Student Guide to NLN Assessments

NEX Exam for Practical Nursing Program

You will take the exam from home via an online remote proctor. 

Cost: $73.50 (subject to change)

The cut score is the composite score of 138.  The test is limited to three attempts in an application period (June 15 through February 15). If you retest, you must wait one month before retesting. The test needs to be completed by February 15, and official results sent to us following completion.

The questions measure 4 key areas that are important for PN students. Reading, Math, Science, and English & Language Utilization, including an overall score. 

Your Account

NLN Create New Account   NLN Login (existing account)

TIPS:

  • Once you have created a new account and signed in, make sure you save the account login information for all future NLN testing.
  • We recommend using your email address as your username.
  • If you cannot remember your password, click on the "Request new password" tab, enter your username, and you will be sent an email to the email address you have on file.
  • You only need to create one account. If you have difficulty resetting your password, please call 1-800-732-8656 Ext. 2. DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT.
  • The NLN Portal requires Google Chrome, and you must sign in using a desktop or a laptop. Phones, tablets, and other devices will not allow site access.

You will receive a new account welcome email with a one-time link to complete the following:

  • Verify your account.
  • Reset your password.
  • Set your correct time zone (see below).
Extremely Important:

Change your time zone to your local time so that you meet the deadlines of the institution that you are applying to.

Selecting and Purchasing Your Assessment and/or Practice Materials  
  • Log into the NLN Assessment Testing Portal: nlntest.org.
  • Click on Buy Exam
  • Enter "Nursing Entrance Exam (NEX)" into the box Exam Name Contains and click Apply. 
Once you have located the materials you need, complete the following steps:  
  • Enter the quantity you would like to purchase.
  • Click the Add to Cart
  • See Message Exam Added to your Cart.
  • Click on the Shopping Cart.
Registration Information
  • Sign in to your NLN account.
  • Go to Register for Exam.
  • Leave all fields BLANK except SITE.
  • Confirm the institution in the SITE field is correct.
  • Hit Apply.
  • Select the Event you want to register for – Click to register.
  • Verify the correct exam is showing and hit SAVE REGISTRATION.
  • It will then take you to the page where you will verify the test you want to register for – if correct, proceed to checkout.  If incorrect, make changes, update the cart, and then check out.
Verify Your Registration After Purchase
  • After you have completed your registration, click on the “Home Tab” at the top of the page. Listed here, you will see your upcoming exam information.
Completing Your Exam With PROCTOR 360

Schedule Your Exam

  1. AFTER you have purchased your NLN Assessment, go to Proctor360 to schedule your online exam session.  DO THIS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE to increase the likelihood of a convenient date/time slot. You will need to schedule AT LEAST 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE of your desired testing time. 
  2. Click the blue “Register” button next to the name of the assessment you purchased.
  3. On the page that loads, you will need to register as a student/test candidate on Proctor360’s platform if this is the first time you have used Proctor360.  You MUST use the same email address that you used to purchase your assessment from NLN.

If you are a new user, click the box below the login button that says, "Don't have an account?". If you are a returning Proctor360 user, please log in to your account.

  1. Choose from the available dates and times to schedule* your session.  
  2. Once you have scheduled your exam session, Proctor360 will send you an email with instructions to complete a System Inspection prior to your actual exam date.  This process MUST be completed prior to your scheduled exam time to ensure that your computer and internet access are sufficient to take the exam online.  Please note, you will need either a laptop OR an external webcam to complete the environment check while testing.
  3. When your System Inspection is complete, you will receive another email from Proctor360 confirming that you have completed the process, and a link will be provided to check into your session on the day of your exam.  If you do not receive this email within an hour after completing the System Inspection, please contact Proctor360’s Support Staff for assistance.

IF YOU NEED TECHNICAL SUPPORT AT ANY POINT WHILE COMPLETING THE STEPS ABOVE, PLEASE CONTACT PROCTOR360 SUPPORT.

*If you need to reschedule your exam session, you must do so at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to do so will result in a $30 rescheduling fee. To reschedule, please create a support ticket with Proctor360. 

Allowed Testing Material

During your exam session, your environment must be clean and clear of any prohibited materials, notes, or study guides. During the check-in process on exam day, you will be required to submit a scan of your desktop and the surrounding space in order to verify that you have no prohibited materials accessible during the exam.

