How to Answer NCLEX Practice Questions in 2025

Are NCLEX practice questions not your thing? Do the initials “NGN” make you feel stressed? If you answered yes to either question, this post is for you!

Before we jump in, remember the NCLEX is testing your ability to be a safe nurse, not a perfect nurse. That means you’ll get questions you’re not sure how to answer. The good news is you don’t need to get every question right, and you’ll have a better chance of answering them correctly if you do a few simple things.

We’ll review those tips and tricks for you in this post. Put them to good use while doing NCLEX practice questions, and you’ll be all set for exam day!


4 Tips for Breaking Down NCLEX Practice Questions 

1. Anatomy matters! 

The NCLEX likes to keep it simple. As a result, all of the questions have the same basic structure: a stem and a lead-in

Stem

The stem is the story of the client. It could include vital signs, laboratory values, the client’s symptoms—basically any background information you need in order to answer the question!

For a standard multiple choice question, the stem is usually only one to two sentences long.

Lead-In

The lead-in is the actual question. There are a number of different questions that could be given based on the stem.

For example, the lead-in could expect you to identify appropriate teaching points to a client based on a diagnosis provided in the stem. 

2. The KEY to Success

Pay attention to key words when doing NCLEX practice questions and of course during the exam itself. When approaching a question, ask yourself, “Is there anything emphasized in the stem or lead-in?”

Oftentimes, the NCLEX will even bold key words like “most,” “priority,” or “immediately.”

3. Absolutes have no place here!

Want an easy way to rule out an answer choice? Look for the absolutes! Very few things in nursing are black and white. As a result, if you see words like “always,” “never,” or “only” in NCLEX practice questions or on the exam itself, there’s a good chance it’s incorrect! 

4. REALism is REALly cool!

Lastly, if an answer seems unrealistic or out of the scope of practice for a nurse, don’t pick it!

For example, is it realistic for a nurse to order a diagnostic exam? No, and it’s not in our scope of practice either. Therefore, if an answer choice mentions something about ordering a diagnostic exam, throw it out!

Now let’s take a look at a real NCLEX practice question on the Blueprint Nursing TikTok!


How to Approach NGN Practice Questions

With the introduction of NGN NCLEX, we got new types of questions! Now, don’t let this scare you. Even though the questions may look different, the tips I just mentioned still apply! 

Here are some new question formats you’ll see for NCLEX practice questions and on the exam itself: 

Select All That Apply (SATA)

The select all that apply (SATA) format isn’t new to NCLEX practice questions or the NGN, but it still can cause a lot of anxiety. I know it did for me when I was taking the NCLEX!

The best way to tackle this kind of question is to treat each answer as a true/false statement. For this approach to work, you have to first look closely at your question stem (the story of the client) to see if you’re looking for true or false statements!

For example, if the stem includes words like “further education” or “clarification,” chances are you’re looking for false statements.

Case Study

Case studies can seem like “information overload,” but they don’t have to be! If you’re not sure where to begin with case studies, start by reading the lead-in to the question first. By doing so, you know exactly what you’re looking for when you read through the case! 

Highlight

Oftentimes, highlight questions are really just priority questions! Instead of picking the priority answer from a list, you highlight what stands out to you/requires immediate attention. Chances are you’re already doing this in your head!

Matrix and Multiple Response

These questions may seem intimidating, but they don’t have to be! Instead of looking at them as a whole, break each section down like it’s a separate question. This makes it much more manageable. 

Bowtie/Dropdown/Drag-and-Drop Questions 

These types of questions look different, but they’re not really much different from your standard multiple-choice questions. With each of these, you’re choosing answers from a list of options. As a result, I would approach them like they were your typical multiple-choice questions.


Final Thoughts

With these helpful tips, you’ll be on your way to becoming a real-deal RN in no time! If you’re looking for more resources, be sure to check out all we have to offer at Blueprint!

👩‍🏫 NCLEX Live Study Group (LSG) – Your study schedule is built in! (plus, includes access to Crash Course & 1,000-question Qbank)

🏫 NCLEX Self-Paced Crash Course – Study on your own time with 18+ hours of video lessons and 18 quizzes

👩‍💻 Free NCLEX Webinars – Join our free sessions with experts to prep for the exam and life as a real-deal RN

📓 Free NCLEX Cheat Sheets – Grab these free downloads for help memorizing NCLEX terms, isolation and PPE, and more!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *