When Can I Register for the NCLEX-RN

Exam?
In order to register for the test, you first need to receive an authorization to test.
This is given by the Board of Nursing or other regulatory body where you wish to
practice nursing. They will determine whether or not you meet their eligibility
criteria to become a licensed nurse.

If you meet the criteria and are given the authorization to test, you can schedule
your test at the nearest Pearson VUE testing center. You will have to pay an exam
fee of $200 and you will have to choose a date and time within the test-taking
window listed on your authorization to test letter.

Which Subjects Are Covered on the Exam?

There will be somewhere between 75 and 265 questions on the exam. To
understand why there is such a large range, see the explanation of how the exam
is scored below. No matter how many questions you answer, the percentage
breakdown of questions by content area will be more or less as follows:

 Management of Care: 17- 23% of questions

 Safety and Infection Control: 9-15% of questions
 Health Promotion and Maintenance: 6-12% of questions
 Psychosocial Integrity: 6-12% of questions
 Basic Care and Comfort: 6-12% of questions
 Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies: 12-18% of questions
 Reduction of Risk Potential: 9-15% of questions
 Physiological Adaptation: 11-17% of questions
You will have up to six hours to complete the entire exam. That time includes two
short breaks which you are free to skip if you want to. The actual time will depend
on the number of questions you need to answer.

It’s important to note that you are not able to skip questions and return to them.
You have to answer a question in order to move on to the next one. This means
you need to use some of your study time to work on strategies for finding the
best possible answer even when you aren’t really sure about the question.

How Is the NCLEX-RN Exam Scored?

The NCLEX-RN is scored using a rather unique system. Rather than receiving a
point value that reflects either the number of correct answers or the average
difficulty level of questions you answered, the score here will be measured in
“logits.”

The logit is a unit of measurement that tells you the relative difference between
your estimated ability level (based on your level of education, training, and
experience) and your ability level (based on how you performed on the test). The
board establishes a revised passing standard every three years. At the moment,
you will need a logit of 0.00 or better.

This “logit” is being continuously adjusted based on each question you answer
which is why there is such a wide range in the number of questions you’ll have to
answer on the test. If you reach the minimum 75 questions and the computer
program is able to determine with 95% accuracy that you have either passed or
failed, the test will end there.

If it is not 95% certain of your results, you will continue to see questions until it is
certain or until you reach the maximum of 265 questions. If you reach the
maximum, it will do a final assessment to determine whether or not you have met
the passing standard.

This might all sound a little complicated but, basically: the better you do, the
fewer questions you have to answer. But even if you end up having to answer 265
questions, you might still pass the exam.

If you have met the passing standard, you will simply be informed that you
passed the exam. You will only see a detailed report of how you performed on
each section of the test if you failed.
How Much Should I Study for the Test?
You should spend at least a couple of weeks reviewing all the material as well as
working on your ability to recall facts quickly. To do that, pick up the Mometrix
Study Guide which provides a thorough breakdown of each content area,
including all the important terms and concepts you will need to know.

To improve your ability to remember all that material, get a set of Mometrix
Flashcards. Repetition is one of the best ways to memorize a lot of information.
Unfortunately, repetition can get, well, repetitive. With flashcards, you can make
repetitive learning more engaging and interesting by turning your review
sessions into games or pop quizzes.