nclex exam top 5 facts to achieve RN Score

“NCLEX Exam Questions To Ask Yourself To Pass Your NCSBN Nursing Test”

NCLEX exam success and a registered nursing career you can be proud of begins with understanding basic facts of your nursing test. That is, how to register, the format and categories of this test. In this way your test preparation and test taking experience will be much easier and more successful. You can avoid common NCLEX-RN exam prep frustrations and wasting precious time. 

The biggest waste of time in preparing for the NCLEX exam is getting a failing score and having to start all over again from scratch. Therefore, the purpose of the information below is for you to pass on the first try. 

NCSBN NCLEX-RN Exam Facts You Must Know
The National Council Licensure Examination For Registered Nurses® (NCLEX-RN®) exam is developed and administered by the National Council Of State Boards of Nursing® (NCSBN®). It’s purpose is to ensure that each entry level nurse has the knowledge needed to perform in a safe and effective manner. The NCLEX exam is administered across fifty states, four U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. 

How To Register For Your Registered Nurse Exam
In order to register for this assessment, a registered nursing candidate should apply to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for licensure eligibility. Once your eligibility has been confirmed the board will provide an Authorization to Test (ATT) number. At the same time the candidate should register with Pearson VUE, the contracted test provider. 

There are three ways to register with Pearson VUE: online, by telephone, or by mail. The cost of the exam is $200 and can be paid using a credit or debit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express). It is also possible to pay using a money order, cashier’s check, or certified check. 

Scheduling Your NCLEX-RN Exam Date
NCLEX test centers are available throughout the United States and can be scheduled throughPearson Vue. Upon arrival at the testing center, you’ll be asked for your ATT number and valid identification. It’s important to arrive on time, if you are more than 30 minutes late you may have to forfeit your examination. Paper or writing instruments are not permitted in the test center however an on screen calculator and notepad are provided. 

NCLEX Review Course: 4 Major Categories Of The NCSBN Exam

Prepare for your NCLEX RN exam with a clear understanding of the purpose of this assessment. It is determine how well a registered nurse candidate can use their critical thinking skills when making professional judgments in real life nurse practice. Don’t just memorize in the course of your RN review sessions. You must be able to apply the knowledge you learned in 4 years of college to scenarios a professional registered nurse will likely face. 

Before signing-up for any NCLEX exam review class, make sure it covers the four major categories which are The Safe and Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and Physiological Integrity. The categories are meant to encompass patient needs throughout a human life span. 

• The Safe and Effective Care Environment section represents 17-23 percent of the NCLEX-RN exam. 

It includes both Management and Care, Safety and Infection control. Some of the categories covered in Management and Care are Advocacy, Client Rights, and Ethical practice. Various categories covered in Safety and Control include Accident Prevention, Hazardous Materials and the Use of Restraints. Be sure your NCLEX review books have a lot of practice questions for this section.


• Health Promotion and Maintenance represent 6-12 percent of the test. Some of the concepts covered in this section include the Aging Process, Disease Prevention, and High Risk Behaviors.

Discipline yourself in your NCLEX exam preparation to review areas of the exam you dislike and are probably weak in. By doing that you’ll get the maximum amount of test score improvements output with the least amount of time input.


• The Psychology Integrity section accounts for 6-12 percent of the test.

Your NCLEX exam review must include: Coping Mechanisms, Mental Health Concepts and Stress Management.


• The last section is Physiological Integrity. It’s the largest part of the exam and accounts for 38-62 percent of the questions.

Be sure to cover these 4 sections in your NCLEX practice: Basic Care and Comfort, Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies, Reduction of Risk Potential, and Physiological Adaptation. If you feel overwhelmed and frustrated, take a NCLEX review course online or a local prep class to sort out the overwhelming amount of medications you’re required to know. 

How The NCLEX Results And Pass Rates Are Determined

The NCLEX-RN is a pass/fail exam. NCSBN exam questions are tailored to each candidate’s competencies calculated in real time by computer during testing. The interactive computer adaptive system (CAT) selects the next question for the test taker based on the skill level demonstrated in previous answers and alternates between easy and difficult to establish an accurate range of professional competency. 

