Next Generation NCLEX 2023: What Nursing Students Need to Know for Taking the New NCLEX

[Updated March 30, 2023]

Did you hear that the NCLEX is changing a bit on April 1, 2023? Here’s a list of the important stuff Nursing Students need to know for taking the Next Generation NGN NCLEX exam in 2023.

The Basics

The new NCLEX exam is composed of the current test item types and new test item types
The new types of test questions are called NGN items
The test will be from 85-150 questions and there will be 15 pilot questions that don’t count for your score in the first 85 questions
You have 5 hours to complete the test which includes any time used for breaks
Anyone that takes the test April 1, 2023 or later will be taking the NGN NCLEX

Types of Questions

There are 2 new types of NGN items/questions:
- 1) Unfolding case study (NGN case study) with 1 client and 6 questions
- 2) Stand-alone item with 1 client and 1 question
- Both types present a clinical scenario and include part of a medical record
There will be 3 unfolding case studies on the NGN NCLEX with a total of 18 questions
There will be between 7-14 stand alone items on the the NGN NCLEX (~10% of the test)
The rest of the questions will be the traditional NCLEX item questions where there is just one answer for a multiple choice question, traditional SATA, or an alternate format question
- Less than 5% of the NCLEX exam is alternate format
Partial credit for any SATA or NGN item
Normal lab values will be provided when appropriate

Passing Standard

The passing standard will not change
The passing standard is 0.00 logits for RN and it has been the same since 2014!

Nursing Content

The nursing content you have already learned is the same content you will get tested on (assuming you graduated recently or used an updated resource)
The distribution of content did change a little bit, with more emphasis on safety and infection control and less emphasis on management of care

Where to practice NGN items

Saunders NGN: https://www.amazon.com/Strategies-Student-Success-Generation-NCLEX%C2%AE/dp/0323872298/ref=sr_1_3?crid=21KQFWV122GQZ&keywords=saunders+ngn&qid=1678739447&sprefix=saunders+ngn%2Caps%2C273&sr=8-3
- 35 6-question case studies (210 individual items in case studies)
- 74 NGN stand alone questions
- $49.49 for the book

Kaplan: https://www.kaptest.com/nclex
- As of March 31, 2023, the Kaplan people tell me that of their NCLEX Q-Bank, 20% of the questions are NGN items and 80% of the questions are the traditional questions but “no hard numbers”
- $229 for 180 days (Qbank + 1 CAT exam)

Nursing Mastery app: https://groups.builtbyhlt.com/thenclextutor?sc=101220000310603
- The tabs for the case studies are not working in android, but do work with iphone and computer
- 12 6-question case studies (72 individual items in case studies)
- 104 NGN style stand alone questions
- $32.99/month

Archer Review: https://archerreview.com/about-nclex-rn
- 220 NGN items (this is probably all the case studies questions and stand alones)
- $109 for 90 days

Do you know of a good resource for practicing NGN items? Let me know by posting a comment on my youtube channel (from the video below) or go here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNCLEXTutor