How is the NCLEX-RN Exam Scored?

The NCLEX-RN Exam is the required entry-to-practice exam for all Registered Nurses who are seeking licensure and registration to work in the USA. The NCLEX consists of a minimum 75 questions and a maximum 145 questions to be completed within the maximum five hour testing period.

The NCLEX-RN Exam utilizes the Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) format, which is meant to reduce the number of both easy and difficult questions to avoid having skewed results.

Every time you answer a question on the NCLEX-RN exam, the CAT system will re-estimate your ability to test based on the previous answers and the level of difficulty of the questions that you have already answered. The CAT system will then choose a question that it determines will give you a 50% chance of answering correctly. Thus, if you get a question right, it is likely that the next question will be slightly more difficult. If you get a question wrong, it is likely that the next question will be slightly more easy. It is common that NCLEX test takers will leave the NCLEX testing location feeling that the exam was difficult as the CAT system is meant to challenge the test taker by making the exam more difficult when they are answering questions correctly.

The final exam score for the NCLEX-RN exam will be a PASS or FAIL grade using the "95% Confidence Interval Rule," which means that once the CAT system is able to successfully determine with 95% confidence that your testing ability is either above or below the passing standard, the test will simply end and you will then receive your results in the upcoming weeks via email.

If the entire five hours of allotted testing time is completed and the minimum 75 questions have not been submitted, the exam will be considered as a FAIL. If, however the test taker has writing at least the minimum 75 questions, then the CAT system will estimate the test takers ability based on the question sample size that has been submitted. If it is determined that the estimate is that the test taker is above the passing standard, the test taker will receive a PASS and if the estimate is that the test taker is below the passing standard, the test taker will receive a FAIL.

To learn more about how the NCLEX is Scored you can visit NCSBN by CLICKING HERE

How to Register for the NCLEX-RN Exam

Registering for the NCLEX-RN exam is a two-step application process that requires (1) registering with the Regulatory Body of Nursing (BON) in the state that you want to practice in as a nurse (e.g. The Texas Board of Nursing) to receive authorization to take the exam (ATT) and (2) registering with Pearson Vue and scheduling your NCLEX-RN Exam (which can be taken anywhere in the world).

• Step i. First, apply for a US State nursing license/registration to a US State Board of Nursing (BON) that you are looking to become licensed in as a Registered Nurse (e.g. Texas Board of Nursing). Once your application is approved by the BON, you will be granted authorization to take the NCLEX-RN exam (ATT)

  (Registration Website for US State Nursing License (BON): https://www.ncsbn.org/contact-bon.htm)

• Step ii. Next, once you receive your ATT you can then register and pay for the NCLEX-RN Exam through Pearson Vue's website online. After your registration is approved, you will then be able to schedule and take the NCLEX-RN exam at any Pearson Vue Testing Centre in the world (tip: you do not need to take the NCLEX-RN exam in Texas to become registered and licensed as an RN in Texas. You can take the NCLEX-RN exam anywhere in the world at any Pearson Vue Testing Centre, such as in the Philippines)

  (Registration Website for Pearson Vue NCLEX-RN Exam: https://portal.ncsbn.org/)
  

-Pearson Vue Testing Centre Locations: Philippines, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Canada, United States, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Trinidad And Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameron, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mauritius, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, India, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal. New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, United Kingdom.

-Cost: $200 USD (registration) + $150 USD (International Scheduling Fee); Medliant will reimburse these costs once you begin working as a Medliant US RN

-Exam Style: Computerized (in person)

-How Often Can You Take the NCLEX-RN Exam? Once every 45 days (8 times per year)

-Other Considerations: You must write the exam within 365 days of your initial application to not forfeit your NCLEX registration exam fee