As you do NCLEX exam practice questions, keep in mind the length of the real exam is six hours and contains 265 questions. NCSBN test questions are offered in a multiple choice format with four possible answers. Some versions of the examination also include multiple responses, hot spots, fill-in-the-blank, drag and drop, and charts. Fifteen questions will not be scored as they are for statistical purposes. 

NCLEX-RN testing concludes when at least 75 questions have been answered and a minimum competency is demonstrated, at least 75 questions have been answered and a lack of competency is demonstrated, all 265 questions have been answered, or the six hours have passed. 

The best NCLEX RN exam practice means understanding how your test is scored. A numerical score is not provided. The test results will be available through the State Board of Nursing approximately 4 weeks after the test has been completed. If your nursing board participates in the Quick Results Service, unofficial results may be available within 48 hours. In the event of a fail, a diagnostic evaluation will be sent that will highlight problem areas. If you failed, then use to focus exactly where you need to spend your time in your NCLEX -RN exam study guide. 

Unfortunately, the pass rate on the first attempt is low as most candidates fail the first time. However, while paying continuous testing fees is expensive, it’s possible to retake the test after a 45-90 day waiting period. 

How To Pass The NCLEX-RN Exam

The best way a registered nurse candidate can reduce anxiety and worry in test taking is start reviewing for 2-3 months before the exam date. Overconfidence, procrastination and squandering limited preparation time are leading cause of testing failure. Choosing the best RN review books, practice exams and possibly a tutor (preferably a registered nurse who passed) can make all difference between pass or fail. If you’re not sure what are the best NCLEX-RN books then ask someone who already took the exam and passed or click on the links on this page for more prep help. 

You should create a test study plan starting at least 6-8 weeks before your exam date. If you have more time between now and your test date then leverage that to your advantage and begin preparing now without delay.

Don’t take any chances. 

This is the nursing career you’ve been dedicating your life and a small fortune in college tuition to achieve. You may very well need a few extra weeks of solid review time in order to pass. 

Schedule review time for the NCLEX exam at least 5 days per week and at least 1-2 hours each preparation session. It’s more productive if you take at least one day off each week to clear your mind and recharge your mental batteries. 

Review areas of NCLEX-RN test where you’re the weakest in the first 3 weeks. An investment of time in your weaker areas will often help boost your score two or three times faster than going over areas you’re more comfortable with. 

2 NCLEX Practice Tips For The Most Productive Review Sessions
A candidate who can maintain focus and motivation during preparation for the NCLEX exam is more likely to succeed. Constantly visualize your ultimate goal of passing during your NCLEX-RN review. Create a peak performance mindset and program your mind for success. To do this continuously seeing yourself taking your test with confidence, competence and getting a passing score. 

Don’t think negative. Don’t doubt yourself and don’t dwell on the anxiety or you’ll end up conditioning your mind for failure. 

Visualize living your dream life helping others. See yourself achieving personal success in your own life with your registered nurse license. Feel how good it feels to be working to improve your life during your review for the NCLEX-RN exam. Be willing to pay the price of success and study. Use this to discipline you to study even when you don’t feel like it. See the bigger picture. 

Schedule blocks of uninterrupted time when reviewing for your NCLEX test date. The reason avoiding interruptions is so important is that once your concentration is broken, it can take you up to 30 minutes to get your brain warmed up again and get into the same flow of concentration you need for highly effective test prep. If you get interrupted often you’re productivity will be cut in half. It could take you twice as long to study in order to pass your registered nursing test. More over, you don’t want to risk not being prepared because your NCLEX review was subpar. 

Get the support of family and friends. Explain what you’re trying to accomplish and get them to work with you, not against you. Explain you can’t be disturbed during these schedule blocks of time and how important this to you. Ask them in advance for their support. 

Retrain yourself not to react to short-term urgencies of the moment like a ringing cellphone, a text message, checking your emails, Facebook or turning on the TV. Do this to avoid losing your limited NCLEX exam review time due to interruptions. 

Next time you’re struggling to block out interruptions, ask yourself, “Is this text message, Facebook update, TV show, phone call worth failing my nursing test and delaying the career?” 

Make your NCLEX-RN review easier and more productive. Turn off your phone and computer so you won’t be tempted with Facebook, phone calls, text messages, email alerts and anything else in your world that could drag your practice for the NCLEX to failure. Again force yourself to think long-term on your goal of getting a passing score and all the success you’ll have once your a registered nurse.