Test Security & Invalid Results
NCSBN strives to report results that accurately reflect the ability of each test taker. Accordingly, our standards and procedures for administering exams have two related goals: giving test takers comparable opportunities to demonstrate their abilities and preventing any test takers from gaining an unfair advantage over others.
NCSBN may cancel or withhold a candidate's results if, in NCSBN's judgment, there is a good faith basis to question the validity of the results for any reason, notwithstanding, the absence of any evidence of a candidate's personal involvement in irregular activities. Evidence of invalid results may include, but are not limited to, unusual answer patterns or unusual score increases from one exam to another. If a candidate's result is cancelled, revoked or invalidated without a finding that the candidate engaged in irregular behavior, the candidate may appeal the decision and/or will be offered a free retest. An appeal is a candidate's exclusive means of redress with regard to NCSBN's decision to take this action.
FAQs
The NCLEX uses a base logit score of 0.00 to determine whether you pass or not. You pass if you score above 0.00, meaning you answered enough questions correctly. If you score negative, you didn't answer enough questions correctly.
What are good signs you passed NCLEX? ›
Here are four telltale signs that signify your triumphant passage of the NCLEX.
- Absence of a New Authorization to Test (ATT) ...
- "Nurse of the Future" Title on Your License. ...
- Termination of Test Attempts on Your Pearson VUE Account. ...
- Official Notification from Your State Nursing Board.
When you re-register for the NCLEX, you may receive one of two pop-up messages. The "good pop-up" NCLEX message states that you previously scheduled the exam and cannot re-register. Based on the Pearson VUE trick, this may indicate that you passed the NCLEX.
How many correct answers to pass NCLEX? ›
How Many Questions Are on the NCLEX? The number of questions on each NCLEX exam will vary depending on how well you answer each question. The minimum number of questions is 75 and the maximum is 145. If you answer most of the questions correctly, then you could pass the test after answering only the minimum of 75.
Do the first 15 questions count on NCLEX? ›
The NCLEX-RN consists of 74-145 questions. This includes 15 pre-test questions that do not count toward test takers' scores. The NCLEX-PN consists of 85-205 questions, including 25 non-scored questions.
How to tell if you failed NCLEX? ›
The only definitive way to know if you've passed the NCLEX is to wait for your official score. You will be able to access unofficial results shortly after taking the exam, which means you can look online to see if you passed or failed.
What are the 3 NCLEX pass or fail decision rules? ›
The CAT algorithm determines whether you pass or fail based on one of the following three rules: the 95% Confidence Interval Rule, Maximum-Length Exam Rule, or the Run-out-of-time (ROOT) Rule. These are sometimes also referred to as the exam “stopping rules” that indicate when the exam will end.
Does the NCLEX tell you if you pass right away? ›
Official results are ONLY available through the NRB and will be sent to candidates within six weeks after taking the exam. Do not call NCSBN, Pearson VUE Candidate Services or the test centers for exam results. If more than six weeks have passed and a candidate hasn't received a result, they should contact their NRB.
What is a bad pop-up for NCLEX? ›
What is the NCLEX bad pop up? On the other hand, there is also the dreaded “bad pop up.” This happens when you receive a message indicating that you can proceed with registration and pay for another exam attempt.
Does the last question on NCLEX determine pass or fail? ›
If the last question is above the level of difficulty needed to pass, the candidate passes. If you took a test longer than 75 questions and failed, you were probably familiar with most of the content you saw on the exam but you may have difficulty using critical thinking skills or taking standardized tests.
In rare cases, there may be errors in the unofficial results due to technical issues or other factors. However, the chances of the unofficial results changing are low. It's important to wait for the official results from your state board of nursing before making any decisions regarding licensure or employment.
How many questions can you get wrong on NCLEX and still pass? ›
You can miss up to 85 questions before officially passing the NCLEX exam. But it's important to note that pass and fail scores are more based on the NCLEX's confidence interval. You technically pass when correctly answering enough questions to remain above the passing line with a 95% confidence interval.
What is the passing score for NCLEX 2024? ›
The NCLEX scoring system uses a unit of measurement called logits to score questions and determine whether candidates pass or fail. Logits report the differences between the candidate's ability estimates and the question difficulty. The current passing standard of the NCLEX is -0.18 logits.
What is the minimum questions to pass the NCLEX? ›
While it's possible to pass the NCLEX after answering all 145, it's also possible to pass the test with a minimum of 70 questions or any number in between.
What does "near passing" mean on NCLEX? ›
'Near the Passing Standard' means a particular candidate's ability estimate is not clearly above or clearly below the passing standard in a content area. For more information, visit the Candidate Performance Report section.
What are considered hard questions on NCLEX? ›
Hard NCLEX questions typically require you to think beyond the basic level of knowledge. They may involve analyzing complex patient scenarios, prioritizing interventions, making clinical judgments, or applying nursing concepts in unfamiliar contexts.
What is the best predictor of NCLEX success? ›
Discriminant analysis found science GPA of >3.50 and ATI B of 60 or above to be the best predictors of passing NCLEX-RN. Based on statistically significant differences between NCLEX-RN pass and fail scores, good indicators of NCLEX-RN success were scores of 50 or above on Kaplan and 950 or above on HESI.
Does the NCLEX tell you right away if you passed? ›
While it may take up to six weeks to receive a notification with your official results, some people have accessed their license status online on the BON website within a few days of taking the exam. If you find your name on the website, this is definitely a good sign you passed the NCLEX in 2024!
How do I know if I passed NCLEX online? ›
How to Access
- Sign into the Pearson VUE website with username and password.
- Under "My Account," select "Quick Results"
- If results are available, Click "Purchase"
- Fill in the payment information and click Next.
- Confirm order by clicking the "Submit Order" button.
- Result will appear on the receipt page.
The NCLEX does not provide a raw score or a percentage of correctly answered questions. Instead, it employs a pass/fail system based on your performance relative to the passing standard. You will pass if you consistently demonstrate competency or fail if your performance falls below the passing standard.
