All nurses are required to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) after completing their nursing education, and knowing how it is scored can help you a lot when preparing and taking the exam, and even in determining your odds of passing depending on the number of questions that you answered.
The NCLEX-RN is given by the NCSBM – National Council of State Boards of Nursing – as a way to assess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for entry-level nurses to practice safely and effectively. If you pass this exam, you become qualified to practice as a registered nurse.
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How is the NCLEX Scored?
Keep in mind that the length of your NCLEX or the number of questions you correctly answer do not predict whether you will pass or fail. Both candidates who took very short exams and those who took lengthy exams could succeed or fail. Regardless of the duration of the exam, every applicant receives a test that follows the NCLEX Test Plans, and has enough time to show off their genuine abilities.
The exam for most applicants also tend to terminate before the maximum number of questions have been asked.
So, if your exam goes longer or ends earlier than that of other applicants, please don’t be anxious. Your examination’s duration is totally based on how well you perform on it. The various exam lengths for each candidate serve as an example of computerized adaptive testing (CAT) in action.
NCLEX pass rate with 75 questions
Are you wondering about what your chances of passing the NCLEX are on your first attempt? The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) shares some interesting statistics on passing between the minimum 75 questions and maximum 145 questions among US educated NCLEX-RN candiates:
- In 2020, 86.57% candidates passed the exam on their first attempt. This translates to 153,581 individual.s
- The 2016-2020 five-year average of test-takers who passed the NCLEX-RN on their first attempt is 86.94%.
This is a high pass rate, which means that those who prepare adequately have a good chance of passing the NCLEX on their first try.
The signs that you passed the NCLEX-RN discussed below are a great way for you to see where you stand, and whether you will be among those who pass the first time around
How to know if you passed the NCLEX
Official NCLEX results are made available only via the candidate’s NRB, and is typically sent to the candidate about six weeks after sitting for the exam. That said, there are a few ways you can know if to expect a pass right after completing the exam. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- If you answer the maximum of 145 questions, this is a great sign you are close to the passing standard for the exam, and the computer is trying to give you enough questions to show you have passed.
- Candidates who answer the maximum number of questions will be scored based on a final Ability Estimate, instead of the 95% Confidence Interval Rule. An Ability Estimate determines the level of entry-level nursing knowledge, abilities, and skills the computer determines an NCLEX candidate has.
- NCLEX-RN candidates have a maximum of five hours to complete the exam. The computer will stop giving questions when it is 95% sure your ability is clearly above or below the passing standard required. This is the 95% Confidence Interval Rule.
- The NCLEX progresses variably, depending on whether you answer a question correctly or incorrectly. If your questions continually got more complex and the test shut off at 75, this is another good sign you passed the NCLEX.
- Answering more than 75 questions (which is the minimum number of questions required for a pass) can also be considered a good sign that you passed the NCLEX-RN. The computer adaptive testing format used on the NCLEX estimates your ability to test on more complicated questions based on previous answers and the level of difficulty of the earlier questions you answered. If you reach 75 questions and the computer has not determined with 95% confidence that you have passed or failed the exam, it will continue to offer additional questions.
NCLEX unofficial results for a fail
In many states,nursing school graduatescan obtain their unofficial NCLEX results in less than two days. Retaking the exam is an option for thosewho don’t passthe first time.
A Candidate Performance Report (CPR), which details a candidate’s relative areas of strength and weakness in the subject areas covered by the NCLEX Test Plans, is given to applicants who do not pass the NCLEX. The purpose of this report is to aid applicants in getting ready for their upcoming test again.
Between each test, there must be at least 45 test-free days. The NRB and NCSBN independently chooses this time frame. To get the necessary paperwork and details to reregister at any time, get in touch with your NRB. Your new Authorization to Test (ATT) won’t be valid, though, until the required number of days have passed after your NRB declares you eligible.
Pearson Vue email after NCLEX
Every NCLEX® is scored twice as part of the quality control process: once by the computer in the testing facility and once again after the examination record has been sent to Pearson VUE. The nursing regulatory body (NRB) in the jurisdiction where the candidate has applied for licensure or registration receives candidate results online.
Every NRB has created its own method for communicating results to candidates. Your official results may not be received for up to six weeks. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN®), Pearson VUE, or your NRB will not be able to provide you with the results over the phone.
The quick results service is supported by numerous nursing regulatory agencies. Results are available 48 business hours following your appointment and are unofficial. Your official results can only be issued by the nursing regulatory authority that licenses you. Go to your Pearson VUE account to view your fast results. Payable using a credit, debit, or prepaid card, the price is $7.95. If you can’t find your user name or password, call Pearson VUE at 1.866.496.2539.
What to do after passing the NCLEX
Step 1: Prepare your resume
Although there are many different ways to structure your resume, you should focus on your education and clinical experiences since you are a recent graduate with little work history and few references. Include any previous employment in the medical field, includingany community work you’ve done during the holidays, as well as any honors or memberships relevant to nursing or your nursing program. The use of appropriate language, spelling, and punctuation as well as high-quality paper is more crucial than the typeface and layout. For now, only one page ought to be plenty.
Step 2: Start your employment applications.
You can work in a variety of settings, such as providing direct care for infants or communities, offering preventative care in health and safety programs, teaching, doing research, or even managing a health facility. If there are any work restrictions, start looking for openings online in the area where you obtained your nursing license. Send your application and CV for consideration. You can follow up on your application by calling the recruiter if you don’t hear back from them after a week or two.
Step 3: Prepare for the interviews
Prepare for interviews in anticipation that some of your applications will go through to the next stage. Prepare and rehearse the answers to frequently asked interview questions, and wear conservative, modest clothing. Try practicing in front of a mirror before the interview if you tend to become nervous easily.
Final Thoughts
You can complete all three steps – after passing the NFLEX – quickly and easily online, so you’ll probably find yourself working on several things at once, like performing job searches and applying for any open positions simultaneously.
The prospects for registered nurses are increasing due toongoing changes in the healthcare system, giving you greater freedom to work in a setting that interests you the most, such as scientific processes, promoting healthy habits, working with children, providing care in hospitals, or even teaching.