Mission Statement

NCLEX-RN® Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I take the test?
You can take the NCLEX® exam at any one of the hundreds of Pearson Vue Test Centers, which are located in every State throughout the United States and Worldwide. Each testing center has up to 30 computer terminals available for candidates. A proctor will help you get started and will monitor security during the test.

When can I take the test?
The computerized NCLEX® exam, which lasts a maximum of 6 hours, is offered 15 hours every day, Monday through Saturday, throughout the year (on Sundays by special arrangement). Make sure you are thoroughly prepared for the exam before you register an exam date. We recommend you begin studying as soon as possible, after you have decided to take the exam. Under no circumstances should you leave off starting your study until you have your ATT.

What is the Computerized Adaptive Test?
The exam is administered by Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT). With CAT, unlike paper and pencil testing, the computer selects the questions you will be answering as you take the exam in order to give you the best opportunity to demonstrate your competency. The questions in the NCLEX® exam are nearly all multiple choice questions. The questions are presented one at a time on a computer screen. You can view each question as long as you like but you can not go back to previous questions once you have recorded your answers, nor can you leave a question unanswered. The CAT chooses test items based on your response to the previous question. The computer will "adapt" to your answers, correct or incorrect, by selecting harder or easier items for the next question. For example, at the start of the exam, a question of medium-level difficulty may appear on screen. If you answer this question correctly, the computer then will ask a more difficult question; if you answer incorrectly, the computer will then ask an easier question. The software estimates your ability every time you provide the answer to a question and with each new answer you provide the estimate of your ability gets more precise. The exam software selects questions that it believes you will have a close to 50% chance of answering correctly. The expected number of correct answers is half the total number of questions you are presented with because of the adaptive nature of the test. After you answer the minimum number of questions for the exam the software will analyze your performance and it may terminate the exam. This means that you either passed or failed the exam. The exam will terminate, only when the testing software has determined with 95% certainty that your ability is either above or below the passing standard. The only way to get additional questions is if you are very close to the passing score (2.5% above or 2.5% below). If this is the case you should not worry about failing but instead should concentrate on answering correctly the next set of questions.

How many questions are there?
The test bank contains thousands of questions, each categorized according to the NCLEX® test plan and assigned a level of difficulty using a complex statistical formula. Questions will keep coming up until the computer can determine your competency level in all areas of the test plan. The number of questions answered could be anywhere in the region of 75 to 265 (15 of these will be practice questions) before the computer decides whether you have passed or failed. The test ends as soon as the computer has decided whether you have passed or failed. This could take anywhere between 1 hour and 75 questions up to 6 hours and 265 questions.

How long is the exam?
There is a six hour limit for NCLEX-RN® and a five hour time limit for NCLEX-PN® which includes time for the computer tutorial and breaks.

How do I answer the questions?
The computerized test begins with brief instructions on using the computer and then provides a short practice session. Previous computer experience is not necessary. To make sure you don't select an answer unintentionally, the computer will ask you to confirm your choice by pressing the enter key a second time. One question at a time will appear on the computer screen. Some questions are stand-alone items; others are based on brief case studies, which appear to the left of the question. After carefully reading the question, move among the four possible answer options. Analyze each option, and then select the one that best answers the question. Press the enter key twice to record your choice. You must answer every question until the test ends; unlike the paper and pencil testing method, the computer will not let you skip an item or go back to a previous question. The time you spend on each question is not an important factor with regard to passing but you should answer the required number of questions in the allotted time. If you are required to answer the maximum number of questions and the computer still isn't 95% sure you can pass, the 95% confidence requirement is dropped. If at this point you have a score higher than the minimum required you pass the exam otherwise you fail. If you run out of time and did not answer the minimum number of questions required you fail automatically. If you run out of time but you answered the minimum number of questions required and for the last 60 questions your score was never below the passing standard you pass otherwise you fail the exam. This does not mean that you have to answer the last 60 questions correctly but only that at any point during the last 60 questions your score was above the minimum required to pass the exam. You can think about it this way: for each correct answer add one to your score while for each incorrect answer subtract one. Adding your scores one at a time for each question answered should never result in a negative score in order for you to pass if you run out of time but you have answered the minimum number of questions required

