What Is the Passing Score on the NCLEX Nursing Exam?

Candidates pass or fail the National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX, nursing exam based on computer-tested competency levels instead of scores. The NCLEX exam uses Computerized Adapted Testing, or CAT, technology, to achieve fairer and more accurate test results.

Instead of a passing score, the NCLEX exam uses a computerized system that adapts to a candidate’s ability level. As long as candidates achieve a competency level above the passing standard, they pass the exam. For each correctly answered question, a candidate’s ability level increases by a step while each wrong answer brings it down a step. The questions increase in difficulty as a candidate answers correctly.