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Get Ready for the Next Generation NCLEX-RN® (NGN) with

Free NCLEX-RN
Practice Questions

Explore both traditional NCLEX-RN questions and new NGN item types with our 30-question test drive. Analyze your performance and get ready to succeed!

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Challenge yourself with Lecturio's

Free Next Generation NCLEX-RN Sample Test

Lecturio’s Free Next Generation NCLEX-RN Sample Test was created to help students measure their preparedness and get firsthand experience in a simulated NGN testing.

This sample test comprises 30 realistic questions that blend new NGN item types with traditional NCLEX-RN questions.

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Take the Next Generation NCLEX-RN Sample Test

Get a realistic test-taking experience with traditional NCLEX-RN questions and new NGN item types, all within an updated exam interface.

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Receive a comprehensive performance report

The comprehensive performance report will help you identify which topics require more study attention.

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Bridge your knowledge gaps

Don’t let wrong answers hold you back: Lecturio’s adaptive review includes detailed text-based rationales and in-depth video explanations.

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Prof. Rhonda Lawes
Chief Nursing Officer at Lecturio

Lean on our experience

Our team of licensed nurses provides expert guidance and support to equip you with the necessary tools and skills to confidently arrive at the correct answer every time.

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Lecturio's Next-Gen NCLEX Qbank combines

Practice Questions with content review

  • Practice all topics and master all NGN question types with 3,900+ realistic questions 
  • Know where you stand through accurate performance evaluation with realistic partial scoring 
  • Get additional guidance and pointers from an AI tutor giving you hints and feedback

Lecturio is more than just a Qbank: The practice questions are part of a smart learning platform that acts as your all-in-one study companion throughout nursing school and NCLEX prep. 

Nclex rn ngn qbank v2
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Frequently asked questions about the new NGN item types

The NCLEX exam is currently undergoing a major update that is going into effect on April 1st, 2023. The new format is intended to more effectively test the skills that are required of nurses in today’s healthcare environment, focusing more strongly on clinical judgment and critical thinking.

The new NCLEX is NOT all multiple-choice. The NGN exam additionally features new question types like
  • Select all that apply (SATA) (multiple correct responses to choose)
  • Bowtie, drag-and-drop, and matrix/grid questions (presenting complex cases requiring you to make multi-step clinical reasonings)
  • Highlight questions and hotspot items (selecting a specific part of an image or in a text)
  • Fill-in-the-blank, ordered-response items, and others 
The new question formats require stronger critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills of test-takers, to make sure new nurses are prepared for real-world challenges. New content areas tested are e.g. nursing informatics, genomics, and social determinants of health.

The Next Gen NCLEX introduces a significant shift in testing format (new, complex question types) and content focus (more emphasis on clinical judgment). Unlike the previous version, this exam emphasizes real-life scenarios and complex case studies. So while the Next Gen NCLEX is not necessarily “harder” in a traditional sense, it demands a higher level of clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.

To tackle this challenge, make sure to not only memorize, but always apply what you’re learning to realistic clinical cases! Try Lecturio’s Qbank and NCLEX review courses to not only access real NGN questions to practice, but also get fail-safe strategies and guidance on how to approach them.

The maximum number of questions on NCLEX is currently 150, and the minimum is 85. If you’re doing really well, you could pass in 85 questions. But if you’re doing really poorly, you could fail in 85. And so on… Since the exam’s “CAT” (computerized adaptive testing) system adapts dynamically to your performance, everyone can end up with a different number of questions on test day. Learn more here →

Multiple-response items require the test-taker to select more than one correct answer from a list of options.

For extended multiple-choice items, students have to select one best answer from a list and additionally have to provide the reasoning for their response. 

Hot spot items assess knowledge with anatomical landmarks, e.g. where to insert IVs or where to listen for a maternal heartbeat. The answer to the question will be given by marking an area on a provided image or graphic.

In highlight-text item type questions, you are required to mark parts of a text that are relevant to your answer. 

In these items, the task is to sort the response items in the correct order, usually by drag-and-drop. It could require the student to order the steps of a dressing change, a procedure like a tube insertion, or deciding which client to see most urgently. 

Yes, the NGN allows for partial credit to more accurately assess test takers’ knowledge and understanding. To prepare for this, you should use a Qbank that assesses your performance with partial scoring, as well! Lecturio’s NGN Qbank tracks your practice with realistic partial scoring so that you can accurately monitor your exam-readiness.  How does it work? Unlike traditional scoring that only gives full credit for completely correct answers, this system awards points for partially correct responses: Points may be added and deducted for correct and incorrect portions (+/- scoring), parts of questions may be scored separately (0/1 scoring), and in some cases, the question only earns you points if all parts of the question are answered correctly (“all-or-nothing”). Learn more about how partial scoring works here → 
With the newly-formatted questions, it is even more crucial that aspiring nurses practice for their NCLEX with a properly formatted test environment that simulates the real exam. The earlier you get used to the question mechanics, the more secure you can feel in the exam. Whichever question format you’re facing, always remember why you’re taking this exam: It is to make sure you are safe to practice as a nurse, and the questions make sure to test that. Read the question thoroughly, identify how it works, the context, and which nursing topics you studied are relevant. Then, always view the questions from the angle how each option might affect the client and choose the response that is safest. 
Aside from studying up on the nursing content, make sure to:
  • Review the test blueprint: You want to know what to expect! 
  • Enroll in a review course: Consider taking a Next Gen NCLEX review course. These courses provide a structured study plan, expert guidance, and comprehensive resources that cover all test areas. Check out Lecturio’s full NCLEX prep course here → 
  • Practice with sample NGN questions in the new format: Make use of Next Gen NCLEX practice questions. Regular practice with these questions helps you become familiar with the new item types and formatting, ensuring there are no surprises on exam day. 
Increase your confidence: Focus on developing your clinical judgment and decision-making skills, as well as finding your most effective study techniques. Check out study hacks here →

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