NCLEX Passing Standard

Leda · Feb 28, 2006

The NCSBN has several explanations about the NCLEX-RN passing standard, the use of logits to measure the passing standard, etc. Hope you find their explanations useful.

http://www.ncsbn.org/testing/testingservicesresearch_technicalbriefs.asp

suzanne4, RN · Mar 1, 2006

To make it quite simple: Each nurse that takes the exam will get 50% correct and 50% incorrect. How they decide if you pass or not, is by the level of the questions that you are answering correctly.

tee_byrd, BSN, RN · Mar 1, 2006

I BELIEVE THAT IT DEPENDS ON THE DIFFICULTY OF THE QUESTIONS. i MYSELF AM NOT TOO SURE AS WHAT THE NCLEX CONSIDERS PASSING OR FAILING.

suzanne4, RN · Mar 2, 2006

Difficulty of the question and level of the question are the same thing. :specs:

seiko · Mar 2, 2006

how does anyone know that which question is higher level of difficulty and which is lower level of difficulty???

because one may find the same question difficult while others found easy.i think it depends on ones knowledge.

again how does nclex catagorize the level of difficult.Is there certain content area for higher level and certain content area for low level.

ANYBODY PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME.

thanks in advance.

AmyD_RN · Mar 2, 2006

yes what I want to know is ......is everyone started out at same level? then how do you get to the higher level? if it is by answering more questions right then how can you get 50% wrong and 50% right....confusing.

Amyd

suzanne4, RN · Mar 3, 2006

As you answer questions correctly, the computer moves on to giving you harder quesitons in that area, once it feels comfortable that you know the material for that area, it moves onto the next.

I would focus on knowing what the exam is looking for, not worrying about how it is going to grade. That will not get you anywhere.

Example: most math questions are considered a lower level as you have all been tested on thsi in school and were required to get a certain score on your math exam to be able to continue in the program. Triaging at a disaster would be a higher priority. Who you would see first would be of a higher level, usually.

CarVsTree · Mar 3, 2006

yes what I want to know is ......is everyone started out at same level? then how do you get to the higher level? if it is by answering more questions right then how can you get 50% wrong and 50% right....confusing.
Amyd

It's all in here: http://ncsbn.org/pdfs/2006_Candidate_Bulletin.pdf

the NCLEX examination

uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) to

administer the items. Although everyone's first item is

relatively easy, subsequent items are better

targeted...

After the candidate answers this item, the computer reestimates

the candidate's ability and selects

the next item using the same procedures. 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 failures tend to answer

approximately 50% of the items correctly.

The test plan (i.e. how many questions you will get in each category) is also in the candidate bulletin.

Read the bulletin, it is very clear and easy to understand.

SerenityR.N., BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

It's all in here: http://ncsbn.org/pdfs/2006_Candidate_Bulletin.pdf
the NCLEX examination
uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) to
administer the items. Although everyone's first item is
relatively easy, subsequent items are better
targeted...
After the candidate answers this item, the computer reestimates
the candidate's ability and selects
the next item using the same procedures. 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 failures tend to answer
approximately 50% of the items correctly.
The test plan (i.e. how many questions you will get in each category) is also in the candidate bulletin.
Read the bulletin, it is very clear and easy to understand.

Just a quick question. If both passers and failers answers 50% correct, what makes someone fail?

AmyD_RN · Mar 3, 2006

Just a quick question. If both passers and failers answers 50% correct, what makes someone fail?

You can still be above the passing standard and still miss questions. right?

AmyD

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Mar 3, 2006

Just a quick question. If both passers and failers answers 50% correct, what makes someone fail?

If you're only getting 50% right and you're getting easy questions, that leads to a fail. If the computer has to give you very hard questions to keep you at 50%, that's a pass.