier questions going forward.
For example, if you demonstrate expertise by answering the initial questions correctly, the computer will give you more difficult questions. This allows it to efficiently assess your true abilities at the higher end of the spectrum.
On the other hand, answering the initial questions incorrectly signals to the computer that you need easier questions to determine your competency at the minimum passing level.
In essence, the exam customizes itself to your unique knowledge and skill level. Two people could take the same NCLEX exam and get completely different sets of questions!
This adaptive format allows the exam to accurately evaluate your nursing abilities in far fewer questions than traditional paper exams. Most test takers finish the NCLEX in 75 to 145 questions.
Strategies for Answering NCLEX Questions
Here are some key strategies for successfully answering the types of questions you will encounter on the NCLEX:
- Read each question stem carefully and highlight key details. Make sure you understand what the question is asking before looking at the answer options.
- For questions with charts, lab values, or other clinical data – analyze the information given to determine what is relevant to answering the question.
- If you aren’t sure of the correct answer, eliminate choices you know are wrong first. This will increase your chances of selecting the right answer.
- On select all that apply questions, treat each option as a true/false statement and eliminate any that are false.
- Don’t overthink questions or change your answers unless you misread something. Often your first choice is the right one.
- Stay focused and answer each question independently based on what is directly asked. Don’t let previous difficult questions rattle you.
These strategies, combined with thorough content review and practice questions, will optimize your potential for passing the NCLEX on the first try.
How to Interpret Your NCLEX Performance Report
Within 48 hours of completing the NCLEX, you will receive your official results and performance report, also called the candidate performance report.
If you passed, your report will state: “The candidate has passed the NCLEX” without any other details.
If you did not pass, your report will provide valuable feedback on your performance that can guide your remediation. Here are some tips for understanding the report:
- The report categorizes questions based on the test plan and outlines your percentage of correct answers in each content area. Use lower scores to identify weak spots to focus more study time.
- “Near passing” is around the minimum pass standard. Near passing in many categories signals borderline failure requiring overall content review.
- Very low percentages in some content areas indicate major knowledge gaps to fill before your retake.
- Compare your performance to the national passing standard provided at the end. Significantly lower scores point to inadequate preparation.
Analyzing your performance report will clarify the issues that led to failing and reveal what test takers need to do differently to be successful on their next attempt.
Conclusion
While there is no set percentage of questions you need to answer correctly to pass the NCLEX, striving to answer as many questions as possible correctly is key to demonstrating the minimum competency required to become a licensed nurse. Using smart test-taking strategies, along with diligent study of nursing content, will optimize your chances of passing on the first try.
Utilize all the knowledge you gain from your performance report if unsuccessful on your first attempt. Identify areas of weakness, develop a study plan to strengthen those topics, and you will be well-prepared to pass on your next try. With determination and focused preparation, you will achieve your goal of passing the NCLEX!
