Is 70% Enough to Pass NCLEX? No, 70% is not enough to pass the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN—the exam uses Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) with a pass/fail system based on a logit passing standard, not a percentage of correct answers. The NCSBN sets the RN standard at 0.00 logits and PN at -0.18 logits (updated April 2023). You pass when the system is 95% confident your ability exceeds this threshold, regardless of raw percentage. On average, passers answer 50–60% correctly but at a higher difficulty level than failers. A 70% practice score on Nurselytic or Archer predicts >95% pass probability, but the real exam never shows a percentage.
Is 70% Enough to Pass NCLEX: Why NCLEX Passing Isn’t About 70% Correct
CAT adjusts question difficulty in real time. Answer correctly → harder question; incorrectly → easier. The exam stops at 75–265 questions (RN) or 85–205 (PN) once confidence is reached.
- Minimum to pass: Consistently answer medium-to-high difficulty questions correctly.
- 70% myth: Comes from misinterpreting practice test percentages—not applicable to live NCLEX.
- NCSBN data (2025): 92.1% first-time U.S. RN pass rate; no correlation to 70% raw score.
What 70% on Practice Tests Means for NCLEX Pass
- UWorld/Nurselytic 70%+ average: 99% pass likelihood (their 2025 stats).
- 60–69%: 90–95% pass chance.
- Below 60%: <70% pass—extend study. Focus on question difficulty trend, not percentage. Sustained “above passing standard” in CAT simulations = ready.
NCLEX Passing Standard 2025: Logits Explained
- RN: 0.00 logits = minimum competency.
- PN: -0.18 logits.
- 95% confidence rule: Exam continues until statistically certain you’re above or below.
- Next-Gen NCLEX (NGN): Case studies, bowtie, matrix—same logit standard.
How to Guarantee NCLEX Pass (Not Just 70%)
- Study 200–300 hours over 8–12 weeks.
- Complete 2,000+ practice questions (Nurselytic priority).
- Master prioritization, delegation, SATA (30% of exam).
- Take 4–6 CAT exams—stop at 75 questions with “pass” prediction.
- Remediate every wrong answer—rationale + retest.
Red Flags: When 70% Practice Isn’t Enough
- Inconsistent scores (50% one day, 80% next).
- Weak in Pharm, Psych, or NGN items.
- 2 years since graduation. → Add 4 weeks with Hurst or Mark Klimek.
Final Verdict: 70% NCLEX Practice = Strong Pass Predictor
70% on adaptive Q-banks = excellent—you’ll likely pass in <100 questions. Ignore raw % on test day. Trust your trend line above passing. Register, study smart, and see “PASS” in 48 hours.