The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is a critical exam for nursing students in the United States and Canada, required for obtaining a nursing license. For many nursing graduates, passing the NCLEX is the final step before entering the profession. Understanding the passing criteria for the NCLEX is essential to gauge your readiness and ensure you meet the requirements. One of the most common questions is: What is the required percentage to pass the NCLEX?

In this article, we will break down the passing criteria for the NCLEX, explaining how the exam works, the concept of the passing standard, and how your results are evaluated.

1. What is the NCLEX?

The NCLEX is a computer-based exam that tests the knowledge and skills necessary to become a licensed nurse. It’s designed to assess whether a candidate is prepared to practice safely and effectively in the healthcare environment. There are two main versions of the exam:

• NCLEX-RN: For those seeking to become Registered Nurses (RNs).
• NCLEX-PN: For those seeking to become Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs).

The exam consists of a variety of questions, including multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and select-all-that-apply questions, and adapts to the candidate’s ability level as they progress through the test.

2. NCLEX Passing Criteria: Percentage vs. Adaptive Testing

Unlike traditional exams that have a set percentage of correct answers required to pass (like 70% or 80%), the NCLEX does not work on a simple percentage system. Instead, the what percentage do u need to pass nclex uses a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) system to evaluate whether a candidate meets the passing standard.

Here’s what that means:

Adaptive Testing Explained:

• Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) means that the exam adjusts the difficulty of the questions based on your responses.
  • If you answer questions correctly, the next question will likely be more difficult.
  • If you answer incorrectly, the next question will be easier.
• The NCLEX will stop when it has enough information to determine your level of competence. The number of questions can vary, typically between 75 and 145 questions for the NCLEX-RN, and between 85 and 205 questions for the NCLEX-PN.
• The test may also end early if you meet the passing standard before answering all the questions.

3. What is the Passing Standard for the NCLEX?

The NCLEX does not have a fixed percentage you need to achieve (like 75% or 80%). Instead, the passing criteria are based on the passing standard set by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which determines whether your performance on the exam demonstrates minimal competence in nursing practice.

Passing Standard:

• NCLEX-RN: The passing standard for the NCLEX-RN is set at 0.00 logits on the NCLEX-RN scoring scale. This means you need to demonstrate that you are capable of performing at a level that reflects entry-level nursing practice.
• NCLEX-PN: The passing standard for the NCLEX-PN is also based on the same concept but may have different scoring thresholds.

Your goal is not to get a certain percentage right, but to meet the minimum competency level required for nursing practice.

Logits and the Passing Standard:

• The test uses a statistical measure called logits to determine your competence.
• The passing standard is typically aligned with a logit score of 0.00, which represents the level of knowledge and skills required for safe nursing practice.
• As you answer questions, the system measures whether your responses demonstrate competency relative to this standard.

4. How Does the NCLEX Evaluate Your Performance?

The NCLEX uses a complex algorithm to evaluate your performance based on your ability to answer questions correctly within different areas of nursing practice. The areas of knowledge include:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Physiological Integrity

If the system determines that you meet the required competency level, the exam will stop. However, if you do not demonstrate sufficient competence, the system will continue to test you until it has enough data to make a final determination or the maximum number of questions is reached.

5. What Happens if the NCLEX Stops Early?

Since the NCLEX is an adaptive exam, the number of questions you answer may vary. The test could stop as early as 75 questions, or it may extend to 145 questions. Here’s what determines if the test stops:

• You Pass Early: If your performance is consistently above the passing standard, the system will determine that you are ready to become a nurse, and the exam will end.
• You Fail After Many Questions: If the system determines you are not performing well enough to meet the passing standard, the exam may continue until the maximum question limit is reached (145 for NCLEX-RN).
• You Reach the Maximum Number of Questions: If you answer 145 questions, the system will evaluate your performance, and a decision will be made based on your overall ability level.

6. Understanding Your NCLEX Results

After completing the NCLEX, you will typically receive one of three results:

1. Pass: You met or exceeded the minimum competency required.
2. Fail: You did not meet the minimum competency level required.
3. Incomplete: The exam was stopped prematurely due to technical issues or other factors, and you may need to retake the exam.

The NCLEX does not provide a percentage score. You either pass or fail, depending on whether your performance demonstrates entry-level competency. The NCSBN does not disclose the exact passing percentage, as it’s based on the adaptive testing algorithm.

7. Tips for Passing the NCLEX

• Study the NCLEX Test Plan: Focus on the four major content areas tested on the exam.
• Use Practice Questions: Take as many practice exams as possible to get used to the format and adapt to the types of questions.
• Review Key Concepts: Ensure that you are comfortable with core nursing knowledge such as pharmacology, patient safety, and medical-surgical nursing.
• Stay Calm: Remember, the exam adapts to your performance, and the goal is to demonstrate that you meet the minimum competency, not to answer a specific number of questions correctly.

Conclusion

The NCLEX doesn’t use a percentage-based grading system. Instead, it employs a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) system, where your ability level is measured against a set passing standard. The exam will adapt based on your answers, and you need to demonstrate minimum competency to pass. If you meet the standard early, the exam will stop, and you will pass. If not, it may continue until enough data is gathered to make a final determination.

So, the key to passing the NCLEX is not to focus on achieving a certain percentage but rather on being adequately prepared to meet the required competency level for nursing practice.