what percentage of ?'s must you get right on NCLEX to pass?

HappyNurse2005, RN · Oct 27, 2004

is it 75% of the questions you must get right? I have NCLEX practice CD's and books and such, and they can tell you " percent correct-76%" or whatever, but don't mention whether or not that would be considered passing on NCLEX.

just curious-anyone know?

rose

dansamy · Oct 27, 2004

Most everyone gets 50% correct. This is because it is a computer-adaptive test. It asks you questions, progressing in difficulty, until you get one incorrect. Then, it lowers & raises difficulty until it finds the point at which you are answering one wrong, one right, one wrong, etc. At this point, the computer will analyze that difficulty level at which you are consistently answering correctly. If it CLEARLT meets the required competency for a new graduate nurse, it will shut off & you will pass. If it CLEARLY does NOT meet that level, it will still shut off & you will fail. If it is UNCLEAR, the system continues to ask questions until you either display a clearly passing or clearly failing level of competency OR you hit the maximum number of questions, whichever occurs 1st. This makes the test VERY individualized to the test-taker. No one else's exam will proceed precisely like yours.

dansamy · Oct 27, 2004

Most everyone gets 50% correct. This is because it is a computer-adaptive test. It asks you questions, progressing in difficulty, until you get one incorrect. Then, it lowers & raises difficulty until it finds the point at which you are answering one wrong, one right, one wrong, etc. At this point, the computer will analyze that difficulty level at which you are consistently answering correctly. If it CLEARLT meets the required competency for a new graduate nurse, it will shut off & you will pass. If it CLEARLY does NOT meet that level, it will still shut off & you will fail. If it is UNCLEAR, the system continues to ask questions until you either display a clearly passing or clearly failing level of competency OR you hit the maximum number of questions, whichever occurs 1st. This makes the test VERY individualized to the test-taker. No one else's exam will proceed precisely like yours.

Boston-RN, RN · Jul 11, 2006

I know this is an old thread but can someone verify this?

RNWing · Jul 11, 2006

Go to the National Board of Nursings official website...candidate...frequently asked questions. Very helpful. Gives you exactly how the system works and how passing and failing are determined.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Jul 11, 2006

There are several threads on this topic, it's probably the most frequently asked question about the NCLEX.

In a nutshell, the original explanation is accurate. It is not the number of questions you get correct that passes you, it is the level of difficulty in which you can maintain at least 50% correct that passes you.

If you correctly answer 50% of the questions right at a level lower than the passing standard, it will shut off and you will fail. If you correctly answer 50% of the questions right above the level of passing, it shuts off and you pass.

Some people are able to demonstrate competency within the first 75 questions (minimum) and some it takes the full 265. Both will pass if the computer recognizes, with a 95% certainty, that the test taker is above the passing standard.