Learn how to pass the NCLEX-RN by familiarizing yourself with the exam’s content areas and grading system. Study strategies include starting NCLEX prep early, doing practice questions, reviewing incorrect answers, completing full-length practice exams, mirroring the testing environment, making a schedule, and taking breaks.
After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), passing the NCLEX-RN is the last step to becoming a licensed registered nurse (RN). With your future on the line, how can you prepare for the NCLEX and give yourself the best chance of success? Learning how to pass the NCLEX starts with familiarizing yourself with the basics of the exam, followed by some smart study tips.
A reputable nursing program will provide the foundation for success on the NCLEX, since a comprehensive nursing curriculum mirrors the topics on the exam. Concordia University Texas’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) track delivers a nursing curriculum that thoroughly prepares students for the NCLEX and real-world nursing challenges. The ABSN track allows you to complete your schooling quickly and earn a BSN in as few as 16 months.
Before learning how to pass the NCLEX, start by reviewing the exam basics, such as the exam length and content. Then, follow some time-tested tips to prepare for the exam.
What Is the NCLEX Exam?
The NCLEX is issued by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN) and is the national licensure exam that all aspiring RNs must pass to obtain a state-issued nursing license.
It is a computerized adaptive test (CAT), which means you’ll take the test on a computer in the testing facility, and it will adapt itself to your abilities. For example, when you answer a question correctly, the next question will be a little harder. If you answer a question incorrectly, the next question will be a little easier.
Periodically, the NCSBN issues updates to the NCLEX. One of the most significant updates is the introduction of the Next Generation NCLEX (Next Gen or NGN). This new version of the exam is designed to more accurately assess a nurse candidate’s ability to exercise clinical judgment and make decisions that are appropriate for the given patient care scenario. In other words, your critical thinking skills will be assessed just as much as your rote nursing knowledge.
How Hard Is It to Pass the NCLEX?
The NCLEX is challenging, but it needs to be. It must assess whether an RN candidate can protect the health and safety of patients. The exam is challenging not only in terms of the difficulty of its questions, but also in its breadth of content.
What’s on the NCLEX?
The NCLEX covers topics within the following eight Client Needs categories:
- Management of Care
- Safety and Infection Control
- Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Psychosocial Integrity
- Basic Care and Comfort
- Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
- Reduction of Risk Potential
- Physiologic Adaptation
How Long Is the NCLEX?
You will have five hours to complete the exam. The number of questions you’ll have to answer ranges between 85 and 150. Upon answering 85 questions, the test will cut off once the computer has determined it has enough information to accurately assess your nursing abilities.
What Is a Passing Score on the NCLEX?
The NCLEX is graded on a pass/fail basis. On the Next Gen NCLEX, tests are graded with the possibility of partial credit for choosing an answer that is technically correct, even if it’s not the most correct answer.
1. Pay Attention in Nursing School
Figuring out how to pass the NCLEX starts with paying close attention in nursing school. Focus on succeeding in your online coursework, doing well on exams, and understanding the material covered in labs and clinicals. When something doesn’t make sense, ask for clarification.
Wondering how to succeed in nursing school? Try 8 nursing school study tips.
2. Start Studying Early
You may be tempted to delay NCLEX prep until after graduation, but that isn’t recommended. Because the NCLEX is so comprehensive and rigorous, it’s ideal to begin studying during your first semester in nursing school. Set aside an hour or two per week to review NCLEX study guides and answer practice NCLEX questions.
3. Set Aside Enough Time to Study
Although you might start by spending only an hour or two per week on NCLEX prep, you’ll want to increase study sessions during your last semester or two of nursing school. Most RN candidates take the exam within a couple of months after graduation.
4. Answer as Many Practice Questions as You Can
The key to mastering the NCLEX is practice. The questions detail complex patient scenarios, requiring you to decide the next step in the patient’s care. You’ll need to synthesize what you know about the patient’s condition to form the most effective treatment plan. Then you’ll need to determine the most appropriate answer.
5. Review Your Incorrect Responses
When considering how to pass the NCLEX, don’t neglect to review your incorrect answers. Any time you complete a practice exam, pay special attention to the questions you missed. Read through the question and answer until you understand why it’s correct. Take notes, make flashcards, and be intentional about not making the same mistake again.
6. Complete a Full-Length Practice Exam
Completing practice questions in an unstructured way is an important study technique, but it’s equally important to test your comprehensive knowledge through practice exams. Take at least one full-length practice exam a few weeks before your official test date. This will help you gauge your weaknesses and guide the remainder of your studying. Some students choose to take more than one practice exam.
7. Mimic the Testing Environment
While completing practice exams, try mirroring the testing environment. This can help you adjust to environmental variables before the pressure is on.
You can mimic the testing environment in a number of ways:
- Take your practice exam at the same time of day as you’ll take the NCLEX.
- Sit in an upright chair with a desk in a quiet room with no music.
- Take the same number of breaks as you will on exam day.
8. Stick to a Schedule
Studying for the NCLEX requires organization and focus to achieve the best results. Create a study schedule and stick to it. This will ensure you complete all review materials and practice questions without falling behind.
When planning a schedule, be realistic about what can be done in a day. Block off specific times for each task and be disciplined in adhering to your schedule.
9. Take Study Breaks
While sufficient study time is important, your brain also needs opportunities to recharge. Breaks will help you avoid burnout and keep you engaged while studying. Find a break frequency that works for you, such as a 10-minute break every hour, and include this in your study schedule.
Employing self-care strategies can prevent burnout and help you excel in nursing school and on the NCLEX.
Begin Your Path to a Nursing Degree Today!
Concordia University Texas’s ABSN track is designed for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 credits. After completing prerequisites, you can earn a BSN in as few as 16 months through a combination of online classes, skills and simulation labs, and clinical rotations.
Contact our admissions counselors to learn more about the ABSN track at Concordia University Texas.