How many questions are on the NCLEX?
The NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN have 85 to 150 questions. See what the first 85 contain, why the exam stops, and how REx-PN differs.
- NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN: 85 to 150 questions in five hours.
- 15 of them are unscored pretest questions.
- REx-PN: 90 to 150 questions in four hours, 30 unscored.
- The number of questions you get does not tell you whether you passed.
The NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN each have a minimum of 85 questions and a maximum of 150. The exam is adaptive, so it stops as soon as the computer is 95% certain that you are above or below the passing standard.
Sources checked 6 October 2026.
The numbers for each exam
The 2026 test plans set the same length for both NCLEX exams. They apply from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. REx-PN is a little different.
| Exam | Fewest questions | Most questions | Unscored questions | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN | 85 | 150 | 15 | 5 hours |
| NCLEX-PN | 85 | 150 | 15 | 5 hours |
| REx-PN | 90 | 150 | 30 | 4 hours |
What the first 85 questions contain
Every candidate answers at least 85 questions. The test plan says what they are made of.
- 52 questions come from the eight content areas of the test plan.
- 18 questions form three clinical judgment case studies. Each case study has six linked questions.
- 15 questions are pretest questions. They are not scored, and you cannot tell them apart from scored ones.
REx-PN has no case studies. Its 90 to 150 questions include 30 unscored pretest questions.
Why the exam stops when it does
After each answer, the computer estimates your ability again and picks the next question to match it. One of three rules ends the exam.
- The 95% confidence rule. Once you have answered the minimum number of questions, the exam stops when the computer is 95% certain that your ability is clearly above or clearly below the passing standard. This is the most common ending.
- The maximum-length rule. If your ability stays close to the standard, you keep getting questions until you reach 150. The computer then uses your final ability estimate. At or above the standard is a pass.
- The run-out-of-time rule. If time ends before you have answered the minimum number of questions, you fail. If you have answered the minimum, the computer uses your final ability estimate from the questions you completed.
What your question count tells you
Very little. The test plan says that the length of your exam is not an indication of a pass or fail result. You can pass or fail at 85 questions, and you can pass or fail at 150.
How to pace yourself
Plan for the longest exam. Five hours for 150 questions works out to two minutes a question, and the five hours include your breaks. You cannot go back to a question after you submit it, so read each one carefully the first time.
The way to learn that pace is to sit a timed exam before the day. Medibara's full adaptive mock runs under exam rules: the clock runs, answers lock when you move on, and rationales wait until the end. A quick mock gives you the same rules in a shorter sitting.
If you are still building your schedule, the study plan builder lays out your weeks from your exam date. For the clock on the day, see how long the NCLEX is.