Medline Academy® educational guide, updated October 21, 2026.
Essential facts
For answers to common misconceptions about NCLEX-RN pass percentages, CAT, and examinations ending at 85 or 150 questions, read our 25 NCLEX-RN myths vs facts (2026–2027).
The NCLEX-RN passing standard is 0.00 logits through March 31, 2029. The 2026–2029 NCLEX-RN Test Plan applies from April 1, 2026. The computerized adaptive examination contains 85–150 items and lasts a maximum of five hours. A logit is an ability measurement unit, not a percentage of correct answers. The NCLEX-PN standard of −0.18 logits is different.
How NCLEX determines passing
Worked examples: 85 items, maximum length and running out of time
The NCLEX-RN uses three official CAT pass/fail decision rules. The following examples are fictional illustrations of the rules, not candidate score reports or predictions. The official NCLEX computerized adaptive testing guide and 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan explain these rules.
Example A: examination ends at 85 questions
Candidate A completes the minimum of 85 items. CAT determines with 95% statistical certainty that the candidate’s ability is above the 0.00-logit RN passing standard; the candidate passes. Candidate B also stops at 85, but CAT determines with 95% certainty that ability is below the standard; the candidate fails. Therefore, 85 questions can mean either result. Neither the number of difficult-looking items nor how confident the candidate felt proves an outcome.
Example B: examination continues to 150 questions
Candidate C stays close to the passing standard, so the test reaches the 150-item maximum without an earlier 95% confidence decision. CAT then disregards the 95% confidence-interval stopping requirement and uses the final ability estimate. An estimate at or above 0.00 logits passes; an estimate below 0.00 logits fails. Finishing all 150 items does not mean automatic failure.
Example C: the five-hour time limit expires
Candidate D runs out of time after completing only 82 items. Because the minimum 85 items were not completed, the result is a fail. Candidate E runs out of time after 110 completed items; because the minimum was reached, CAT uses the final ability estimate from all completed items. The candidate passes if that estimate is at or above the passing standard and fails if it is below. The rule is not that everyone who runs out of time fails.
| Situation | Official rule | What students should understand |
|---|---|---|
| Stops at 85 or later under 95% confidence | Confidence interval entirely above or below standard | Either passing or failing is possible |
| Reaches 150 items | Final ability estimate compared with standard | Can pass or fail at maximum length |
| Time expires before 85 completed items | Minimum length not met | Fail |
| Time expires after at least 85, before 150 | Final ability estimate determines outcome | Can pass or fail |
Practical examination advice: Pace yourself to answer at least the minimum number of items, but do not rush through clinical judgment scenarios. CAT does not reward guessing a pass from question count.
Computerized adaptive testing estimates ability relative to the passing standard. Under the 95% confidence interval rule, CAT can stop after the minimum length when sufficiently certain ability is above or below the standard. At the maximum of 150 items, the final ability estimate determines the result. If time expires before 85 items, the result is failing; after at least 85 items, the final ability estimate is used.
Can you pass with 85, 100, 120 or 150 questions?
Yes. Passing and failing are possible at 85 questions, and passing remains possible at 150. Question count alone cannot reveal the outcome. There is no official universal passing percentage such as 60%, 70% or 75%.
NGN scoring and clinical judgment
Applicable Next Generation NCLEX items use zero/one, plus/minus or rationale scoring approaches, including partial credit where applicable. These do not change the 0.00-logit RN standard. Clinical judgment involves recognizing cues, analyzing cues, prioritizing hypotheses, generating solutions, taking action and evaluating outcomes.
For worked SATA, Matrix Grid, Cloze and Bow-Tie examples, see our NCLEX-RN NGN Question Types and Partial-Credit Scoring Guide (2026–2029).
Official NCSBN pass rates
Official 2025 NCLEX-RN pass rates — U.S. licensure (full calendar year)
The following concise comparison is based on NCSBN’s 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics, published in June 2026. It covers candidates taking the NCLEX-RN for U.S. licensure during January 1–December 31, 2025. The population and number of attempts matter when interpreting a percentage.
| Candidate group (U.S. licensure, 2025) | Tested | Passed | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-time, U.S.-educated | 192,916 | 167,272 | 86.7% |
| First-time, internationally educated | 52,827 | 24,999 | 47.3% |
| Repeat, U.S.-educated | 42,513 | 22,404 | 52.7% |
| Repeat, internationally educated | 40,187 | 12,271 | 30.5% |
Source and reporting period: NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics, Table 1 (page 9, June 2026). These are aggregated official U.S.-licensure examination figures, not Medline Academy’s student outcomes. They do not describe candidates seeking Canadian or Australian licensure and should not be compared directly with an institution’s student-reported results. Individual outcomes cannot be predicted from a group pass rate.
