There are two families of NCLEX question types. The NCLEX tests clinical judgment through classic items and Next Generation (NGN) formats such as bowtie, matrix, cloze, highlight and six-question case studies. Satapass lets you practise each one, explains how it is scored, and tracks your accuracy by format so the item types that trip you up stop costing you points.
Each card shows what the item asks you to do, a tip on how to approach it, and how the NCLEX scores it. Use the tabs to switch between the classic formats and the Next Generation items.
A question with four options and one best answer. Still the most common item on the exam.
Choose every option that is correct. There can be one correct option or all of them.
Which client to see first, which action comes first, or which task can be delegated to whom.
Drag four to six steps of a procedure or a process into the correct order.
Type a numerical answer such as a dose, an IV rate or an intake and output total.
Click the correct area of an image, such as where to auscultate or where to place an electrode.
A grid of findings or actions. Choose one column for each row, for example expected or unexpected.
A grid where a row or column can have more than one correct answer, such as which actions suit each condition.
Options are split into groups, such as body systems, and you select all that apply within each group.
A sentence or paragraph with gaps. Each gap opens a list and you choose the word that fits.
A two-part statement such as "the client is at risk for X as shown by Y", with a list for each part.
Drag words or phrases from a word bank into the blanks of a sentence or a table.
A table where each cell has a drop-down list, such as choosing the expected value for each lab.
Highlight the words in a note or the cells in a table that answer the question.
Choose the condition in the centre, two actions to take and two parameters to monitor.
Review data over time, such as vitals across a shift, and answer a question on what has changed.
Six linked questions about one client, with the medical record in tabs that update as the case unfolds.
Many NGN items give partial credit, but guessing can also cost you. Knowing which rule applies changes how you answer.
One point for each correct response and nothing for an incorrect one. No points are taken away.
Used for: multiple choice, matrix multiple choice, drop-down and drag-and-drop cloze, drop-down table and bowtie.
Plus one point for each correct option you choose and minus one for each incorrect option, never below zero. Guessing extra options costs you points.
Used for: select all that apply, multiple response grouping and highlight.
Linked answers score together. You earn the point only when both the answer and its reason are correct.
Used for: drop-down rationale and drag-and-drop rationale items.
NGN case studies follow the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model. The six questions in a case study walk through the six steps below, from noticing what matters to checking whether your care worked. Knowing which step a question is testing tells you what it is really asking, and helps you see whether you tend to miss cues, mis-rank problems or choose the wrong action.
Most candidates have one or two formats that drag their score down. Satapass makes it easy to find them and drill them.
Every test report and the Performance page break your accuracy down by question type, so the weak formats stand out.
In the test builder, choose only that question type, add the Client Needs or subjects you want, and set the number of questions.
Read the rationale after each item until the format feels routine, then switch to timed mode to check you hold your accuracy under the clock. Tutor vs timed mode.
Still unsure about a format? Send us a message and our team will explain it.
Contact supportCreate your account, pick the question types you find hardest and build your first test in four steps.