NCLEX-RN Format: Questions, Time Limit and Case Studies
6 min read · Updated
The NCLEX-RN is a computer adaptive exam of 85 to 150 questions with a 5-hour time limit. The 5 hours include a short tutorial and any breaks you take. The exam stops as soon as it can tell, with confidence, whether your ability is above or below the passing standard, which is why two candidates can finish after very different numbers of questions.
The NCLEX-RN at a glance
| Feature | NCLEX-RN |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 85 to 150 |
| Unscored pretest questions | 15, mixed in and not marked |
| Case studies | 3, with 6 questions each |
| Time limit | 5 hours, including the tutorial and breaks |
| Breaks | Optional; the clock keeps running |
| Going back | Not allowed; one question at a time |
| Result | Pass or fail |
Question types
- Multiple choice: four options, one best answer.
- Multiple response (select all that apply): choose every option that is correct.
- Ordered response: put steps in the right sequence.
- Fill in the blank: usually a dosage or intake-and-output calculation.
- Next Generation NCLEX items: matrix grids, drop-down sentences, highlighting, drag-and-drop and bow-tie items, mostly inside case studies.
How case studies work
Each case study shows a client record, such as nurses' notes, vital signs and lab results, beside six questions. The record changes as the case unfolds, and the questions walk through clinical judgment: recognizing cues, analyzing them, prioritizing hypotheses, generating solutions, taking action and evaluating outcomes.
One question at a time
You cannot skip a question or return to an earlier one. Each answer is final once you move on, so practice committing to your best answer and letting it go.
Practice under the same rules
Every one of our 50 full-length exams gives you 150 questions in 5 hours, one at a time with no going back, with three case studies and an optional break.