2025 NCLEX-RN results for nurses educated in India
NCSBN also reports first-time NCLEX-RN results by country of nursing education. For the full 2025 calendar year, candidates educated in India had different outcomes depending on whether they were applying for U.S. licensure or Canadian licensure/registration:
| First-time NCLEX-RN candidates educated in India (2025) | Candidates tested | Candidates passed | Official pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. licensure | 4,866 | 1,622 | 33.3% |
| Canadian licensure/registration | 4,559 | 1,442 | 31.6% |
Official source: NCSBN, 2025 NCLEX Examination Statistics (June 2026), Table 9 (U.S. licensure, India row) and Table 11 (Canadian licensure, India row). The figures identify country of nursing education, not citizenship, a particular coaching institution, or all examination attempts. These official first-time country-group statistics must not be compared directly with Medline Academy’s student-reported 2025–2026 programme outcomes; the populations, reporting periods and collection methods are different.
How to interpret first-time, repeat and internationally educated results
The NCSBN NCLEX Pass Rates Dashboard provides official examination volumes and passing percentages by reporting year, education programme and candidate type. Use the same reporting period and examination before comparing categories; a pass rate is not a prediction of an individual student’s outcome.
| Official reporting category | What it means | How to read it correctly |
|---|---|---|
| First-time NCLEX-RN candidates | Candidates taking the RN examination for the first time in the defined reporting population | Do not combine with retakers when comparing first-attempt success |
| Repeat NCLEX-RN candidates | Candidates retaking the RN examination after an earlier attempt | Compare against repeat-candidate data, not automatically against first-time rates |
| U.S.-educated NCLEX-RN candidates | Candidate group classified by U.S. nursing education | Education location is not the same as nationality or test-centre location |
| Internationally educated NCLEX-RN candidates | Candidate group classified by nursing education outside the United States | May include many countries; do not describe this as an India-only rate |
| NCLEX-PN statistics | Separate practical/vocational nursing examination population | Do not use PN rates as RN rates |
How to calculate and compare a pass rate
Pass rate = (number who passed ÷ number who tested) × 100. For example, a hypothetical group with 780 passes among 1,000 examinees has a 78% pass rate. This is a teaching example, not an NCSBN statistic. Always document the numerator, denominator, examination, year and candidate group when publishing a real percentage.
How to check the latest official data
- Open the NCSBN official pass-rate dashboard.
- Select the reporting year available on the dashboard; a calendar year may not yet have complete published data.
- Choose NCLEX-RN rather than NCLEX-PN.
- Review the first-time or repeater and U.S.-educated or internationally educated categories relevant to the question.
- Record both pass rate and candidate volume, plus the year and source URL.
Important limitations: A rate from one year must not be represented as the current rate for a different year. A country’s testing volume is not its passing percentage. Nationality, residence, test-centre country and country of nursing education describe different characteristics. NCSBN notes that its live dashboard and prior static reports can differ because data may be reconciled. See also the NCSBN NCLEX Fact Sheets for international candidate volumes.
Consult the official NCSBN pass-rate dashboard. Compare the same reporting year, examination, first-time or repeat status, and U.S.-educated or internationally educated candidate population. A candidate count is not a pass rate. India-specific pass percentages must come from a stated official dataset: for example, NCSBN’s 2025 report publishes country-of-education figures in Tables 9 and 11, reproduced in summary above. They should not be invented or inferred from unrelated candidate totals.
Official versus academy-reported results
Official NCSBN statistics differ from institution-reported learner outcomes. Medline Academy’s 99% figure refers to student-reported outcomes among qualifying 2025–2026 respondents who completed its full programme and reported an outcome. It is not an official NCSBN pass rate, an independently audited figure or an all-enrollee rate. See the results verification methodology.
Results timeline
NCLEX-RN result timeline: United States, India, Canada and Australia
The official NCLEX results guidance states that only the nursing regulatory body (NRB) provides official examination results, generally within six weeks. The Quick Results service is an optional, paid unofficial service only for candidates seeking U.S. licensure through participating nursing regulatory bodies.
| Candidate pathway | Unofficial Quick Results | Official results | Practical next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. licensure applicant | May be available after two business days, only if the selected U.S. NRB participates | Issued by the U.S. NRB, generally within six weeks | Check Pearson for eligibility; follow the board’s official instructions |
| Indian nurse applying to a U.S. board | Same U.S.-board eligibility rule; being in India does not itself disqualify the candidate | Issued by the chosen U.S. NRB, generally within six weeks | Check the selected board and the Pearson candidate account, not rumours about the test centre |
| Canadian registration applicant | U.S. Quick Results service not available for Canadian registration | Issued through the relevant Canadian nursing regulator; allow for the official NCLEX results process | Follow province or territory regulator instructions |
| Australian registration applicant | U.S. Quick Results service not available for Australian registration | Follow Ahpra/NMBA registration and examination-result instructions; processing steps may differ | Use the Australian regulator’s authorised channels for assessment and registration |
After the NCLEX exam: what happens next?
