How many questions are on the NCLEX-PN? Minimum, maximum and time
The 2026 NCLEX-PN is 85 to 150 questions in five hours, breaks included. Here is what the 85 are made of, how many are unscored, and the three rules that decide when your exam stops.
How many questions are on the NCLEX-PN®? The short answer
The NCLEX-PN® has 85 to 150 questions, and you have five hours, a limit that includes all breaks. That comes from the 2026 NCLEX-PN Test Plan, effective April 2026.
Of the minimum 85, 52 come from the eight content areas, 18 make up three clinical judgment case studies, and 15 are unscored pretest items. The exam is adaptive, so how many you see past 85 depends on your answers, and stopping early does not tell you whether you passed.
What the minimum 85 questions are made of
Every NCLEX-PN candidate answers at least 85 items. The test plan breaks a minimum-length exam into three parts:
| Part of a minimum-length NCLEX-PN | Items | How they count |
|---|---|---|
| Items from the eight content areas | 52 | Scored |
| Three clinical judgment case studies, six items each | 18 | Scored |
| Pretest items, which are on every exam | 15 | Unscored |
| Total at the minimum length | 85 |
Clinical judgment is also measured with approximately 10% stand-alone items, which the plan says are selected depending on exam length. Those sit among the content-area items rather than in a case study.
The 15 unscored pretest items
The test plan says there are 15 pretest items on every examination. The exam needs a known difficulty level for every scored item, and pretest items are how new items get one, so they are not used to estimate your ability or decide pass or fail. The plan also says candidates cannot distinguish pretest items from scored items, so answer every item as if it counts.
The three case studies
Each case study is a set of six items about one client, with each item measuring one step of clinical judgment: recognize cues, analyze cues, prioritize hypotheses, generate solutions, take action and evaluate outcomes. Our guide on how to answer NCLEX case studies walks through each step.
When the NCLEX-PN stops
The NCLEX-PN is a computerized adaptive test. The plan describes three rules that decide when it ends and how it is scored:
- 95% confidence rule: After you reach the minimum number of items, the computer stops when it is 95% certain your ability is clearly above or clearly below the passing standard.
- Maximum-length rule: If you reach 150 items, the computer ignores the 95% rule and uses your final ability estimate. At or above the passing standard is a pass; below it is a fail.
- Run-out-of-time rule: If time runs out before you have answered the minimum number of items, the result is a fail. If you have answered at least the minimum, the exam is scored on the final ability estimate from all completed items.
A short exam is not a verdict. Because the 95% rule works in both directions, an exam that stops at 85 can be a pass or a fail. The test plan also says there is no fixed percentage of candidates who pass or fail. Wait for your official result from your board of nursing.
Five hours, breaks included
The test plan's wording is that the five-hour limit to complete the examination includes all breaks. You can change an answer before moving on, but you cannot return to a previous item, and every item must be answered before the next one appears. The run-out-of-time rule is the reason pacing matters most early on: the one situation that guarantees a fail on time is not reaching 85 items. Past that point, running out of time means you are scored on what you completed.
If you want to rehearse pacing, practice in timed blocks and notice where you slow down, usually on longer case study items. Our guide to how long the NCLEX is covers breaks and timing on the day.
Is the NCLEX-PN length different from the NCLEX-RN?
No. Under the 2026 test plans both exams have the same minimum (85), maximum (150), time limit (five hours with breaks) and the same 52, 18 and 15 split at minimum length. What differs is the content and its weights. The PN plan's largest area is Coordinated Care at 18–24% of items, and the NCLEX-PN is used for U.S. licensure only. See the NCLEX-PN test plan explained for every category.
What this means for how you study
- Prepare for 150, not 85: You cannot choose a short exam. Build the stamina to stay focused for the full length, so a long exam does not feel like a bad sign.
- Practice case studies from the start: Eighteen of the minimum 85 items are case study items, a bigger share than many students expect.
- Study across all eight areas: The 52 content-area items are drawn from all eight categories, so a plan that skips the lighter ones leaves points on the table. How to pass the NCLEX-PN shows one way to divide your time.
PreceptIQ, an NCLEX® coach that studies your mistakes, launches January 5, 2027, on web, iOS and Android at preceptiq.app, with separate RN and PN question banks.
Common questions
How many questions are on the NCLEX-PN?
The 2026 NCLEX-PN has a minimum of 85 questions and a maximum of 150. The exam is computerized adaptive, so the number you see depends on your answers. The five-hour time limit includes all breaks.
How many NCLEX-PN questions are unscored?
Fifteen. The 2026 NCLEX-PN test plan says there are 15 pretest items on every examination, and they do not count toward your result. You cannot tell which items are pretest items, so answer every item as if it counts.
How many case studies are on the NCLEX-PN?
Three. Under the 2026 NCLEX-PN test plan, 18 items on a minimum-length exam make up three clinical judgment case studies of six items each. Approximately 10% stand-alone clinical judgment items are also selected depending on exam length.
If my NCLEX-PN stops at 85 questions, did I pass?
Not necessarily. The exam can stop at the minimum length when the computer is 95% certain your ability is clearly above or clearly below the passing standard, so a short exam can be a pass or a fail. Your official result comes from your board of nursing.
Is the NCLEX-PN shorter than the NCLEX-RN?
No. Under the 2026 test plans both exams have a minimum of 85 items, a maximum of 150 and a five-hour limit including breaks, with the same 52, 18 and 15 split at minimum length. What differs is the content: the PN plan has its own categories and weights, such as Coordinated Care at 18–24%.
NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN®). PreceptIQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCSBN.