Nclex got harder?

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Specializes in general.

Hi all,

I heard that nclex has changed their passing level to (of course) higher one....so I'm wondering if that is true and what does it mean?

Thx

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It is true...they changed their passing standard.

Our instructors in nursing school said it was done to greater represent the knowledge base needed by nurses in our changing medical world. Patients are living longer and presenting with a greater number/intensity of disease processes.

Edited to add..

When it "got harder to pass" depends on your frame of reference. The standard changed while I was in nursing school (2007-2008)...so, for me, I had a harder passing standard than the year before me. You can see the revision updates on the NCSBN website: www.ncsbn.org They change the standard every so often...it's not just a rumor.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Intermed, Neuro, LTC, Psych.

I just took the NCLEX this month, and I haven't heard anything about it getting harder. Towards the end of school there were so many rumors flying around about the NCLEX, but the fact is you can't believe anything you hear.

The NCLEX is a national exam, meaning it's the same in every state. No state has a higher passing score than any other. The questions come from the same testing bank. There is no difference.

To pass the NCLEX, you have to pass more questions than you fail. It gets complicated because not every question is equal in score. Some questions are harder than others.

The minimum number of questions you will have is 75. If you attain the desired passing score by 75 questions, the test will stop. 15 of those questions are also "pilot questions", which may or may not make it into the test bank, and do not count for or against your score.

The maximum number of questions you could have is 265. If your score is not quite passing by 75 questions, the computer will continue the test until an obviously passing or failing score is obtained. If you stop at 265, your score is somewhere around the pass/fail point, which you won't know until it has been scored.

Also, just because your test stops at 75 doesn't mean you passed. It would be possible to have a low enough score to fail at that point.

That being said, the new "alternate type" questions have been added within the past several years... those that require you to put a list of tasks in order, select a point on a diagram, select all that apply, etc... any decent NCLEX study guide will explain it in the beginning.

Good luck on your boards, and remember not to let useless rumors make you feel better or worse about the test. Study hard, make sure you cover ALL the areas covered by the NCLEX, and you will do well.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Every I think 3 years the exam is reviewed and standards are changed. PN was recent RN was done a couple years ago. As long as you study you shouldn't have any problems the standards was raised by I think it was a decimal point but you would be able to see reports on the NCSBN website

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:redbeatheIs it true that the passing rate now for nclex is 95%?

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
:redbeatheIs it true that the passing rate now for nclex is 95%?

Answered your email but suggest you have a good read on the NSCBN website as all current information would be there.

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:redbeatheIs it true that the passing rate now for nclex is 95%?

There is no such thing as that and never has been. That is not how this exam is done since it is a CAT exam.

The exam is actually national as well, and numbers like this do not apply to any state. There is no difference in passing requirements for a specific state, they all use the same exam and system.

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Is it true that the passing rate now for nclex is 95%? - yes, ive read it on nclex bulletin 2008

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Is it true that the passing rate now for nclex is 95%? - yes, ive read it on nclex bulletin 2008

Can you provide the link?

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Specializes in Oncology, Emergency Department.
Can you provide the link?

I believe people are confused. It's not the passing rate that is 95% it is that the computer can accurately predict you passing or failing with 95% accuracy is what it states in the bulletin. Hope this helps :nurse:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I believe people are confused. It's not the passing rate that is 95% it is that the computer can accurately predict you passing or failing with 95% accuracy is what it states in the bulletin. Hope this helps :nurse:

Then that is what they should state.

This is what it says in the bulletin

This process continues until it is clear (with 95% certainty)

that the candidate's ability is above or below the passing

standard. Be aware that both passers and failers tend to

answer approximately 50% of the items correctly. This is

because the computer presents all candidates with items that

are matched to their ability.

https://www.ncsbn.org/2008_NCLEX_Candidate_Bulletin.pdf

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Originally Posted by tarrot777 viewpost.gif

Is it true that the passing rate now for nclex is 95%? - yes, ive read it on nclex bulletin 2008

Can you provide the link?

-2008 NCLEX Examination Candidate bulletin pp 15 at the passing and failing section.:)

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