- Exam day: Complete the exam. The test centre does not confirm your pass/fail status.
- After two business days: If applying for U.S. licensure via a participating NRB, check whether unofficial Quick Results are available. Do not interpret them as a nursing licence.
- Within the official results window: Wait for the designated NRB’s official examination result; NCSBN states this is sent within six weeks.
- After six weeks without official results: Contact the NRB, as instructed by NCLEX. Pearson, NCSBN and the test centre do not issue individual official results.
- Licensure or registration: Follow the regulator’s remaining steps; passing NCLEX and being licensed or registered are distinct milestones.
Timing clarification: The official Quick Results page says two business days; this is not a promise of results at an exact minute after 48 clock hours. Service eligibility is determined by the jurisdiction where licensure is sought, not simply the physical testing location. The availability of a nursing registration or licence is not guaranteed by the Quick Results display.
Eligible candidates applying through participating U.S. nursing regulatory bodies can access unofficial Quick Results after two business days, subject to the service fee and availability. Official results are provided by the nursing regulatory body, generally within six weeks. Unofficial results do not authorize nursing practice. Passing NCLEX alone does not guarantee issuance of a licence.
How to check NCLEX Quick Results
Sign in to the official Pearson NCLEX candidate account, locate the Quick Results service if available, follow the payment instructions and view the unofficial outcome. The NCLEX website lists a fee of US$7.95; verify the current fee before payment. Two business days does not necessarily mean precisely 48 clock hours.
Indian nurses, Canada and Australia
Indian nurses applying for U.S. licensure may be eligible for Quick Results if their selected U.S. nursing regulatory body participates, regardless of their residence. Candidates seeking registration in Canada or Australia should follow their respective regulators’ instructions rather than assume the U.S. Quick Results service applies. Passing the exam does not independently guarantee registration, employment or immigration approval. See the U.S. nursing board selection guide.
Is the Pearson VUE Trick reliable?
No. Registration or payment messages are not authorized pass/fail notifications. Avoid repeated payment attempts to guess an outcome. Use official regulator notifications or eligible Quick Results.
If you do not pass NCLEX
Unsuccessful candidates may receive a Candidate Performance Report (CPR), which provides relative performance information, not a list of exactly which items were answered correctly. Retake timing and eligibility depend on the nursing regulator. See the NCLEX retake and CPR guide.
Common myths
Myth: You need 75% correct. Fact: No universal fixed passing percentage exists. Myth: 85 items guarantees a pass. Fact: Both results are possible. Myth: 150 items means failure. Fact: Candidates can pass at maximum length. Myth: Quick Results are official. Fact: Official results come from the nursing regulatory body.
About Medline Academy®
Medline Academy is a Kerala-based, founder-led NCLEX-RN education institution established in 2016. Its Malayalam-English live online teaching is led by Ainstin S Dennis, MSc Nursing (Psychiatric Nursing), and Tincy Mathew, MSc Nursing (Pediatric Nursing). The academy does not administer NCLEX, set its passing standard, issue official results or guarantee licensure. Learn about the Medline Academy teaching model and 2026 NCLEX-RN test plan.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the NCLEX-RN passing standard for 2026–2029?
0.00 logits through March 31, 2029. It is an ability threshold, not a percentage.
2. Can I pass NCLEX-RN with 85 questions?
Yes, but a candidate can also fail at 85. The item count alone does not confirm the result.
3. Where can I find official pass rates for internationally educated nurses?
Use the official NCSBN NCLEX Pass Rates Dashboard and select the appropriate year and candidate population.
4. How many days does it take to receive results?
Eligible U.S. candidates may see unofficial Quick Results after two business days; official results generally arrive through the regulator within six weeks.
5. Are Quick Results available to Indian nurses?
They may be available to eligible Indian nurses applying through participating U.S. nursing regulatory bodies.
Official references
- NCLEX Passing Standard
- NCLEX Test Plans
- 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan PDF
- NCSBN Pass Rates Dashboard
- NCLEX Quick Results
Editorial status: Published October 19, 2026. Educational information only; official NCSBN and nursing-regulator requirements control.