- 163 items in 3 hours: Verbal 50 scored, Mathematics 40 scored, Science 55 scored, plus 18 unscored pilot items.
- Science carries the most weight at 38% of the scored test, led by Biology at 14%.
- There is no pass/fail line - scores are percentile ranks against separate RN and LPN/VN norm groups.
- Composite score runs 0-300; the 50th percentile equals 145 for RN and 143 for LPN/VN applicants.
The NLN PAX (NEX) in 60 Seconds
The exam that most people still call the NLN PAX is now formally the Nursing Entrance Exam (NEX), released February 11, 2024, by the National League for Nursing's Assessment Services division. The legacy PAX form was retired after May 31, 2024, so any nursing program that still references "NLN PAX" on its admissions page is, in practice, administering the NEX today. If you tested before June 2024, don't panic - many programs still accept those older PAX scores.
This cheat sheet is a condensed, print-and-tape-to-your-wall version of everything a candidate needs to know before test day. For a deeper walkthrough of strategy, see the NLN PAX Study Guide 2026, and for a domain-by-domain breakdown of content, check the NLN PAX Exam Domains 2026 guide.
Exam Format at a Glance
The NEX is delivered as a Linear-On-The-Fly Test (LOFT), meaning every candidate gets a unique form built to the same blueprint, so no two test-takers see an identical set of questions - but every form measures the same content in the same proportions. It's given in one proctored sitting, either at an approved on-campus testing center or virtually through a live Proctor360 proctor.
| Section | Scored Items | Pilot Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal | 50 | 8 | 60 minutes |
| Mathematics | 40 | 5 | 60 minutes |
| Science | 55 | 5 | 60 minutes |
| Total | 145 | 18 | 3 hours |
Every one of the 163 items is four-option multiple choice. There's no penalty for guessing - but an unanswered item counts as incorrect, so never leave a question blank. A basic four-function calculator is built into the testing interface for Mathematics, so you won't need to bring your own. For a plain-language look at whether this format is tough to manage under time pressure, see How Hard Is the NLN PAX Exam?
Key Takeaway
Pilot items look identical to scored items and are mixed in without warning, so treat every question on the screen as if it counts.
Scoring Snapshot
The NLN does not set a universal passing or failing mark. Instead, your raw performance on each of the three subject tests is converted into a percentile rank, compared against a norm-reference group - and since November 1, 2025, the NLN reports these ranks separately for RN and LPN/VN applicant pools. Your composite score is simply the sum of your three subject percentile ranks, producing a scale from 0 to 300.
- 50th percentile composite = 145 for RN applicants
- 50th percentile composite = 143 for LPN/VN applicants
- Each nursing program sets its own minimum acceptance threshold
Because there's no fixed cutoff from the NLN itself, "passing" is entirely program-dependent. If you want the full mechanics behind these numbers, read NLN PAX Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Score reports become available shortly after testing, and they come with a diagnostic Coaching Report that breaks your performance down two ways: by content area (Verbal, Mathematics, Science) and by cognitive dimension - Knowledge, Application, Interpretation, and Logic and Reasoning. Use that second breakdown to figure out whether you're missing questions because you don't know the material or because you're misreading how it's being applied.
All 11 Domains, One Line Each
Every scored item on the NEX maps to one of eleven domains. Memorize these weights before you build a study plan - they tell you exactly where your review hours should go. For expanded content coverage of each area, see the complete domains guide.
Domain 1 & 2: Verbal - Word Knowledge (17%) & Reading Comprehension (17%)
Together these make Verbal the second-largest section at 34% of the scored test.
- Word Knowledge tests vocabulary in context - context clues matter more than memorized word lists
- Reading Comprehension asks you to pull main ideas, inferences, and details from short passages
Domains 3-6: Mathematics (28% combined)
Numbers and Operations (8%), Measurement (10%), Algebra (5%), and Data and Information (5%) make up the Mathematics section.
- Data and Information is new to the NEX - practice reading tables, charts, and basic statistics
- Extended geometry and physics-style problems were removed in the PAX-to-NEX transition, so don't waste time on them
Domains 7-11: Science (38% combined - the largest section)
Biology (14%), Human Anatomy (8%), Human Physiology (8%), Chemistry (3%), and Health (6%).
- Biology alone outweighs any single Mathematics domain - prioritize it heavily
- Anatomy and Physiology together (16%) are essentially "the body," so study them as one connected unit
- Chemistry is the smallest domain on the whole exam at just 3%
Registration, Fees & Retake Rules
Effective March 1, 2026, NLN pricing is $59.00 for a school-paid, on-campus administration and $80.00 for a virtual administration proctored live through Proctor360 - before any additional fee your institution charges for administering the test. If you need to schedule a virtual session inside 48 hours, or reschedule one inside 24 hours, Proctor360 adds a $30 rush fee. There is a strict no-refund policy, so confirm your test date and format before you pay.
- Prerequisite to sit for the exam: a high school diploma or GED
- Retake wait: 30 days minimum between attempts on the same exam, unless your school sets a different frequency
- Many schools cap the total number of lifetime attempts - check with your program directly
For the complete cost breakdown, including how institutional fees stack on top of NLN's base pricing, see NLN PAX Certification Cost 2026, and for testing windows and scheduling logistics, see NLN PAX Exam Dates 2026. Basic eligibility details are also covered in the NLN PAX Requirements guide.
A One-Week Cheat-Sheet Review Plan
If exam day is close and you just need a final, tightly focused pass through the material - not a full study cycle - allocate your remaining days by domain weight, not by personal preference. Heavier domains get more review sessions; lighter domains get a single focused pass.
Science Deep Review (38%)
- Biology first - it's the single heaviest domain on the entire exam
- Anatomy and Physiology together as one connected review block
- End with a quick Chemistry and Health pass - small weight, fast review
Verbal Sharpening (34%)
- Word Knowledge: run vocabulary flashcards in short bursts, focus on context-based guessing
- Reading Comprehension: practice timed passages so you finish within the 60-minute section limit
Mathematics Cleanup (28%)
- Measurement and Numbers/Operations get the most time - they carry the most weight
- Data and Information: practice reading tables and charts since this content is newer to the exam
- Algebra: a quick review of basic equation-solving is usually enough
Full-Length Simulation
- Take a complete timed practice run across all three sections back-to-back
- Review your Knowledge vs. Application vs. Interpretation vs. Logic and Reasoning breakdown afterward
Once your remaining days are gone, stop cramming new material and instead run one more full simulation on our practice test platform so the three-hour pacing feels familiar before you walk into the real session.
Who Actually Uses This Score
Nursing programs - associate, diploma, and bachelor's-level RN and LPN/VN tracks alike - use NEX scores as one part of a holistic admissions decision. Because the NLN itself sets no universal cutoff, the same composite score that clears one program's minimum might fall short at another. That's exactly why comparing your results to national percentile benchmarks, rather than a single fixed number, matters more with this exam than with pass/fail credentialing tests. If you're trying to figure out how much weight to put on this single score versus other admissions factors, the analysis in Is the NLN PAX Certification Worth It? is worth reading before test day, not after.
You can also browse more background on the exam's identity and history - including how it's referenced across different program materials - in What Is NLN PAX?, NLN PAX Meaning, and What Does NLN PAX Stand For?.
Common Mix-Ups to Avoid
- Confusing PAX with NEX branding. If your program's paperwork says "NLN PAX," assume you're being scheduled for the current NEX format unless told otherwise.
- Studying removed content. Physics and extended geometry are gone. Don't burn review hours there - put that time into Biology or Reading Comprehension instead.
- Ignoring the Data and Information domain. It's new, it's easy to underweight in stale study material, and it's worth 5% on its own.
- Leaving items blank. Since unanswered items count as incorrect and there's no guessing penalty, always select an answer before time runs out.
- Assuming a national passing score exists. It doesn't. Your job is to hit your specific program's minimum, not a universal number.
Run a handful of timed practice sets on paxexam.com's practice platform to confirm you understand every item's four-option format before test day - familiarity with the question style matters as much as content knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for anyone testing today. The PAX was retired after May 31, 2024, and the NEX fully replaced it starting February 11, 2024. Programs that still say "NLN PAX" are administering the NEX.
There are 163 total items across three 60-minute sections (Verbal, Mathematics, Science) for 3 hours total. Of those, 145 are scored and 18 are unscored pilot items you can't identify during the test.
The NLN sets no fixed passing score. Results are reported as percentile ranks against RN or LPN/VN norm groups, with a 0-300 composite scale. Each nursing program decides its own minimum acceptable score.
As of March 1, 2026, NLN pricing is $59.00 for on-campus administration and $80.00 for virtual administration via Proctor360, before institutional fees. Rush scheduling or rescheduling inside the 48/24-hour windows adds a $30 Proctor360 fee, and there are no refunds.
The NLN requires a minimum 30-day wait between attempts unless your school specifies a different frequency. Many schools also cap how many total attempts you're allowed, so confirm your program's specific policy.