NLN Pre-Admission Exam

RN2BKS · May 3, 2012

Has anyone taken the NLN-RN PAX test recently and can kind of give me a synopsis on it?
I would really appreciate any information :bowingpur Thanks

I would like to know as well how this test is. I've been researching on this site and it looks like it is split down the middle. The posts were kind of old though. What score does your school require? Mine is 110 at minimum. Not sure if that's hard to get or not?

truckinusa, BSN, LPN, RN · May 3, 2012

Amazon.com: Review Guide For RN Pre-Entrance Exam (9780763762711): NATL LEAGUE NURSING: Books

Can't be that hard, it doesn't require a calculator for the math.

winterlights08 · May 3, 2012

I took it last winter and I didn't think it was that rough. The study guide that truckinusa linked to is the one to get, it's very similar to the actual exam. It even comes with a CD so you can take the test on your computer so it's more like the exam environment. The exam covers verbal, science, and math. The verbal covers reading comprehension and vocabulary--science covers earth science, biology, chemistry, and physics--and math is lots of percentages, decimals, fractions, and a little basic algebra. It's really all material that a person would have learned by high school. The book was a huge help, except for the physics part (I never had it in HS). If you have time you could check out a physics for dummies book or similar.

When you start to review, make sure you time yourself on the math section! I don't know about you, but I had to relearn how to do these calculations without a calculator. I did them over and over again until I had the steps down. Doing it all by hand though, especially if you are rusty, takes time. I almost ran out of time on the math section--but if you are taking the exam on the computer, you are able to flag questions to go back to at the end of the section. I found going back at the end the problems were easier looking at them fresh.

So the exam is three hours, and you should get a little break in between each section. Your score will pop up on the computer at the end. The study guide has a page explaining the score. It gives you the raw score and also your score relative to other people who have taken the exam. I believe some questions are tossed from each section, but you don't know which ones they are. After you test, you can go on the NLN site and log in to see your score and the percentile rank.

I only had a week to study, after I had found a seat that was open. I ended up scoring a 144, which put me in the 97%. Even though it is out of 200 questions, most people score between 50-150, so that's why such a high percentile, since it's relative. My school required a 100, and I can't even tell you if I've been accepted to the nursing program since they're waiting for my spring transcripts, and I took another school up on their offer.

Are you scheduled to take the exam soon? I hope I was able to help!

sj20fame · May 3, 2012

hey! i just posted about this, my test is scheduled on june 29th. by the time i take my test, i would have studied about 3-4 mnths! winterlights08 are you a genius?! you studied one week!? wow! that's awesome! well i'm using the same book as the link above, and i must say the discs that come with it, are very helpful! i'm also using the gre-vocab flashcards, because my vocab pre-test score was not the best... good luck all!

KAC123 · May 3, 2012

I suggest that you STUDY STUDY STUDY!!!! I took it about a year ago and didn't study as much as I should have.

I would recommend going over basic math skills (fractions, percents, conversions, long division, etc...) You may think you have a good grip on those things, but without a calculator it can get pretty tuff.

Definitely go over vocab! Even people who pass the exam claim that the language section is the hardest. Keep in mind that there is chemistry, physics, biology, and some microbiology. Study that as well!

Don't stress, that never helps! Yes it is an exam, it's long, and it contains a lot of subjects, but I think you will do just fine if you study!

Good luck!!

RN2BKS · May 3, 2012

I suggest that you STUDY STUDY STUDY!!!! I took it about a year ago and didn't study as much as I should have.
I would recommend going over basic math skills (fractions, percents, conversions, long division, etc...) You may think you have a good grip on those things, but without a calculator it can get pretty tuff.
Definitely go over vocab! Even people who pass the exam claim that the language section is the hardest. Keep in mind that there is chemistry, physics, biology, and some microbiology. Study that as well!
Don't stress, that never helps! Yes it is an exam, it's long, and it contains a lot of subjects, but I think you will do just fine if you study!
Good luck!!

Thank you so much everyone!!! I'm taking it this fall and I'm not taking any summer classes so I figured I could study over the summer. I have never taken these types of test...just practice ones like the HESI....but never got to take it.