Next Generation NCLEX formats
Next Gen NCLEX (NGN) Practice Questions by Question Type
Practice every NCLEX question type, from NCLEX-style multiple choice to the Next Gen (NGN) questions: bow-tie, matrix, drop-down, drag-and-drop, highlight and trend. Every question uses the real exam layout and NCSBN's scoring rules, and you see the explanation as soon as you check your answer. Sets 1 and 2 of every question type are free, with no sign-up.
Start with a question formatBrowse the question families and choose the format you want to practise.Browse question typesFollow an unfolding caseRead a client's chart and work through the clinical judgment steps.Explore case studiesWork through a calculationFind the formula, follow a worked example and practise the same skill.Find a calculation skill
16 question types
Practice all 16 NCLEX question types
Every type is split into short sets of 5 questions, scored the way the NCLEX scores them.
16 of 16 question types
Classic01
Multiple Choice
One best answer from four options.Practice Classic02Select All That Apply
Choose every correct option. Wrong picks cost a point.Practice Classic03Select N
Choose exactly the number of options the question asks for.Practice Classic04Ordered Response
Put the nursing actions in the right order.Practice Classic05Dosage Calculation
Type the exact dose, rate or volume.Practice Matrix06Multiple Response Grouping
Select the right options within each group.Practice Matrix07Matrix Multiple Choice
One answer per row in a grid.Practice Matrix08Matrix Multiple Response
Several answers per row in a grid.Practice Drop-down09Drop-Down Cloze
Complete sentences using drop-down menus.Practice Drop-down10Drop-Down Rationale
Link a cause to its effect. Both parts must be right.Practice Drop-down11Drop-Down Table
Choose from drop-downs inside a table.Practice Drag-and-drop12Drag-and-Drop Cloze
Drag words into the blanks of a sentence.Practice Drag-and-drop13Drag-and-Drop Rationale
Drag a cause and its effect into place.Practice Highlight14Highlight
Click the findings in a chart that matter.Practice Bow-tie & trend15Bow-Tie
Condition, two actions, two parameters to monitor.Practice Bow-tie & trend16Trend
Read data across time points and act on the change.PracticeMed math
Dosage calculation practice by skill
Each dosage calculation set drills one skill, with the formula, a worked example and a worked answer for every question. Every set is free.
Dosage Calculation Conversions Practice
Desired Over Have Formula Practice: Tablets and Oral Liquids
Dimensional Analysis Nursing Practice
Weight-Based Dosage Calculation Practice
Pediatric Dosage Calculation Practice
Reconstitution Dosage Calculation Practice
IV Flow Rate Calculation Practice
IV Drip Rate Calculation Practice: Drops per Minute (gtt/min)
Heparin Drip Calculation Practice
mcg/kg/min Calculation Practice
Checking an IV calculation? Use the IV drip rate calculator to see the formula and worked steps, then try the IV practice sets above.
Clinical judgment
Unfolding NCLEX case studies
Each case follows one client through six questions, one for each step of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model.
Scoring
How each NCLEX question type is scored
The NCLEX gives partial credit on questions with more than one correct answer. Each format uses one of NCSBN's scoring rules, and the practice player applies the same rule.
| Question type | Family | Rule | How it scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice | Classic | 0/1 | Each correct response earns 1 point. A wrong response earns 0 and costs nothing. |
| Select All That Apply | Classic | +/- | Each correct selection earns 1 point and each incorrect selection loses 1. The score never goes below 0. |
| Select N | Classic | 0/1 | Each correct response earns 1 point. A wrong response earns 0 and costs nothing. |
| Multiple Response Grouping | Matrix | +/- | Each correct selection earns 1 point and each incorrect selection loses 1. The score never goes below 0. |
| Matrix Multiple Choice | Matrix | 0/1 | Each correct response earns 1 point. A wrong response earns 0 and costs nothing. |
| Matrix Multiple Response | Matrix | +/- | Each correct selection earns 1 point and each incorrect selection loses 1. The score never goes below 0. |
| Drop-Down Cloze | Drop-down | 0/1 | Each correct response earns 1 point. A wrong response earns 0 and costs nothing. |
| Drop-Down Rationale | Drop-down | Rationale | A linked cause-and-effect pair earns its point only when both parts are correct. |
| Drop-Down Table | Drop-down | 0/1 | Each correct response earns 1 point. A wrong response earns 0 and costs nothing. |
| Drag-and-Drop Cloze | Drag-and-drop | 0/1 | Each correct response earns 1 point. A wrong response earns 0 and costs nothing. |
| Drag-and-Drop Rationale | Drag-and-drop | Rationale | A linked cause-and-effect pair earns its point only when both parts are correct. |
| Highlight | Highlight | +/- | Each correct selection earns 1 point and each incorrect selection loses 1. The score never goes below 0. |
| Bow-Tie | Bow-tie & trend | 0/1 | Each correct response earns 1 point. A wrong response earns 0 and costs nothing. |
| Trend | Bow-tie & trend | By format | Scored by the rule for the format the question uses. |
| Ordered Response | Classic | All or nothing | The whole answer must be correct to earn the point. |
| Dosage Calculation | Classic | All or nothing | The whole answer must be correct to earn the point. |
Scoring rules: NCSBN, Next Generation NCLEX. Last reviewed October 13, 2026.
How the whole NCLEX is scored, and how many questions it hasQuestion bank
A free NCLEX question bank with rationales
Use these pages as an NCLEX question bank (a qbank or test bank) that is sorted by question type instead of one long list. You see the rationale as soon as you check an answer.
- Question types
- 16
- Practice sets
- 102
- 5 questions each
- A rationale for every answer, with a note on why each option is right or wrong.
- Scoring with NCSBN's rule for the format, including partial credit.
- The exam-style screen, with chart tabs and the on-screen calculator.
- Free right now: every set, with no sign-up.
FAQ
NCLEX question types: FAQ
Are there Next Gen questions on the NCLEX?
Yes. Every NCLEX-RN includes three case studies of six questions each, one for each step of the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model, plus standalone clinical judgment questions such as bow-tie and trend items. Classic multiple-choice questions are still common.
How many types of NCLEX questions are there?
This site practices 16 question formats in 6 families: classic (multiple choice, select all that apply, select N, ordered response and dosage calculation), matrix, drop-down, drag-and-drop, highlight, and bow-tie and trend. NCSBN's candidate tutorial shows each format on the real screen.
Do Next Gen NCLEX questions give partial credit?
Yes. Questions with more than one correct answer are scored for partial credit, using one of three NCSBN methods: 0/1, +/- or rationale scoring. The table on this page shows which rule each question type uses.
What format are the questions on the NCLEX?
Multiple choice with one best answer, select all that apply and the Next Generation NCLEX formats: matrix, drop-down, drag-and-drop, highlight, bow-tie and trend, plus calculations where you type a number. Three case studies of six questions each use several of those formats together.
How many Next Gen questions are on the NCLEX?
A minimum-length exam has 18 case-study questions, in three case studies of six. Some of the 52 scored standalone questions are also Next Gen items, such as bow-tie and trend questions.