NCLEX Changes in 2023: What to Expect on the NGN

After nursing school graduation, The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is the final step in the academic process of becoming a nurse. Since the NCLEX was update in April 2023, all test-takers will take the new Next Generation NCLEX (NGN).

Any nursing students who began their studies in Fall of 2021 were tested with this new version of the NCLEX. We’ll break down when and why these changes took place and give you some NCLEX review resources on how to prepare for the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN).

When did the NCLEX change?

The NCLEX officially changed to include (NGN) next gen NCLEX questions and scoring on April 1st, 2023.

Why did the NCLEX change?

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is responsible for creating the NCLEX and making sure that it correctly evaluates the competency of new nurses. Every three years, the NCSBN evaluates how well the NCLEX performs this evaluation, making changes if necessary.

The Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) exam asks questions that are better designed to help nurses think critically when providing care, making it easier for them to make the right decisions. This new NCLEX has placed a major emphasis on clinical judgment.

While they make adjustments every three years, the NGN is a larger-than-normal change (affecting both the NCLEX-PN and the NCLEX-RN).

Check out our NCLEX tips.

What’s the same?

• Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT): The NCLEX still uses CAT, where the difficulty of each question adjusts based on your previous answer.
• Existing Question Types: All previous question formats remain, including:
  • Multiple choice
  • Select all that apply
  • Hot spot
  • Fill in the blank
  • Drag and drop
  • Chart or graphics questions
  • Graphic answer multiple choice
  • Audio or video questions

What changed?

While the NGN incorporates many existing NCLEX features, it’s different (and sometimes more difficult) in the following ways:

• Harder Question Content: Increased focus on caring for critically ill clients.
• New Question Types: New formats include:
  • Case Scenario
  • Extended multiple choice (partial credit)
  • Drop down answers
  • Extended drag-and-drop
  • Highlight text
  • Matrix/grid
  • Trend questions
• Number of Scored Questions: 70-145 scored questions (previously 60-130).
• New Scoring System: Allows partial credit with new methods:
  • +/- Scoring
  • Dyad and Triad Scoring
  • Standard items remain worth 1 point, with partial scoring for multiple-response items.

Check out our NGN overview article for a complete breakdown of the next gen NCLEX questions and scoring system.

What do I need to do differently for the NGN?

Preparing for these different question types and more difficult questions is vital when preparing for the NCLEX changes that took affect in 2023.

SimpleNursing provides reputable NCLEX preparation help with realistic NCLEX sample questions, like the help that can enable you to be ready for what you encounter. Join the over 1,000,000 nursing students who have used our materials, and confidently go into your NCLEX (RN & PN).

Let SimpleNursing help you ace the exams with our NCLEX Review Course today!