Insights into the actual NCLEX-PN test experience
Insights into the actual NCLEX-PN test experience
Length
The length of the NCLEX-PN can vary depending on the test-taker's performance. It is an adaptive test, which means the number of questions a candidate receives is based on their answers. The minimum number of questions is 85, and the maximum is 205.
Most candidates receive between
85 and 145 questions.
2
Topics covered on the NCLEX-PN
The NCLEX-PN covers a
wide range of nursing topics, including but not limited to:
3
- Nursing fundamentals
- Medical-surgical nursing
- Pediatric nursing
- Obstetric and gynecological nursing
- Psychiatric nursing
- Pharmacology
- Nutrition
- Infection control
- Legal and ethical nursing practice
- Management of care
- Health promotion and maintenance
NCLEX-PN format
The NCLEX-PN is administered in a computerized format. You will take the exam on a computer at a
Pearson VUE test center. The computerized format allows for efficient administration and scoring of the exam.
Question types
Many questions on the NCLEX-PN are multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with four possible answer choices. However, the exam also includes alternate item format questions, such as:
Multiple response questions: These questions have more than one correct answer, and candidates must select all correct options.
Fill-in-the-blank questions: Candidates may be asked to fill in a blank with a numeric value or a word or phrase.
Ordered-response questions: Candidates are asked to rank items in a specific order.
Hot spot questions: Candidates identify a specific area on an image or chart.
Chart and exhibit questions: These questions require candidates to interpret charts, tables, and exhibits.
CAT testing
The NCLEX-PN is adaptive. This means that the difficulty of the questions adapts to the test-taker's performance. If a candidate answers a question correctly, the next question may be more challenging.
Conversely, if a question is answered incorrectly, the following question may be easier. This adaptive process continues until the computer determines the candidate's level of competence with a high degree of confidence.
3
Order Now