Chapter 5. NCLEX-RN Examination and the
New Graduate
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS – RATIONALES
HIGHLY STUDIED 2026
GRADED A+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. The graduate nurse understands the purpose of the NCLEX-RN exam when stating
which of the following?
a. "The exam provides feedback to the candidate regarding areas of weakness in
nursing practice."
b. "The exam determines the candidate's ability or inability to meet minimum
standards for safe practice."
c. "The exam gives employers an opportunity to hire graduates who have scored
highest among first-time licensure candidates."
d. "The exam prepares new graduates as efficient, effective staff nurses.". ANSWER -
ANS: B
The purpose of the NCLEX-RN® Exam is to determine whether a candidate is
competent to perform safe, effective, entry-level nursing care. It does not prepare
nurses but rather measures their performance on a test. Candidates who are
unsuccessful receive information about their weak areas on the test, but this is not
the purpose of it. Employers want to know if the person has passed because there is
no specific score given other than pass or fail
2. Which statement by the nursing professor is accurate about the NCLEX-RN exam?
The purpose of the NCLEX-RN® test plan is to ensure that all
a. "test takers answer items of comparable difficulty."
b. "test takers answer approximately the same number of items."
c. "test items are job related."
, d. "clinical specialties will be equally represented.". ANSWER - ANS: C
The content of the NCLEX® Exam is based on a test plan that is determined by the
National Council. The test plan reflects entry-level nursing practice as identified by
research and the job analysis study of newly licensed registered nurses. Each
candidate will receive different levels of questions in a computer adaptive format.
The focus of the exam is not on clinical specialties. The test has a minimum of 75
questions and a maximum of 265 questions, so a test taker can answer any number
of questions between these two numbers until they either reaches a passing
standard or fails.
3. In trends class, a student tells the instructor, "I don't think I can possibly pass the
NCLEX-RN. I hated psych nursing, but now I've heard that a huge amount of the
NCLEX is psych related." What is the best response from the instructor?
a. "Perhaps you should consider retaking the psychiatric nursing course."
b. "There are equal numbers of questions related to each aspect of client needs."
c. "Psychosocial integrity is the basis for 6% to 12% of the examination."
d. "You will need to take a review course in which they teach psychiatric nursing
principles.". ANSWER - ANS: C
The last detailed test plan (2013) from the National Council designated from 6% to
12% of the total questions to be from the area of psychosocial integrity. The student
may not be able to retake nursing courses or a review course. Stating that content
area has the same amount of questions would be inaccurate. Each of the categories
of client needs has a different percentage, so questions are based on that percentage
from the detailed test plan, not on equal numbers from each area. Students often
hear incorrect information and rumors about NCLEX.
4. Which statement indicates the graduate nurses understanding of the process at
the NCLEX testing site?
a. "I will be thumb-printed and photographed."
b. "I will be placed in a locked testing cubicle."
c. "I will answer 300 test questions."
d. "I will be given some questions as a paper-and-pencil test.". ANSWER - ANS: A
New Graduate
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS – RATIONALES
HIGHLY STUDIED 2026
GRADED A+
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. The graduate nurse understands the purpose of the NCLEX-RN exam when stating
which of the following?
a. "The exam provides feedback to the candidate regarding areas of weakness in
nursing practice."
b. "The exam determines the candidate's ability or inability to meet minimum
standards for safe practice."
c. "The exam gives employers an opportunity to hire graduates who have scored
highest among first-time licensure candidates."
d. "The exam prepares new graduates as efficient, effective staff nurses.". ANSWER -
ANS: B
The purpose of the NCLEX-RN® Exam is to determine whether a candidate is
competent to perform safe, effective, entry-level nursing care. It does not prepare
nurses but rather measures their performance on a test. Candidates who are
unsuccessful receive information about their weak areas on the test, but this is not
the purpose of it. Employers want to know if the person has passed because there is
no specific score given other than pass or fail
2. Which statement by the nursing professor is accurate about the NCLEX-RN exam?
The purpose of the NCLEX-RN® test plan is to ensure that all
a. "test takers answer items of comparable difficulty."
b. "test takers answer approximately the same number of items."
c. "test items are job related."
, d. "clinical specialties will be equally represented.". ANSWER - ANS: C
The content of the NCLEX® Exam is based on a test plan that is determined by the
National Council. The test plan reflects entry-level nursing practice as identified by
research and the job analysis study of newly licensed registered nurses. Each
candidate will receive different levels of questions in a computer adaptive format.
The focus of the exam is not on clinical specialties. The test has a minimum of 75
questions and a maximum of 265 questions, so a test taker can answer any number
of questions between these two numbers until they either reaches a passing
standard or fails.
3. In trends class, a student tells the instructor, "I don't think I can possibly pass the
NCLEX-RN. I hated psych nursing, but now I've heard that a huge amount of the
NCLEX is psych related." What is the best response from the instructor?
a. "Perhaps you should consider retaking the psychiatric nursing course."
b. "There are equal numbers of questions related to each aspect of client needs."
c. "Psychosocial integrity is the basis for 6% to 12% of the examination."
d. "You will need to take a review course in which they teach psychiatric nursing
principles.". ANSWER - ANS: C
The last detailed test plan (2013) from the National Council designated from 6% to
12% of the total questions to be from the area of psychosocial integrity. The student
may not be able to retake nursing courses or a review course. Stating that content
area has the same amount of questions would be inaccurate. Each of the categories
of client needs has a different percentage, so questions are based on that percentage
from the detailed test plan, not on equal numbers from each area. Students often
hear incorrect information and rumors about NCLEX.
4. Which statement indicates the graduate nurses understanding of the process at
the NCLEX testing site?
a. "I will be thumb-printed and photographed."
b. "I will be placed in a locked testing cubicle."
c. "I will answer 300 test questions."
d. "I will be given some questions as a paper-and-pencil test.". ANSWER - ANS: A
