LIPPINCOTT Q&A REVIEW FOR
NCLEX-RN
14TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)DIANE BILLINGS;
DESIREE HENSEL
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — The NCLEX-RN® Licensing Examination — Exam
Administration
Stem
A candidate scheduled for the NCLEX arrives at the test center
10 minutes after the scheduled start time and presents proper
identification. The testing center administrator tells the
candidate they may still test but must accept whatever seat is
available. The candidate says they prefer to reschedule because
,they feel unsettled. Which response by the administrator is
most appropriate?
Options
A. Allow the candidate to reschedule without charge and issue a
new Authorization to Test (ATT).
B. Permit the candidate to take the exam immediately because
the ATT authorizes testing that day.
C. Inform the candidate they may still test now or decline the
appointment and must reschedule through their NRB and
Pearson VUE.
D. Deny testing because arriving late automatically disqualifies
the candidate.
Correct answer
C
Rationales
Correct (C): The testing center can offer testing if candidate
arrival still fits center policies; the candidate may also decline
and reschedule through the standard process (NRB/Pearson
VUE). This preserves candidate autonomy while following
administrative procedures.
A: Incorrect — rescheduling is handled through Pearson and the
NRB; the testing center cannot unilaterally issue a new ATT.
B: Incorrect — the ATT permits testing within the scheduled
appointment, but the candidate’s informed choice must be
honored; the administrator must explain options.
D: Incorrect — late arrival does not automatically disqualify a
,candidate; denial must follow specific center policy and
documented reasons.
Teaching point
Candidates may accept testing or decline and reschedule
through official channels.
Citation
Billings, D. M., & Hensel, D. (2024). Lippincott Q&A Review for
NCLEX-RN (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — The NCLEX-RN® Licensing Examination — Computer
Adaptive Testing
Stem
During an NCLEX appointment, a candidate notices the
computerized test displays one question at a time and adapts in
difficulty. The candidate asks the nurse-instructor proctor
whether answering an early, very difficult question incorrectly
will cause automatic failure. What is the most accurate
explanation the proctor should give?
Options
A. One wrong answer on a difficult item causes automatic
failure.
B. The exam adapts to your ability; individual items do not
determine pass/fail—performance across items does.
, C. Hard items are only pretest items and not scored.
D. The test will stop immediately if you miss two difficult items
in a row.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): CAT adjusts item difficulty based on performance;
pass/fail is determined by the overall ability estimate, not any
single item. This explains the adaptive algorithm in practical
terms.
A: Incorrect — no single item causes automatic failure; adaptive
scoring uses aggregate performance.
C: Incorrect — not all difficult items are pretest; pretest items
may be included but scored items of varying difficulty
contribute to the result.
D: Incorrect — there is no immediate stop rule based on two
misses; termination rules are based on statistical confidence in
ability estimate.
Teaching point
NCLEX uses CAT: overall pattern, not single items, determines
outcome.
Citation
Billings, D. M., & Hensel, D. (2024). Lippincott Q&A Review for
NCLEX-RN (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Ch. 1.
NCLEX-RN
14TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)DIANE BILLINGS;
DESIREE HENSEL
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — The NCLEX-RN® Licensing Examination — Exam
Administration
Stem
A candidate scheduled for the NCLEX arrives at the test center
10 minutes after the scheduled start time and presents proper
identification. The testing center administrator tells the
candidate they may still test but must accept whatever seat is
available. The candidate says they prefer to reschedule because
,they feel unsettled. Which response by the administrator is
most appropriate?
Options
A. Allow the candidate to reschedule without charge and issue a
new Authorization to Test (ATT).
B. Permit the candidate to take the exam immediately because
the ATT authorizes testing that day.
C. Inform the candidate they may still test now or decline the
appointment and must reschedule through their NRB and
Pearson VUE.
D. Deny testing because arriving late automatically disqualifies
the candidate.
Correct answer
C
Rationales
Correct (C): The testing center can offer testing if candidate
arrival still fits center policies; the candidate may also decline
and reschedule through the standard process (NRB/Pearson
VUE). This preserves candidate autonomy while following
administrative procedures.
A: Incorrect — rescheduling is handled through Pearson and the
NRB; the testing center cannot unilaterally issue a new ATT.
B: Incorrect — the ATT permits testing within the scheduled
appointment, but the candidate’s informed choice must be
honored; the administrator must explain options.
D: Incorrect — late arrival does not automatically disqualify a
,candidate; denial must follow specific center policy and
documented reasons.
Teaching point
Candidates may accept testing or decline and reschedule
through official channels.
Citation
Billings, D. M., & Hensel, D. (2024). Lippincott Q&A Review for
NCLEX-RN (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — The NCLEX-RN® Licensing Examination — Computer
Adaptive Testing
Stem
During an NCLEX appointment, a candidate notices the
computerized test displays one question at a time and adapts in
difficulty. The candidate asks the nurse-instructor proctor
whether answering an early, very difficult question incorrectly
will cause automatic failure. What is the most accurate
explanation the proctor should give?
Options
A. One wrong answer on a difficult item causes automatic
failure.
B. The exam adapts to your ability; individual items do not
determine pass/fail—performance across items does.
, C. Hard items are only pretest items and not scored.
D. The test will stop immediately if you miss two difficult items
in a row.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): CAT adjusts item difficulty based on performance;
pass/fail is determined by the overall ability estimate, not any
single item. This explains the adaptive algorithm in practical
terms.
A: Incorrect — no single item causes automatic failure; adaptive
scoring uses aggregate performance.
C: Incorrect — not all difficult items are pretest; pretest items
may be included but scored items of varying difficulty
contribute to the result.
D: Incorrect — there is no immediate stop rule based on two
misses; termination rules are based on statistical confidence in
ability estimate.
Teaching point
NCLEX uses CAT: overall pattern, not single items, determines
outcome.
Citation
Billings, D. M., & Hensel, D. (2024). Lippincott Q&A Review for
NCLEX-RN (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Ch. 1.
