The Kaplan Nursing Admission Test — sometimes called the Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam — is a standardized admissions assessment used by nursing schools to evaluate applicants' academic readiness. It's not the same as the HESI or TEAS. It's Kaplan's own exam, and schools that use it do so specifically because they trust its scoring to predict nursing school success.
If you're applying to a school that requires the Kaplan exam, you need to understand what's on it, how it's scored, and how to prepare. This guide covers all of that — including how to study for the Kaplan nursing entrance exam efficiently so you're not wasting time on the wrong material.
The exam tests four primary subjects. You need to prepare for all of them, though the relative weight varies:
Some versions include a Critical Thinking section as well. Ask your school which version of the Kaplan exam they administer — the content outline can vary slightly between versions.
The Kaplan exam is administered either at your nursing school directly or through a Kaplan testing center. Most schools proctor it on-site. Contact your admissions office to find out the testing dates, registration process, and whether you can take it remotely or in-person only.
Registration typically goes through your school's admissions process — you don't usually register directly through Kaplan's website. Your school will provide the exam access code or scheduling link after you apply for admission.
The most effective prep approach depends on which sections are your weakest. Here's how to approach each one:
You don't study content for reading comprehension — you study technique. Practice reading dense, clinical passages quickly and identifying the main point. Work on distinguishing what the passage says from what you infer. Timed practice is essential here; many students run out of time on this section despite finding the material accessible.
Grammar rules matter. Focus on subject-verb agreement, pronoun-antecedent agreement, comma usage, and common sentence structure errors. If grammar isn't your strength, go back to basics — a grammar review workbook covers exactly what you need. Don't assume you know this section because English is your first language; the questions are designed to trip up native speakers on edge cases.
The math is high school level, but if you haven't done it recently, it needs practice. Fractions, percentages, ratios, and unit conversions show up consistently. If you're applying to a nursing program, you'll also encounter dosage calculation concepts — brush up on those specifically. Work through problems without a calculator first so you're not dependent on one during the actual exam.
This section takes the most prep time for most applicants. Biology and A&P are the heaviest hitters. Cell structure, organ systems, metabolic processes, and basic chemistry (atomic structure, chemical bonds, reactions) all appear. Review your college-level bio and A&P notes if you have them. If you don't, a good A&P review book covers the major systems efficiently.
Most nursing schools set their own minimum score requirements for the Kaplan exam — there's no universal passing score. Common minimums are in the 65–75% range overall, but competitive programs may require higher. Ask your school what score is needed for consideration and what score puts you in the accepted range.
A few key strategies:
Take a diagnostic first. Before you start studying, take a full practice test under real conditions. It tells you where you are right now and which sections to prioritize. Studying without a baseline is guesswork.
Study in chunks, not marathons. Three focused 45-minute sessions beat one 3-hour grind. Consistent daily review over several weeks produces better retention than cramming.
Use practice tests as study tools. When you get a question wrong, figure out why — not just what the right answer is. Understanding your reasoning errors is how you actually improve.
The nursing entrance exam section on this site covers the broader landscape of nursing admissions tests. If your school uses the Kaplan specifically, focus your prep there — the content overlaps somewhat with HESI and TEAS but the format and weighting differ enough to matter.
These three exams are the main nursing entrance assessments. The TEAS (ATI) is the most widely used nationally. The HESI is common at hospital-affiliated programs. The Kaplan exam is used by schools that have specifically partnered with Kaplan.
If your school accepts multiple exams, pick the one you can score highest on given your strengths. The Kaplan exam tends to have a slightly shorter science section than the TEAS, but its reading and writing components are comparable. Check the specific version your school administers before making that call.
For nursing school admissions prep more broadly, the underlying content — biology, A&P, algebra, reading comprehension — transfers across all three exams. Build that content foundation and you'll be in good shape regardless of which test you sit.
The Kaplan nursing entrance exam is a gatekeeper — but a manageable one. You don't need to be a science genius or math wizard to score well. You need consistent preparation, honest self-assessment, and targeted practice on your weak spots.
Use our practice tests to work through nursing entrance exam content across all sections. Take timed tests to simulate real exam conditions. Review every wrong answer. Then revisit your weak areas before test day.
Nursing school is demanding — but getting in is the first challenge. Put in the prep work now, walk into the exam confident, and take that next step toward your nursing career.