The following items are the ONLY items allowed during your test session:

  • Basic 4 Function Calculator (no cellphone, advanced, or scientific calculator is permitted; there is a calculator built into the testing software if you do not have your own)
  • Dry-Erase Board
  • Dry-erase Marker
  • Dry-Erase Board Eraser
Testing Day

Use the link provided in your email from noreply@proctor360exams.com to connect to your proctored session. Proceed with the check-in process. A chat box will be located on the bottom right of your screen to communicate with your proctor.

Accessing Your Results

There are two different processes for accessing your results, depending on whether you took the NEX, PAX, or another assessment. Follow the instructions below to access the results for the assessment that you completed.

Please note:
  • Your assessment report will be available to access from this account for three years.
  • 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 if you do not pass. 
Accessing Your Results for the Pre-Admission Exam (PAX) and Nursing Entrance Exam (NEX)

Follow the instructions below to access your NEX or PAX results:

  • Log in to nlntest.org.
  • Click on My Results at the top of the page.
  • Click on NLN Student Reports.
  • Click on the Participant Report
  • Select the exam from the field Exam Date.
  • Click on your exam, then click Run Report.

If you’d like a breakdown of how you did on subcategories of the NEX, you can run a coaching report following the same instructions as Other NLN Assessments.

Accessing Your Results for Other NLN Assessments

Follow the instructions below to access non-PAX and NEX assessment results:

  • Log in to nlntest.org.
  • Click on My Results at the top of the page.
  • Click on the Transcript of My Results link and select from the list of exam events.
  • Under the Coaching Report column, click on View Report to see your report.
Understanding Your Score (Non-PAX and NEX exams)
  • The Total Score is the number of questions you answered correctly.
  • The Percentage Score is the number of test items answered correctly / total # of test items.
  • The Average Score is used to compare how other students scored on the same exam across the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
  1. How do I send my scores to my institution?
    Should you need to send scores to your institution, please complete the Student Duplicate Score Report.
  2. Does the NLN limit the number of times I can take the test?
    The NLN does not limit the number of times a student can take a test. Please check with your institution to inquire about any limitations they might have.
  3. How often can I take an exam?
    The NLN requires a 30-day wait period between attempts on the NEX, PAX, and Foundations of Nursing exams. Some institutions have communicated shorter or longer wait periods. Please check with your institution.
  4. How do I reset my password?
    To reset your password, go to the Login Page and click on Request New Password. Enter your email address or username and click to request a password. Check your email for the reset link.
  5. How do I update my profile?
    Right-click on your name in the upper-right-hand corner of the screen. Select Edit Profile.
  6. How do I change my legal name?
    Please email studenthelp@nln.org for assistance in changing your legal name.
  7. How can I find the cut score so that I can determine whether I passed or failed my assessment?
    The NLN does not set the cut score for passing or failing. Please check with your institution.
  8. Why can’t I log in to my account?
    Please make sure you are using the correct username/password. If you are still unable to log in to your account, please email studenthelp@nln.org for assistance.
  9. Why can’t my school see my scores?
    If your school cannot see your scores, you may not have listed the correct institution when creating your account.
  10. How do I report an issue with my assessment?
    Please send an email to studenthelp@nln.org or call 1-800-732-8656 ext. 2.
  11. How can I request my assessment to be hand-scored?
    Hand-scoring is completed on an as-needed basis. Please send an email to studenthelp@nln.org.
  12. How long does the NLN keep my score on file?
    The NLN keeps scores on file for three years. Anything older than three years is considered invalid, and you will need to be retested.
  13. How do I request ADA Accommodations?
    All ADA Accommodation Requests must come directly from the institution. Please contact your institution's Disability Department.
NLN General Customer Service

Hours: Monday – Friday from 8 am to 5 pm
Phone: 1-800-732-8656 ext. 2
Email: custhelp@nln.org

QuestionMark Technical Support

(QuestionMark is the testing platform)

Chat: Click here
Hours: Mon - Fri 8 am - 5 pm Eastern
Phone: 1-877-341-3168
Email: servicesupport@questionmark.com