Can some one explain the #'s please

Myxel67 · Jul 9, 2007

The NCLEX-RN was computerized in 1994. The minimum number of questions is 75. Questions cover all areas of nursing. The questions are designed to determine if the test taker has the requisite knowledge to practice nursing. The questions start out on a certain level. If those are answered correctly, the following questions may be more difficult. If they are answered incorrectly, the test may give easier questions or more questions to assess knowledge level. The bottom line is the test can be passed or failed in as few as 75 questions, or as many as 285 questions. (max number may vary--but 285 is most I've ever heard of anyone getting.

My class was the first class to get the computerized test. The test took me 45 minutes (75 questions) and was most straight forward than any exam I ever had in nursing school.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Jul 9, 2007

I am still only a second year BSN student. We have not yet talked about the details of the NCLEX. I do not get the # of questions. I always see people post stuff like "shut off at 253 can I pass?" ...."only had 95 questions"... can some one explain why there is such a big emphasis on the number of test questions and what makes a difference??

The other poster explained it well. At this moment, as far as I know, NCLEX-PN is minimum 85, max is 205 (giving the test-taker up to 5 hours to take the exam), and NCLEX-RN is minimum 75, max 265 (giving the test-taker up to 6 hours to take the exam). Note that most people are done well before their allotted time, but it is good to know how long you have to sit for the test. For the RN exam, 15 of the questions are experimental, meaning that they are not counted and you will not be able to tell the difference between which is a real question or which is experiemental (NCLEX-PN has 25 experimental questions). As the previous poster stated, each future question may be based on how you answered the previous one; if you are 'doing well', the questions will increase in intensity (get harder), and may shut off at the minimum requirement of 75 in your case for RN. What that means is that the computer was able to determine that you either passed or did not. If the questions go further than the 75 minimum, it means that the computer did not 'make up it's mind, yet' and will continue to throw questions at you until it made it's decision that you have met the requirements to practice as an RN.

How many questions answered and when the computer shut off does not guarentee anything. You can fail with the minimum amount of questions and pass with the max.