Free NCLEX®-style practice exam
Free NCLEX practice test
Sit a full-length practice exam drawn from 5,000+ original NCLEX-style questions across eight nursing topics and four question formats. Every answer is explained and cited to a real clinical source — so a practice test becomes a study session, not just a score. No signup required to start.
5,000+
original NCLEX-style questions, every answer explained and cited
8
nursing topics, from pharmacology to leadership
4
question formats: multiple choice, SATA, ordered response, dosage fill-in
$0
no signup and no payment required to start practicing
What’s on the test
Four NCLEX-style question formats
The NCLEX is more than multiple choice, so practicing only one format leaves gaps. Our practice exam mixes all four of the formats you will meet on test day, each written to test judgment rather than memorization.
Multiple choice
One best answer from four options — the classic NCLEX-style item. Most stems are short clinical scenarios that ask what to assess, do, or teach first, not simple recall.
Select all that apply (SATA)
Two or more correct options from a list, with no partial credit. SATA rewards knowing each option on its own merits instead of comparing them against one another.
Ordered response
Put steps in the correct sequence — a procedure, a nursing process, or an emergency response. These test whether you know not just the actions but their order.
Dosage fill-in
Compute the number and type it, the way a real medication pass works — unit conversions, weight-based dosing, and IV rates, each with a worked solution and stated rounding rule.
Eight topics in one exam
Every major nursing topic the exam draws from
The mixed practice exam pulls from all eight topics at once. Prefer to focus? Open any topic to drill it on its own, then come back for a full-length mixed test.
PHARM
Pharmacology
Drug classes, safe dosing, and the side effects that show up on every exam.
MEDSURG
Medical-Surgical
Adult health across body systems — the core of NCLEX-style practice.
PEDS
Pediatrics
Growth, development, and family-centered care from infancy to adolescence.
OB
OB & Maternity
Antepartum through postpartum, labor, and newborn assessment.
PSYCH
Mental Health
Therapeutic communication, crisis care, and psychiatric conditions.
FUND
Fundamentals
Safety, infection control, mobility, and the basics done right.
DOSE
Dosage Calculations
Fill-in dosage problems with worked solutions, step by step.
LEAD
Leadership & Management
Delegation, prioritization, and assignment questions.
Get more from every attempt
How to use a practice test well
Start untimed, in study mode
Read the rationale after every question while you are still building the map. A missed question you understand is worth more than a lucky guess — study mode turns each item into a short lesson.
Switch to timed once concepts stick
The real exam is timed, so rehearse under the clock. Timed mode holds the rationales until the end, which trains you to commit to an answer and move on instead of second-guessing.
Drill your weak topics, not your strong ones
It is tempting to practice what you already know. A free account tracks your score by topic so you can see where you are weakest and spend your time where it changes your outcome.
Mix topics to simulate the real thing
The NCLEX does not warn you which topic is coming next. The mixed practice exam pulls from all eight topics at once, which is closer to test day than drilling one subject in isolation.
Want the concepts first?
Read a study guide, then take the test
A practice test tells you what you missed; our free study guides tell you why. Each one distills a topic into high-yield concepts, the values worth memorizing, and the traps that catch students — the ideal warm-up before a timed run.
Common questions
Free NCLEX practice test, explained
- Is this NCLEX practice test really free?
- Yes. The full question bank and the mixed practice exam are free, with no account and no payment required to start. A free account is optional and only adds saved scores and weak-area tracking by topic.
- How many questions are on the practice test?
- The bank holds 5,000+ original NCLEX-style questions across eight nursing topics. You can take a shorter focused quiz on a single topic or mix all eight into a longer full-length practice exam — you choose the length before you start.
- Do the questions have answer explanations?
- Every question includes a full rationale that explains why the correct answer is right, why the other options are wrong, and cites a real clinical source. In study mode the rationale appears right after you answer; in timed mode it waits until the end.
- Are these the real NCLEX questions?
- No. All questions are original, written by our team for practice and study and modeled on the NCLEX-style formats. NCLEX is a registered trademark of NCSBN, which does not endorse or sponsor this site.
- What is the difference between study mode and timed mode?
- Study mode shows the rationale after each question so you learn as you go; it is best early on. Timed mode holds feedback until the end and puts you under the clock, which rehearses the pressure of the real exam. Both use the same question bank.
- Can I practice for the NCLEX-PN as well as the NCLEX-RN?
- The question bank covers the core nursing content both exams draw from — pharmacology, medical-surgical, pediatrics, OB, mental health, fundamentals, dosage calculations, and leadership. Practice by topic to focus on the areas your exam emphasizes.
All questions and study material on this site are original, written for practice and study only — they are not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional policy, or a licensed provider. NCLEX® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN), which does not endorse or sponsor this site.