What NCLEX Score Is Passing?

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN) does not use a traditional numerical percentage score like 75% or 80% to determine passing. Instead, it employs a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) system that evaluates your ability based on the difficulty and type of questions you answer correctly. The exam is pass/fail, not scored on a fixed scale.

The NCLEX measures whether your nursing competency meets or exceeds the passing standard, set by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). This standard is expressed in logits—a statistical unit of measurement. For both NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN:

• Passing standard (as of April 2023): 0.00 logits
• You pass if your ability estimate is at or above 0.00 logits with 95% confidence.
• You fail if your ability falls below 0.00 logits with 95% confidence, or if you run out of time/questions without meeting the standard.

How It Works:

1. Adaptive Testing: The CAT algorithm adjusts question difficulty based on your answers. Correct answers lead to harder questions; incorrect ones lead to easier ones.
2. Minimum/Maximum Questions:
   • NCLEX-RN: 75–145 questions (including 15 pretest items)
   • NCLEX-PN: 85–150 questions (including 15 pretest items)
3. Time Limit: 5 hours (RN) or 4 hours (PN), including breaks.
4. Stopping Rules:
   • The test ends when the system is 95% confident you are clearly above or below the passing standard.
   • It may also stop at the minimum (if you’re well above) or maximum (if borderline).

Key Facts:

• No fixed passing score—it’s ability-based, not question-based.
• Next Gen NCLEX (NGN) (introduced April 2023) includes case studies and new item types but uses the same 0.00 logit passing standard.
• You cannot “calculate” your score. Results are official via your state board (usually within 48 hours via Quick Results, where available).

In Summary:

To pass, demonstrate consistent competency above the 0.00 logit threshold through accurate responses, regardless of total questions answered. Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing a magic number.