Technically--This is how people are
Passing the NCLEX

Imagine the computer as a little man playing a little game. First you answer a question. Then the little man, who knows immediately if you are right or wrong, picks the next question for you. He won't make the question too hard or too easy.

There are three ways this little man picks the next question.

1. First he makes sure you have not seen this question in the last 365 days. Obviously this will only apply to you if you have failed the NCLEX in the last year.


2. Second he makes sure to give you a good variety of content. So you theoretically should not get 95 question on medications or 95 questions about oncology!


3. Third, and most importantly in my mind, he picks a question that is challenging enough that you have at least a 50% chance of getting it right.

If you happen to run out of time before the computer stops, or you answer all the questions (which you really shouldn't given the 5-6 hours you are given), then the little man goes on the information he has. Passing the NCLEX at this point means that your were "above ability" in all 60 of your last questions answered. Please don't misunderstand, not all 60 of your last questions have to be answered correctly. The little man is judging your ability which is based on how hard each question is also!

If you don't answer the minimum number of questions in the allotted time--you fail. That is 75 questions for the NCLEX-RN and 85 for the NCLEX-PN. I have never met anyone who has failed for this reason.

If this doesn't make sense to you, don't worry--it shouldn't. If you really MUST understand more, than see the NCBSN page here about passing the nclex. Otherwise--GET BACK TO STUDYING!

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