The PAX, the Pre-Admission Examination, is taken by people applying to nursing programs, and the National League for Nursing now offers the NEX Nursing Entrance Exam as its successor. This page gives you free practice sets for mathematics, science and verbal ability, worked examples, a study plan, and the fees, timing and retake rules NLN publishes for the NEX.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (NEX (successor to PAX)) | 145 scored + 18 unscored multiple-choice items (Verbal 50, Math 40, Science 55)[1] | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Time limit (NEX (successor to PAX)) | 60 minutes per subject test (3 tests, 180 minutes total)[1] | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Passing score (NEX (successor to PAX)) | No NLN pass/fail score; each school sets its own requirement[2] | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Exam fee (NEX (successor to PAX) – onsite) | $59 (school-paid, taken on campus)[3] | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Exam fee (NEX (successor to PAX) – virtual) | $80 (virtual, proctored by Proctor360)[3] | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Retake policy (NEX (successor to PAX)) | 30 days between attempts unless the school sets a different frequency; each retake is a new purchase (no refunds)[3] | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Validity (NEX (successor to PAX)) | Score report available for 3 years (schools set their own acceptance window)[2] | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Score release (NEX (successor to PAX)) | Immediately after the exam, on My Dashboard[2] | National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services · Oct 28, 2026 |
According to National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services, “The NLN does not set a pass/fail score. Your institution will provide additional information regarding their required score and their process for repeating an exam.”[2]
The Pre-Admission Examination (PAX) is an entrance test that schools use as part of admissions decisions. NLN Assessment Services now lists the NEX Nursing Entrance Exam as its successor. The format, fee and score details below come from NLN pages about the NEX, so check which exam your school actually requires before you book.
The NEX has 145 scored multiple-choice items plus 18 unscored items, divided into Verbal (50), Math (40) and Science (55). Each subject test is timed at 60 minutes, which makes 180 minutes in total, and all tests must be completed to produce a score report.
A school-paid sitting on campus costs $59. A virtual sitting proctored by Proctor360 costs $80. Scores appear on My Dashboard immediately after the exam. The score report stays available for 3 years, although each school sets its own acceptance window.
The NLN does not set a pass/fail score. Your school decides the score it requires and explains how it handles repeat attempts. The NLN asks for 30 days between attempts on the same exam unless your school has told Assessment Services it prefers a different frequency. Each retake is a new purchase, with no refunds. Eligibility and the score a school wants vary by program, so confirm the details with the admissions office and the official NLN site.
The content areas below are copied from the official PAX content outline published by National League for Nursing (NLN) Assessment Services. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
| Official content area | Practice on this site |
|---|---|
| mathematics[4] | PAX Mathematics Practise ratios, proportions and everyday arithmetic until you can set up a problem quickly and check that your answer makes sense. |
| science[4] | PAX Science Review basic biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry and physics, and practise reading short passages or data before answering. |
| verbal ability[4] | PAX Verbal Ability Build vocabulary from context and practise finding the main point and supporting detail in short reading passages. |
Prepare for the PAX - Pre-Admission Examination exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: In Pre-Admission Examination, a ratio of 3:5 is used to divide 480 units. How many units are in the larger portion?
Answer: A. 300
Explanation:
The correct answer is 300. A ratio of 3:5 describes parts of a whole, so add the parts, divide 480 by that sum to find the size of one part, then multiply by the larger ratio number. The larger portion is the share that uses 5 parts.
Option 288 treats 3:5 as the fraction 3/5 of 480, which ignores that the whole is made of both parts together. Option 180 is the smaller portion, the share that uses 3 parts, so it answers the wrong question. Option 320 does not match either portion and comes from no valid step.
Rule to remember: add the ratio parts, divide the total by that sum, multiply by the part you need, and check that both portions add back to 480.
Question: Why is interdisciplinary collaboration important in PAX applied practice?
Answer: A. It brings diverse perspectives that enhance problem-solving and outcomes
Explanation:
The correct answer is that collaboration brings diverse perspectives that enhance problem-solving and outcomes. People from different disciplines notice different risks and options, so the combined view is usually fuller than any single view.
The option saying collaboration slows decisions without benefit is wrong because it ignores the gain in quality. The option saying each discipline should work in complete isolation is wrong because it removes the very exchange that makes teamwork useful. The option saying it matters only for research is wrong because collaboration applies in everyday applied practice too.
Rule to remember: when an option uses absolute words such as isolation, only or without benefits, it is usually too extreme. Prefer the answer that describes a balanced, practical benefit.
Question: In PAX, what is the relationship between standards and advanced concepts?
Answer: A. Standards provide the framework and benchmarks that guide professional practice
Explanation:
The correct answer is that standards provide the framework and benchmarks that guide professional practice. Standards describe what acceptable work looks like, which keeps practice consistent and accountable.
The option calling standards suggestions that can be ignored is wrong because standards are expectations people are held to. The option claiming no relationship between standards and practice is wrong because practice is judged against standards. The option limiting standards to entry-level professionals is wrong because they apply at every level, including advanced work.
Rule to remember: be wary of options that dismiss a core idea or restrict it to a narrow group. The answer that links the concept to guidance and quality is usually the sound one.
Start by checking with your school which exam it requires and what score it expects, because the NLN does not set a pass/fail score. Then read the official NLN material for the NEX so you know the format and timing.
Our questions are written by us for practice and are not real exam questions, so treat them as a way to build skills rather than a preview.
NLN Assessment Services lists the NEX Nursing Entrance Exam as the successor to the PAX. The format, fee and score details on this page come from NLN documents about the NEX. Ask your school which exam it requires, because programs choose their own admissions tests.
There is no NLN pass/fail score. The NLN says your institution provides its required score and its process for repeating an exam. Ask the admissions office what score your program wants, since that figure can differ from school to school.
The NEX has 145 scored items plus 18 unscored items, covering Verbal (50), Math (40) and Science (55). Each subject test is timed at 60 minutes, so the total is 180 minutes. All tests must be completed to produce a score report.
A school-paid exam taken on campus costs $59. A virtual exam proctored by Proctor360 costs $80. Each retake is a new purchase and the NLN does not offer refunds, so confirm with your school how you will pay before you register.
The NLN requires 30 days between attempts on the same exam, unless your school has told Assessment Services it prefers a different frequency. Each retake must be purchased again. Check your school's own repeat rules before planning a second sitting.
Scores are available on My Dashboard immediately after the exam. Your score report stays available for 3 years. Each school sets its own window for accepting scores, so check how recent your results must be for the program you are applying to.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.