How do I get my result?
The test center will transmit your results electronically to NCS Pearson VUE. Your state board of nursing will notify you of the results in approximately 4 weeks. Test results are available three working days after sitting the exam. This is a computerized system & is only available within the USA. You will be charged $7.95 to the phone you are calling from. If you fail you can retake the exam after 90 days. We recommend the Vipra Med NCLEX® and CGFNS® programs if you are serious and intend to pass on the very first attempt.

What is the NCLEX-RN® Course content, Curriculum and Syllabus?
The practice of nursing requires knowledge of the nursing process and the health needs of the patients. These two components are addressed within the framework of the test plan for licensure examination. The percentages of questions relating to the various aspects of the 2010 NCLEX-RN® exam shown in the table below.

How long do I need to wait, before I retake the NCLEX-RN, If I don't pass?
The normal wait for all states in the United States to retake the NCLEX-RN exam is 45 days. The exceptions are Georgia and Washington State that have a 90 day wait before you are allowed to take the NCLEX-RN exam again. You will also need to re-register with Pearson Vue to get a new test date and time.

 What is the difference between the NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® exams?
The main difference between the two tests is the number and difficulty of correctly answered questions required to pass the exam. The States and territorial boards of nursing use these exams in making licensure decisions. The NCLEX-RN® has 265 questions and the minimum number you need to answer is 75. The NCLEX-PN® has 205 questions and the minimum number you need to answer is 85. Both tests require an understanding of nursing practice and cover the following categories of client needs:

Safe, Effective Care Environment
    Management of Care
    Safety and Infection Control
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Psychosocial Integrity
Physiological Integrity
    Basic Care and Comfort
    Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
    Reduction of Risk Potential
    Physiological Adaptation

Vipra Med offers web based online practice exams and learning for the NCLEX-RN® exams. The NCLEX-RN® examination uses items with a variety of response formats, such as, single response multiple-choice, multiple response, fill-in-the-blank, and a variety of display formats, such as, charts and exhibit displays, tables, and graphic images.  All items are developed and validated using the expertise of practicing nurses, educators and regulators from throughout the country. The NCLEX-RN® examination content is revised based on a practice analysis conducted every three years. The majority of test items are written at the application or higher levels of cognition but the exam may include items at all of the cognitive levels.  Most of the questions of the NCLEX-RN® exam are worded multiple choice questions. In recent years, however, the Boards of Nursing have added broader questions that don't involve choices. For example, some questions require identifying and selecting a particular area of a drawn body part pertaining to the question Involve selecting multiple correct answers. Some NCLEX-RN® questions require solving mathematical questions for medication dosages.

Vipra Med is all you need for your NCLEX-RN® learning and preparation needs. We cover all possible content that will be tested in these exams. Vipra Med offers comprehensive practice exams and testing online. Vipra has one of the largest repository of Nursing and Medical test content online. Our Question and Answer banks have questions that cover all the various tested disciplines.  The Vipra Qbanks  contain high quality questions that are parallel and similar to the questions that appear on the real exams. The Vipra method for preparation will ensure your success and let you ace your exam in the very first attempt.  We at Vipra understand that getting high test scores is the key to certifying as a Registered Nurse in the United States.  It is with this knowledge that we have developed the Vipra Qbank, which has been specifically created to help students not just pass, but achieve high scores as well. We use an interface and format that is similar to the application used for the real exams. Our Qbanks and content databases are constantly updated. Prepare confidently knowing that your exam study materials are relevant and current.  Vipra has board certified physicians and Registered Nurse Practitioners that review and expand the exam content and constantly update it to make sure they are up-to-date and accurate.