Pass/Fail Rules

The computer decides whether you passed or failed the NCLEX using one of three rules:

1. 95% Confidence Interval Rule: This rule is the most common for NCLEX candidates. The computer will stop administering items when it is 95% certain that the candidate’s ability is clearly above or clearly below the passing standard.
2. Maximum-Length Exam Rule: Some candidates’ ability levels will be very close to the passing standard. When this is the case, the computer continues to administer items until the maximum number of items is reached. At this point, the computer disregards the 95% confidence interval rule and considers only the final ability estimate based on responses to all items in the exam.
   • If the final ability estimate is at or above the passing standard, the candidate passes.
   • If the final ability estimate is below the passing standard, the candidate fails.
3. Run-out-of-time (R.O.O.T.) Rule: If a candidate runs out of time before reaching the maximum number of items and the computer has not determined with 95% certainty whether the candidate has passed or failed, alternate criteria are used.
   • If the candidate has not answered the minimum number of required items, the candidate automatically fails.
   • If at least the minimum number of required items were answered, then the final ability estimate will be based on all responses given before the exam time expired. If the score is at or above the passing standard, the candidate will pass; otherwise, the candidate will fail.