How to Read Your NLN-Pax Score

Did you just take the National League for Nursing entrance exam (NLN-Pax) to get into nursing school? Are you trying to figure out how to make heads or tails out of your score? Well, I took the exam and I'll break down how to read your score results and tell you what they mean.

Your NLN-Pax score-Number of test questions

The NLN-Pax score is based on 160 questions in 3 subjects: 60 verbal; 40 math; 60 science. There are more than 160 questions on the actual exam, but some of these are 'test' questions that will not count towards your final score. You will not know which questions are test questions and which ones are not.

Your NLN-Pax score-Composite score

This score reflects how you did on the exam as a whole, but not how many questions you got right. It's just a standard based on how a reference group performed on the NLN-Pax overall. The average score is 100 and most students score between 50-100. The highest possible score is 200.

Your NLN-Pax score-Composite percentile score

This percentile comes in three categories based on the types of nursing schools there are: DI is for diploma programs like those in hospitals; AD is for Associate's Degree nursing programs; All is for all institutions that have nursing programs- 2 and 4 year colleges and diploma schools. Percentile scores can be between 0 and 99. and are based on the percentage of a reference group who got similar scores to you. Let's say your percentile is 87 under diploma programs (DI). That means you scored as well or better than 87 percent of people who took the NLN-Pax and applied to diploma nursing school programs. You should look at the percentile score based on what type of program you are applying for.

Your NLN-Pax score-Raw score and percentiles

The raw score breaks down how many questions your got right in each subject. If your raw score for verbal is 52, that mean you got 52 questions out of 60 correct. The percentiles tell you how well your score stacked up compared to the reference group who took this exam and schools they applied to. So if your raw score of 52 in verbal shows a 98 percentile in DI, that means 98% of reference group who took the NLN-Pax and applied to diploma school programs got a raw score of 52 or less in the verbal section.

Your NLN-Pax score-When do I get my score?

Since the NLN-Pax is a computerized test, you will get your results immediately after completing the test. A paper copy of your results will also be mailed to you.

Your NLN-Pax score-Did I do good?

Most students score around the 50th percentile. The higher above the 50th percentile you go, the better your performance. It also indicates what percentage of people scored as well as you. If you scored in the 74th percentile, approximately 26% of people who took this test got your score or higher. It does NOT indicate the percentage of questions you answered correctly. It is up to each school to determine whether or not your score is acceptable for their nursing program.

Your NLN-Pax score-Who is this reference group?

Your test results will show who the 'norm' or 'reference' group is your score is being compared to.

Sources:

Personal experience and my NLN-Pax test results