Free NCLEX-PN Practice Test
Answer Next Generation NCLEX-PN questions written to the 2026 PN test plan and the LPN/VN scope of practice, read the rationale for every option, then sit a timed exam with three unfolding case studies, scored the way NCSBN scores it.
85 questions including three unfolding case studies, weighted to the 2026 test plan, with NCSBN partial-credit scoring and a rationale for every option.
Or start with a free drill- 553 original questions with a rationale for every option
- 133 select-all-that-apply items and 6 unfolding case studies
- 10 free drills, one per client-needs category plus SATA and case study
A health care provider prescribes 1,000 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride to infuse over 8 hours by infusion pump. At what rate should the nurse set the pump?
The NCLEX-PN at a glance
The NCLEX-PN is the licensure examination for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (LPN/VN) in the United States, developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and delivered by Pearson VUE. In 2025, 68,996 candidates took it and 77.3% passed; 22.7% did not.
- Test plan
- 2026 NCLEX-PN Test Plan, effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2029
- Format
- Computer adaptive (CAT): 85 to 150 items, including 15 unscored pretest items and three six-item clinical judgment case studies
- Time
- 5 hours, including the introductory screens and all breaks; optional breaks are offered after 2 hours and after 3.5 hours
- Item types
- Stand-alone items and case studies in multiple formats; items with more than one key earn partial credit (plus/minus, zero/one or rationale scoring)
- Pass or fail
- Decided by the 95% confidence interval rule once 85 items are answered; at 150 items or when time runs out, the final ability estimate decides
- Fee
- $200 registration until January 31, 2027; $350 from February 1, 2027. $150 extra to schedule outside the United States
- Retakes
- Up to eight times a year with at least 45 test-free days between attempts; your nursing regulatory body may allow fewer
- Pass rates (2025)
- 86.6% of first-time U.S.-educated candidates; 41.7% of repeat U.S.-educated candidates; 77.3% of all 68,996 candidates
The 2026 test plan, and a free drill for each category
Every NCLEX-PN draws its stand-alone items from eight client-needs categories in these proportions. Each range is written to the practical nurse’s role: Coordinated Care, not the RN’s Management of Care, is the largest. Each drill is ten questions with a rationale for every option after each answer; create a free account to save your results. Each category also has its own guide page.
| Client-needs category | Share of exam | What it tests | Drill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinated CareSafe and Effective Care Environment | 18–24% | Assigning tasks to assistive personnel, prioritizing clients, report and handoff, processing orders, advocacy, consent, advance directives, confidentiality, legal scope and reporting duties. | 10-question drill |
| Safety and Infection Prevention and ControlSafe and Effective Care Environment | 10–16% | Hand hygiene, isolation precautions, PPE, client identification, falls, safe handling and transfer devices, restraints, allergies, security alerts, incident reports and disaster response. | 10-question drill |
| Health Promotion and MaintenanceHealth Promotion and Maintenance | 6–12% | Antepartum, labor and stable postpartum care, newborns through older adults, developmental milestones, immunizations, screening, health history and barriers to learning. | 10-question drill |
| Psychosocial IntegrityPsychosocial Integrity | 9–15% | Therapeutic communication, coping, suicide and violence risk, substance use and withdrawal, dementia and delirium, de-escalation, cultural and spiritual care, and end-of-life care. | 10-question drill |
| Basic Care and ComfortPhysiological Integrity | 7–13% | Activities of daily living, enteral feeding and tube care, nutrition, mobility and assistive devices, elimination, skin integrity, pain scales, sleep, irrigations and postmortem care. | 10-question drill |
| Pharmacological TherapiesPhysiological Integrity | 10–16% | The rights of medication administration, dosage and IV flow-rate calculations, routes, data to collect before a dose, adverse effects, IV piggyback medications, transfusion monitoring and medication teaching. | 10-question drill |
| Reduction of Risk PotentialPhysiological Integrity | 9–15% | Vital signs and lab results, specimens, point-of-care and glucose testing, ECGs, urinary catheters, NG tubes, IV and central line maintenance, and care before and after surgery and procedures. | 10-question drill |
| Physiological AdaptationPhysiological Integrity | 7–13% | Recognizing and reporting changes in condition, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, emergencies, respiratory care, tracheostomy and ventilator care, drains, wounds, ostomies and dialysis. | 10-question drill |
Next Generation NCLEX-PN item types
Ready for the full exam?
85 questions including three unfolding case studies, weighted to the 2026 test plan, with NCSBN partial-credit scoring and a rationale for every option.
Or start with a free drillTwo timed mock exams
The real exam is adaptive: it ends anywhere from 85 to 150 items, within five hours. Our mock exams are the two ends of that range, both paced at two minutes per item, both with three unfolding case studies, both weighted to the midpoint of every category range.
How the Next Generation NCLEX-PN works
The exam measures clinical judgment directly. Every NCLEX-PN includes three case studies: six items about one client that unfold through the six steps of NCSBN’s Clinical Judgment Measurement Model. About 10% of the stand-alone items also measure clinical judgment. Try a full PN case study.
