Blog

A sample from research data by the University of Houston, Texas, shows that 87.2% of students who pass their Pre-Admission Examinations with the 90th Percentile succeed in the RN Licensure Exam. According to the same research, nursing faculties also rely on the scores from Pre-admission tests to develop supportive strategies for underperforming students. The NLN PAX Exam takes center stage when predicting students’ NCLEX-RN scores and admitting students to nursing programs. Our NLN PAX exam experts will explain what this test entails, including its content sections, scoring mechanism, and correlations with NCLEX-RN. Learners stuck with their proctored PAX NLN Exams can delegate them to our top experts for remote help.

What is the NLN Pax Exams?

The NLN Pax Exam stands for the National League for Nursing Pre-admission Examination. It is a standardized exam administered to the prospective nursing student as an entrance test to their nursing schools of choice. NLN Pax Exam assesses the applicants’ academic standing and readiness to pursue various nursing fields.

NLN Pax Exam Content Sections and Question Types

The NLN PAX Exam has 160 multiple-choice questions covering three primary content sections. Learners have 2 hours and 5 minutes to answer all the questions.

Verbal Section

The verbal content section comprises 60 questions, making up 37.5% of the exam. These questions examine the applicant’s communication skills and language usage. The verbal section has two categories: Reading Comprehension (30 questions) and Word Knowledge (30 questions). Learners have 45 minutes to complete the 60 questions.

Reading Comprehension is the most technical, consisting of 5 passages with 400 words each. Examinees are asked to read each passage and use their contextual understanding to answer 6 questions from each passage. The first passage is grade level 8th-9th, while the last is grade 13th-13th. Other passages fall in between the two grade categories. Questions on Reading Comprehension are either scientific or general.

The Word Knowledge section requires students to make logical inferences from certain words within a phrase. Each deduction is based on a particular concept. Questions range from 8th grade level to 14th grade or the essential college reading. The number of questions also differs depending on the grade level.

Mathematics Section

The math section comprises 40 questions, making up 25% of the exam. Questions in the math section assess the student’s mathematical reasoning and ability to solve fundamental math problems. Algebra and geometry feature prominently on the NLN Pax Exam. Other popular topics include integers, percentages, fractions, details, ratios, math concepts, and measurement conversions.

The math section has two sub-categories: Problem-Solving and Computation. 18 computation questions assess the examinee’s ability to perform various math operations. The remaining 22 questions are problem-solving. They assess the learner’s understanding and ability to apply math formulas and procedures in solving real-world problems.

Science Section

The science section has 60 questions covered in 45 minutes. It assesses the learner’s general knowledge and cognitive skills in various nursing concepts. Questions in the science section are primarily from chemistry, biology, human anatomy and physiology, physics, and health.

NLN PAX Exam Score Report

Examinees receive their scores within 4 hours after completing the test by signing into their Nursing Examination Portal and accessing the PAX results page. Each question contributes a particular point value towards the cumulative scores, which are then converted to a percentage of questions answered correctly. Additionally, learners can also see how they perform in each content section (content area scores) and their overall percentile ranks.

NLN PAX is not a pass-or-fail exam. Instead, each institution develops its in-house admission standards and cut-off scores, which vary based on the program. Some schools also consider the percentile scores when admitting students, especially in competitive programs. Most colleges accept learners with at least the 50th percentile, depending on the nursing program.

A percentile means the number of applicants who sat the exam and got less than a particular score. For example, the 50th percentile means those with less than 50% composite scores. Getting 145+ questions correct lands a learner in the 99th percentile—or more than two standard deviations above average. A score in the 99th percentile means those who got less than 145. Getting 117+ questions correct lands a learner in the 70Th percentile. Thus, more than 70% of applicants achieve less than 117 right questions on the PAX Exam.

Study Resources for the PAX

Learners can purchase a PAX prep course containing the test examples and previous PAX questions for timed prep. In addition to the guidebook, we are your one-stop shop for flashcards, practice papers, instructional materials, and review guides for all PAX sections.

NLN PAX Exam: Parting Shots

More than 90 top-tier colleges in the US request NLN PAX exam scores to assess applicants’ readiness for various nursing programs. Thus, the exam is a critical milestone toward entering a dream college. Utilize NLN PAX study guides, practice regularly, and review and refresh the test instructions to perform in this exam. If stuck, assign your NLN PAX exam to an expert for timely and professional help.