NLN PAX (Pre-Admission Examination) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which of the following is the primary function of the respiratory system?

Waste filtration
Nutrient absorption
Gas exchange (Correct answer)
Hormone regulation

Correct answer: Gas exchange

The respiratory system facilitates the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and the environment.

Question 2: What happens during an exothermic reaction?

Temperature decreases
No energy change occurs
Energy is released to the surroundings (Correct answer)
Energy is absorbed from the surroundings

Correct answer: Energy is released to the surroundings

Exothermic reactions release energy (usually heat) to the surroundings, causing the temperature to rise.

Question 3: Which molecule carries genetic information from the nucleus to the ribosome?

rRNA
tRNA
DNA
mRNA (Correct answer)

Correct answer: mRNA

Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries the genetic code from DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes where proteins are synthesized.

Question 4: A medication order reads: give 0.5 mg. The available tablets are 0.25 mg each. How many tablets should be administered?

3 tablets
1.5 tablets
2 tablets (Correct answer)
1 tablet

Correct answer: 2 tablets

0.5 mg ÷ 0.25 mg per tablet = 2 tablets.

Question 5: Which of the following sentences uses a semicolon correctly?

They left early; to catch the bus.
I like apples; and oranges.
She studied hard; but failed the exam.
He was tired; however, he continued working. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: He was tired; however, he continued working.

A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially with a conjunctive adverb like 'however.'

Question 6: What type of bond is formed when electrons are shared between atoms?

Covalent bond (Correct answer)
Hydrogen bond
Ionic bond
Metallic bond

Correct answer: Covalent bond

A covalent bond forms when two atoms share electrons to achieve a stable configuration.

Question 7: What score range does the PAX exam use for reporting results?

Letter grades A–F
Standard scores based on percentile rankings (Correct answer)
0–100 raw score only
200–800 scaled score

Correct answer: Standard scores based on percentile rankings

The PAX reports standard scores and percentile rankings so schools can compare applicants across different test forms.

Question 8: What does the root word 'cardio' mean?

Lung
Heart (Correct answer)
Bone
Blood

Correct answer: Heart

The root 'cardio' comes from the Greek word for heart and is used in terms like cardiology and cardiovascular.

Question 9: If a patient's temperature is 100.4°F, what is it in Celsius? (C = (F − 32) × 5/9)

39.0°C
38.0°C (Correct answer)
36.5°C
37.0°C

Correct answer: 38.0°C

(100.4 − 32) × 5/9 = 68.4 × 5/9 = 38.0°C.

Question 10: Which process converts glucose into pyruvate without using oxygen?

Electron transport chain
Oxidative phosphorylation
Krebs cycle
Glycolysis (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Glycolysis

Glycolysis is the anaerobic breakdown of glucose into two pyruvate molecules in the cytoplasm.

Question 11: Which is true about PAX exam retake policies?

You can retake it immediately the next day
The NLN prohibits all retakes
There is a mandatory 5-year wait between retakes
Retake policies are set by each individual nursing school (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Retake policies are set by each individual nursing school

The NLN allows retakes but each nursing program sets its own policies regarding waiting periods and how many times a student may retake the PAX.

Question 12: Which type of muscle tissue is found in the walls of the heart?

Smooth muscle
Cardiac muscle (Correct answer)
Skeletal muscle
Connective tissue

Correct answer: Cardiac muscle

The heart is composed of cardiac muscle, which is involuntary and striated.

Question 13: What is 15% of 240?

38
34
36 (Correct answer)
40

Correct answer: 36

15% of 240 = 0.15 × 240 = 36.

Question 14: How should you manage your time effectively during the PAX exam?

Spend at least 10 minutes on each question
Focus all time on the first section
Keep track of time, move on from difficult questions, and return if time allows (Correct answer)
Spend as long as needed on every question

Correct answer: Keep track of time, move on from difficult questions, and return if time allows

Effective PAX time management involves pacing yourself, not getting stuck on hard questions, and using remaining time to revisit skipped items.

Question 15: Simplify: (4 + 6) × 3 − 2²

26 (Correct answer)
28
34
22

Correct answer: 26

Following order of operations: (4+6)=10, 2²=4; 10×3=30; 30−4=26.