- 1Recognize cues
- 2Analyze cues
- 3Prioritize hypotheses
- 4Generate solutions
- 5Take action
- 6Evaluate outcomes
Items with more than one key earn partial credit. Select-all-that-apply items use plus/minus scoring (+1 per correct option selected, −1 per incorrect option selected, never below zero). Items that ask for a set number of responses use zero/one scoring, and paired drop-down rationale items need both parts right. Our practice applies the plus/minus and zero/one rules to every item, so your points mean what they would mean on exam day.
The exam selects each item at your estimated ability and stops once it is 95% certain you are above or below the standard, which can happen at item 85 or not until item 150 or the five-hour limit, so the length of your exam says nothing about the result. In 2025, 64.6% of first-time U.S.-educated candidates finished at 85 items and 17.7% went to 150.
Case studies, PN vs RN, and retakes
In 2025, 86.6% of first-time U.S.-educated candidates passed, but only 41.7% of the 13,342 U.S.-educated candidates who were retaking it. Studying for the RN exam instead? See the NCLEX-RN practice test.
Common questions
How many questions are on the NCLEX-PN?
Between 85 and 150. The exam is computer adaptive and stops as soon as it is 95% certain you are above or below the passing standard, once you have answered at least 85 items. Every exam includes 15 unscored pretest items and three clinical judgment case studies of six items each, so the minimum-length exam has 52 stand-alone scored items, 18 case-study items and 15 pretest items. In 2025, 64.6% of first-time U.S.-educated candidates finished at 85 items.
How long is the NCLEX-PN?
Five hours, whatever the number of items. The clock includes the introductory screens and all breaks. Two optional breaks are offered, after two hours and after three and a half hours of testing. In 2025 first-time U.S.-educated candidates tested for 2 hours 18 minutes on average.
What does the 2026 NCLEX-PN test plan cover?
Eight client-needs categories: Coordinated Care (18–24%), Safety and Infection Prevention and Control (10–16%), Health Promotion and Maintenance (6–12%), Psychosocial Integrity (9–15%), Basic Care and Comfort (7–13%), Pharmacological Therapies (10–16%), Reduction of Risk Potential (9–15%) and Physiological Adaptation (7–13%). The 2026 plan took effect on April 1, 2026 and runs through March 31, 2029.
How is the NCLEX-PN different from the NCLEX-RN?
Same format, different role. Both exams run 85 to 150 items in five hours with three case studies and the same scoring rules. The PN test plan is written to the licensed practical/vocational nurse’s scope: Coordinated Care replaces the RN’s Management of Care, the nurse collects data and reinforces teaching rather than performing the initial assessment and teaching, and Pharmacological Therapies is weighted 10–16% against the RN’s 13–19% for Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies.
Does the NCLEX-PN have Next Generation case studies?
Yes. Every NCLEX-PN includes three case studies: six items about one client that unfold in order through the six steps of NCSBN’s Clinical Judgment Measurement Model: recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses, generate solutions, take action and evaluate outcomes. About 10% of the stand-alone items also measure clinical judgment.
How are select-all-that-apply questions scored?
With NCSBN’s plus/minus rule: you earn one point for every correct option you select and lose one point for every incorrect option you select, never below zero. A question with three keys is worth three points. Our drills and mock exams score select-all-that-apply items exactly that way and show the points for each question.
How much does the NCLEX-PN cost, and how often can I retake it?
Registration is $200 for registrations completed before February 1, 2027 and $350 from that date, for first attempts and retakes alike. Scheduling outside the United States adds $150. You can test up to eight times a year, with at least 45 test-free days between attempts; some nursing regulatory bodies allow fewer.
Is this practice exam adaptive like the real NCLEX-PN?
No. Our 85-item and 150-item mock exams are fixed-length, weighted to the midpoint of every client-needs range and paced at the real exam’s two minutes per item. Like the real exam, you answer one item at a time and cannot go back, and the three case studies unfold in clinical-judgment order. Your report scores every category and every case so you know what to drill next.
Ready for exam day?
85 questions including three unfolding case studies, weighted to the 2026 test plan, with NCSBN partial-credit scoring and a rationale for every option.
Or start with a free drillSources
- NCSBN: 2026 NCLEX-PN Test Plan (effective April 1, 2026)
- NCLEX.com: Test plans
- NCSBN: NCLEX Candidate Bulletin (October 2025): fees, retake policy, exam length and breaks
- NCSBN: NCLEX registration fee change effective February 1, 2027
- NCSBN: 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics (NCLEX-PN volumes, pass rates and test length)
- NCLEX.com FAQs: partial-credit scoring (plus/minus, zero/one, rationale)
- NCSBN: Candidate Performance Report
Original practice questions for exam preparation, written to the 2026 NCLEX-PN Test Plan. Independent practice, not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) or Pearson VUE. NCLEX and NCLEX-PN are registered trademarks of NCSBN. Follow your state’s scope of practice for LPN/VNs, your employer’s policies and the health care provider’s orders in practice.