You Need More Than Just the NCLEX® Test Plan
Using an NCLEX® test plan gives future nurses a go-to guide and a strong foundation when preparing for the NCLEX®. But it’s most valuable when combined with other study materials.
The plan, created by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), is formulated through surveys of new graduate nurses that are conducted every three years with the goal of preparing future nurses for the exam, guiding “item development” and how the item types are classified.
Because the NCLEX® test plan has a three-year shelf life, prep programs like Slone NCLEX serve as one of many supplemental resources. But we don’t discount the value that the plan has in setting up a solid foundation for your study plan.
Why is the NCLEX® Test Plan Important?
The year-to-date 2024 pass rate for RNs taking the NCLEX® was 76.76% (data is not yet available for October through December), including first-time and repeat candidates and U.S. and internationally educated. If you want to be among those who pass on the first attempt, the NCLEX® test plan is a perfect place to start.
The NCSBN-provided plan is a more than 50-page document that outlines what topics you need to study, how the exam itself is administered, and includes practice questions. Using this as a guide, you can figure out where you need to focus your studies.
If after reviewing the document, you realize that the Next-Generation NCLEX® (NGN) questions are tripping you up more than others, make those a priority. If learning about the structure of the exam brings up feelings of anxiety, consider taking multiple practice tests to familiarize yourself with the flow of the exam.
How to Supplement the NCLEX® Test Plan
Your supplemental NCLEX® test plan materials should be multi-faceted, including official documents from NCSBN, prep programs like Slone NCLEX, cram sheets, and practice tests, among other items.
The more approaches you bring to your plan, the more equipped you’ll be on exam day.
Beyond the tangible items, you should also consider implementing various theories or strategies into your NCLEX® test plan.
A scoping review published in September 2023 in Nursing Open found that active learning was one of the most frequently used strategies, followed by:
- Faculty coaching and supporting
- NCLEX-RN®-style question exposure
- NCLEX-RN® review course and products
- Remediation or tutoring for at-risk students
- Simulation
From a theory perspective, the study found Tanners clinical judgement model used more often than not. The authors noted a plethora of similarities between the Tanners model and the NCBSN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model, which is part of the NGN exam.
But if this becomes too much, just keep it simple. Stick to 200 to 400 practice questions per day, focusing on areas you noted when reviewing NCLEX® test plan and incorporating prep programs like Slone NCLEX whenever possible.
The Bottom Line
The NCSBN NCLEX® test plan is an important document to kickstart your preparation for exam day. However, it’s best supplemented with materials like a prep program, study groups, and taking daily practice questions.