The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is the standardized exam that every nursing graduate must pass to obtain a license in the United States and Canada.
What often makes the NCLEX challenging is not just the content, but the structure and scoring system.
Unlike classroom exams that focus on recall, the NCLEX is designed to measure whether you can make safe, effective clinical decisions as an entry-level nurse.
This article breaks down the NCLEX test structure and scoring system in detail so you can walk in prepared about how the exam measures your performance.
Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT): The Brain Behind the Exam
The NCLEX is delivered using Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), which means the test adapts in real-time to your performance. Instead of a fixed exam where everyone answers the same questions, the NCLEX tailors its difficulty level to you.
You begin with a question of medium difficulty. If you answer correctly, the system presents a harder question. If you answer incorrectly, the next question will be easier.
The goal of the algorithm is not to punish you with harder questions but to pinpoint your exact ability level.
The exam continues to refine its estimate of your competence as you answer each question. Over time, it builds a statistical model of your ability in relation to the passing standard. The test ends once the computer is 95% confident that your ability is either above or below that standard.
The Length and Format of the Test
The NCLEX is deliberately unpredictable in terms of length. For both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN under the 2023 Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) format, you will see anywhere from 85 to 150 questions.
The minimum number represents the point at which the system has gathered enough evidence to make a confident decision.
- If you finish at 85 questions, it means the algorithm was certain early on.
- Reaching 150 means the system needs more data to evaluate your performance accurately.
Neither outcome automatically indicates passing or failing.
NCLEX lasts up to five hours including breaks. Running out of time before completing the minimum 85 required questions results in an automatic fail.
There are three ways the exam can end. They include the following:
The 95% Confidence Rule:
It is the most common method used to assess a candidate.
The NCLEX test structure uses advanced statistics to estimate your ability level after every question. If the computer becomes 95% certain that your performance is consistently above the passing standard, it will stop the test and give you a pass.
On the flip side, if it becomes 95% certain you are below the standard, the test also stops but the result is a fail.
You don’t need to get every question right. The algorithm is looking for a consistent trend in your answers that proves you can safely practice as a nurse.
The Maximum Length Rule
Sometimes, the computer cannot reach that 95% certainty, even after many questions.
When that happens, the exam continues until you reach the maximum number of 150 questions. At this point, the system reviews your performance across all responses to decide whether you are above or below the passing standard.
If your ability level hovers around the passing standard without tipping clearly above or below it, the computer gives you as many chances as possible to prove yourself before making the final call.
The Run-Out-of-Time Rule
Time management is critical on the NCLEX. The exam allows up to five hours, but if you run out of time before completing the minimum 85 questions, you automatically fail. The system simply doesn’t have enough data to make a fair judgment.
If, however, you complete at least 85 questions before time runs out, the computer will evaluate only your last 60 responses to determine whether you are above or below the passing standard.
The Types of Questions Appearing on the NCLEX
The days of “pick one correct answer” dominating the NCLEX are gone. With the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), the exam now tests clinical judgment using real-world scenarios.
You can expect to see the following question types:
- Unfolding Case Studies (Multi-tab patient scenarios with a set of 6 linked questions)
- Extended Multiple Response (select all that apply, with partial credit possible)
- Matrix/ Grid questions (matching options across multiple categories)
- Highlighting/Drop-down menus for identifying critical information in charts
- Drag-and-Drop questions (Organize items, such as steps in a procedure)
- Traditional multiple-choice
Additional stand-alone questions (Not part of a case study; presented after the required minimum number of items) may include:
- Bow-Tie questions (specialized drag-and-drop where a central condition is flanked by contributing factors on one side and appropriate interventions on the other)
- Trend questions (interpret patient data over time like vitals, labs, or rhythms to identify patterns)
NCLEX Scoring System
The NCLEX doesn’t give you a numerical score. You either pass or fail.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) sets a passing standard every three years to represent the minimum ability level needed to practice nursing safely.
Your performance is continuously measured against the NCSBN standard.
However, for individual questions, a polytomous scoring system is used, which allows for partial credit on certain question types.
Scoring Methods in the NCLEX
Besides the binary ‘correct’ or ‘incorrect’ scoring method used to multiple choice questions, the NCLEX scoring system also awards partial credit for some questions.
The scoring methods used include:
- 0/1 Scoring: The traditional system used for single-answer multiple-choice or true/false format questions. You either get the answer correct and earn a point (1), or you get it wrong and earn nothing (0).
- +/- Scoring: If a question asks you to select the two most appropriate interventions, and you correctly identify one but miss the other, you still receive credit for the one correct choice. The system also deducts points for incorrect selections.
- Rationale scoring: In some items, you’re not only expected to select the correct option but also to justify why it’s the best choice. This scoring system is stricter, you must get both the answer and rationale correct to earn credit.
Prepare for the NCLEX Using Feuer Nursing Review
For most nursing graduates planning to sit the NCLEX, the biggest hurdle with the exam isn’t the content itself but the unfamiliar test structure and scoring system.
At Feuer Nursing Review, we provide tailored practice materials that focus on both the knowledge and the mechanics of the exam. You can choose between live interactive classes and flexible self-paced courses, whatever suits your learning style.
Start your NCLEX preparation with Feuer Nursing Review today.
