Questions You'll Encounter on the NCLEX Exam

Even though you'll take many kinds of exams and practicals in nursing school, the NCLEX exam is a little bit different.  Among other things, you'll be tested on the computer, using adaptive software program.  As you answer questions, the computer will select the next question for you.  Unfortunately, this won't give you an opportunity to look over the group of questions and choose the ones you want to answer first – as you might do in other standardized tests.  Chances are, this will prevent you from using a number of test taking strategies that you might be comfortable with.

NCLEX Test question types

For the most part, you'll encounter five different types of questions on the NCLEX.  First, you'll have standard multiple choice questions.  You may also have multiple choice questions that require you to select more than one answer.  While you won't have to write essays, you will need to perform certain mathematical calculations.  In some cases, you may need to perform those calculations based on word problems.  The NCLEX exam also includes questions based on diagrams, as well as ones that require you to put procedures in an appropriate order.

Tips for preparing for the NCLEX

While the NCLEX is a standardized exam, it's not as easy to prepare for as some other exams.  The administrators often change the format of the questions, as well as the passing score level, so reviewing questions from the previous year may not be very helpful.  That said, you can still review free NCLEX questions on a variety of websites.  You may also find that books and study courses will be of some help to you.

Despite these challenges, you'll still need to familiarize yourself with the basic types of questions on the NCLEX, so that you're less nervous on exam day.  For the most part, when preparing for the NCLEX, it's important to think about the ways that specific information can be formatted into different types of questions.  For example, questions about wound treatment could be asked in a procedural format or with the use of diagrams.  Try making up your own practice questions as you're studying to get used to recalling this information in different ways.

When to take the NCLEX

In most cases, you'll want to take the NCLEX as soon as you're eligible to do so.  While most states require a specific educational degree, you may also need to complete a practical or work a specific number of hours in a hospital setting.  That said, if you feel that you'll have problems taking the exam, you may want to take some extra time after graduation to enroll in class designed to prepare you for the test.

Today, the shortage of nurses virtually guarantees you're entering a field where you can command a decent salary.  That said, you'll need to successfully pass your NCLEX exam first.  While preparing for this test is not always easy, you should still be able to boost your score by working with study guides and taking practice exams.  On the other hand, because there's a significant amount of variance from year to year, it's also important to carefully review your textbooks and notes before taking the exam.