Introduction
The National Council Licensure Examination is an essential milestone that marks the critical transition from a student to being a nursing professional. The exam carries with it the many years of study required to become a nurse as it determines whether you will be licensed to practice nursing. One of the essential aspects of the exam is the number of questions you have to cover. Depending on different factors, the exam typically shuts off anywhere between 85 to 150 questions. But what are the chances of passing NCLEX with 85 questions? This article looks at what it means to you if the exam shuts off at 85 questions.
In-depth Insights on NCLEX Exam Structure
To fully understand the relevance of the 85-question shut-off, it is essential to know how the NCLEX is structured. Typically, the exam assesses the competence of nursing school graduates before licensing them to start working as professionals. However, the exam does not have a fixed number of questions to tackle. It employs Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), where the system adapts to the answers given by the candidate from question to question.
The computer evaluates your ability to offer practical and safe nursing care by providing you with different questions of varying difficulty. The system will give you questions and consider whether your answers demonstrate sufficient competence to start practicing as a nurse. With any correct answer you give, the computer will give you a more challenging question than the one you just answered. Conversely, any incorrect answer means the next question will be more straightforward. That will continue until the computer is 95% certain that you are above or below the pass mark.
For example, the NCLEX-RN could take as few as 85 questions or 150, with different questions being offered, including fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice questions, or real-life scenarios. Understand that the computer determines whether you passed or failed depending on your answers, and it could be at the 85th question.
85-Question Scenario
What are my chances of passing NCLEX with 85 questions? Well, you need to remember that your chances of passing are more inclined to how you answer the questions and not the number of questions you answer. But what does it mean when the exam shuts off at 85 questions? As much as it is a moment of anxiety for many candidates, it only means that the CAT has already determined your fate based on the answers you gave. It means you have already passed the exam or failed.
The computer is programmed to assess your competence as quickly as possible. If your answers are all correct even at the advanced difficulty levels and the CAT determines you passed the standard, it may end the exam at 85 questions. Consequently, if you struggle with getting the correct answers consistently and fail to meet the pass standard, the exam may also end at 85 questions with a fail.
Note that the exam ending at 85 questions does not automatically mean you failed. Most students tend to assume they have failed when the exam shuts off at 85 questions. Many successful candidates passed the exam at the 85-question mark. It all depends on how you answered the questions.
Statistical Chances of Passing
Speaking of statistics, your chances of passing NCLEX with 85 questions are determined by several factors, even though the odds are in the candidate’s favor if the test ends early. Historically, the pass rates for the NCLEX are generally high; for example, in 2023, the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) reported a pass rate of 82% for candidates for the NCLEX-RN. While it is not evident that students who finished the exam with 85 questions mark and passed were more, anecdotal evidence shows that most candidates who met the pass mark earlier on were likely to pass the exam.
The crucial aspect of this exam is how you perform the first 85 questions. Suppose the computer determines you have demonstrated impeccable decision-making abilities and sufficient knowledge, especially in the critical nursing practice areas. In that case, you are most likely to pass after the 85 questions. Since the exam is competency-based and only assesses how well you can make clinical judgments and offer safe patient care, you don’t have to get all 85 questions correct to pass.
Factors that Influence the Outcome of the Exam
Different factors may influence your chances of passing NCLEX with 85 questions. Of course, the first is:
Difficulty of the questions
The CAT (Computerized Adaptive Testing) adjusts the difficulty of the questions each time you answer a question correctly. If you answer difficult questions correctly and consistently, it indicates that you are above the standards and will possibly pass the exam.
Time management
Another critical factor that could determine your success in the NCLEX exam with 85 questions could be time management. Remember that the NCLEX exam is timed, and even though 85 questions may be quick to handle, it is crucial not to rush to answer. Ensure you read the questions carefully to give the best possible answer. You can also learn of other time management hacks from our website, nursingprepexams.com. However, you should strive to balance efficient decision-making on a question and carefully reading and understanding to avoid spending more than the required time on one question.
Anxiety and stress
How you manage your stress levels and anxiety during an exam could determine your performance. Being nervous during an important exam is okay, but being overly anxious could impair your thinking and decision-making. Try to exercise some relaxation and mind-calming techniques, such as visualization and deep breathing. The exercises will help calm your mind and make you more focused on the exam.
Different content areas
The content areas covered in the NCLEX exam could also affect your score or passing rate. Note that the exam covers various topics, from ethical decision-making to pharmacology to patient care. That means if you encounter more questions from your favorite and well-understood topics, you will likely pass the exam with 85 questions. However, if most of the questions come from topics that you are weak in, the exam can be pretty challenging for you.
Bottom Line
Your chances of passing NCLEX with 85 questions are 50-50. As much as it is an anxious moment when the exam ends at only 85 questions, the quality of your answers determines whether you did well or failed the test. While the outcome of the exam is not guaranteed, it is essential to always remain calm during the exam and understand how the CAT works for a chance at passing the exam.