Question 16: If 5 is 20% of a number, what is the number?

20
10
30
25 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 25

20% of x = 5 → 0.20x = 5 → x = 5 ÷ 0.20 = 25.

Question 17: What does the suffix '-itis' indicate?

Surgical removal
Inflammation (Correct answer)
Disease
Study of

Correct answer: Inflammation

The suffix '-itis' means inflammation, as seen in appendicitis (inflamed appendix) and tonsillitis (inflamed tonsils).

Question 18: What is osmosis?

Movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration (Correct answer)
Movement of solutes from high to low concentration
Breakdown of glucose for energy
Active transport of ions into the cell

Correct answer: Movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from low to high solute concentration

Osmosis is the passive movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.

Question 19: In which layer of the skin are sweat glands and hair follicles found?

Hypodermis
Stratum corneum
Dermis (Correct answer)
Epidermis

Correct answer: Dermis

The dermis contains sweat glands, hair follicles, blood vessels, and nerve endings.

Question 20: What type of tissue covers body surfaces and lines internal organs?

Nervous tissue
Connective tissue
Epithelial tissue (Correct answer)
Muscle tissue

Correct answer: Epithelial tissue

Epithelial tissue forms the outer covering of the body and the lining of internal cavities and organs.

Question 21: Which state of matter has a definite volume but no definite shape?

Liquid (Correct answer)
Plasma
Solid
Gas

Correct answer: Liquid

Liquids have a definite volume but take the shape of their container because their molecules can flow.

Question 22: Which of the following is an example of a mixture?

Pure water
Saltwater solution (Correct answer)
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Salt (NaCl)

Correct answer: Saltwater solution

Saltwater is a homogeneous mixture where salt is dissolved in water; both components retain their chemical properties.

Question 23: What is the value of 2³ × 4?

24
32 (Correct answer)
48
16

Correct answer: 32

2³ = 8, and 8 × 4 = 32.

Question 24: A hospital uses 3/4 of its 480 available beds. How many beds are occupied?

400
380
360 (Correct answer)
320

Correct answer: 360

3/4 × 480 = 360 beds occupied.

Question 25: What is the function of red blood cells (erythrocytes)?

Aid in clotting
Produce antibodies
Fight infection
Transport oxygen (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Transport oxygen

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which binds oxygen and transports it throughout the body.

Question 26: If a car travels at 60 mph, how far does it travel in 2.5 hours?

120 miles
130 miles
150 miles (Correct answer)
180 miles

Correct answer: 150 miles

Distance = speed × time = 60 × 2.5 = 150 miles.

Question 27: What happens to the volume of a gas when temperature increases at constant pressure (Charles's Law)?

Volume increases (Correct answer)
Volume decreases
Pressure increases
Volume stays the same

Correct answer: Volume increases

According to Charles's Law, volume is directly proportional to temperature at constant pressure, so volume increases as temperature rises.

Question 28: Order from least to greatest: 2/3, 0.6, 5/8

2/3, 0.6, 5/8
5/8, 0.6, 2/3
0.6, 2/3, 5/8
0.6, 5/8, 2/3 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 0.6, 5/8, 2/3

Converting: 0.6 = 0.600, 5/8 = 0.625, 2/3 ≈ 0.667; so the order is 0.6, 5/8, 2/3.

Question 29: What is the correct order of Earth's layers from the surface to the center?

Mantle, Crust, Outer Core, Inner Core
Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core (Correct answer)
Crust, Inner Core, Outer Core, Mantle
Crust, Outer Core, Mantle, Inner Core

Correct answer: Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core

Earth's layers from surface to center are: crust, mantle, outer core (liquid), and inner core (solid).

Question 30: Which macromolecule serves as the primary energy source for the body?

Nucleic acids
Lipids
Proteins
Carbohydrates (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the body's preferred and most readily available source of energy.

NLN PAX (Pre-Admission Examination)

The NLN PAX is a standardized nursing school admission exam administered by the National League for Nursing, assessing candidates in Verbal Ability, Mathematics, and Science to predict success in nursing programs.

Questions

38 min

Time Limit

65%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

nln.org — Eligibility, test delivery, passing score, test dates, score validity, fees, retake policy, score release, exam information · verified Oct 2026