Nursing Entrance Exams

Most nursing programs want more than good grades. They want proof you can handle the academic load, so they require an entrance exam. What you take depends on the program and the degree level. You might sit a nursing-specific test, a general exam like the SAT, or both. Here is what the common exams cover and what to expect from each.

Nursing-specific exams

These tests rate comprehension, communication, and critical thinking, plus your grasp of core healthcare science. Little of the content maps to the actual duties of a nurse, but schools use the scores to predict who will make it through the program.

NLN PAX

Administered by the National League for Nursing, the Pre-Admission Exam is one of the most common nursing entrance tests. It measures verbal ability, math, and science.

• Who it's for: Aspiring RNs and LPNs entering certificate, associate, or bachelor's programs
• Format: 3 multiple-choice sections
• Questions: 80 verbal, 54 math, 80 science
• Length: Up to 3 hours
• Passing score: Set by each school
• Cost: Varies, usually $45 to $100
• Prep: The NLN sells a study guide with 1,000 practice questions

NET

The Nursing Entrance Test covers high school reading and math, and also gauges decision-making, learning style, and how you handle stress. Schools administer it directly.

• Who it's for: LPN and RN program applicants
• Format: 6 multiple-choice sections plus a 1-minute reading speed test
• Questions: 60 math, 33 reading, 44 learning style, 17 social decisions, 49 stressful situations, 30 exam-taking skills
• Length: 2.5 hours
• Passing score: 65 math, 55 reading; schools judge the rest
• Cost: Varies by school
• Prep: Complete Test Preparation sells a guide with two reading and math practice sets

Kaplan Admissions Test

Colleges use the Kaplan test to assess reading, writing, math, science, and critical thinking, and to spot gaps before you enroll.

• Who it's for: LPNs and RNs
• Format: 4 multiple-choice sections
• Questions: 22 reading, 28 math, 21 writing, 20 science
• Length: 2 hours 45 minutes
• Passing score: Set by each school, often around 70%
• Cost: Varies, commonly $25 to $45; many schools offer it free
• Prep: Registering unlocks an online study plan; Kaplan also publishes a current guide

PSB Aptitude for Practical Nursing Exam

The Psychological Services Bureau runs several healthcare exams. This one adds a personality section to the academic subtests to flag the work environment that fits you.

• Who it's for: LPNs
• Format: 5 multiple-choice sections
• Questions: 225 total across vocabulary, math, analytical reasoning, spelling, natural science (chemistry, biology, physics), judgment on practical nursing situations, and the Vocational Adjustment Index
• Length: 2.5 hours
• Passing score: Set by each school; you get a raw score and a percentile rank
• Cost: Typically $25
• Prep: Sample questions on the PSB website; Mometrix sells a study guide

PSB Registered Nursing School Aptitude Exam

The PSB's RN version. The questions differ slightly, but the content tracks the practical nursing exam.

• Who it's for: RNs
• Format: 5 multiple-choice sections
• Questions: 30 vocabulary, 30 math, 30 analytical reasoning, 50 spelling, 40 reading, 90 natural science, 90 Vocational Adjustment Index
• Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Passing score: Set by each school; raw score plus percentile rank
• Cost: Varies by school
• Prep: RN sample questions on the PSB website; the same Mometrix guide applies

Healthcare exams

These tests target healthcare students broadly, not just nurses, but they measure the same comprehension and critical thinking the field demands.

TEAS

The Test of Essential Academic Skills is one of the most common requirements for nursing applicants. It covers reading, science, English, and math, and predicts readiness for healthcare programs well.

• Who it's for: LPNs and RNs; occasionally medical assistants
• Format: 4 multiple-choice sections
• Questions: 53 reading, 36 math, 53 science, 28 English/vocabulary
• Length: About 3.5 hours
• Passing score: Set by each school, often 60% to 70%
• Cost: Around $50, plus fees to send scores
• Prep: ATI sells study packages and online practice tests

HESI A2

The Health Education Systems Admission Assessment leans heavy on science alongside high school math and English, and adds a personality and learning-style profile.

• Who it's for: LPNs and RNs
• Format: 9 multiple-choice sections
• Questions: 50 math, 50 grammar, 50 vocabulary, 47 reading, 25 biology, 25 chemistry, 25 physics, 25 anatomy/physiology; the profile adds 30 critical thinking and 30 personality/learning-style questions
• Length: Set by each school, generally 2 to 3 hours
• Passing score: Most schools require at least 75%
• Cost: Often $35 to $75
• Prep: Elsevier, which administers the test, sells practice exams, case studies, and e-books

PSB Health Occupations Aptitude Exam

The PSB's general healthcare version, nearly identical in structure and content to its nursing exams.

• Who it's for: RNs entering associate or bachelor's programs
• Format: 5 multiple-choice sections
• Questions: 30 vocabulary, 30 math, 30 analytical reasoning, 50 spelling, 40 reading, 90 natural science, 90 Vocational Adjustment Index
• Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
• Passing score: Set by each school
• Cost: Varies by school
• Prep: Mometrix sells a study guide

General exams

Some programs want standardized test scores instead of, or on top of, a nursing or healthcare exam.

SAT

• Who it's for: Aspiring nursing assistants, LPNs, and RNs
• Format: 2 multiple-choice sections, 1 mixed section, and an optional essay (required by some schools)
• Questions: 58 math, 52 reading, 44 writing and language
• Length: 3 hours without the essay or breaks, just over 4 with them
• Competitive score: At least 1400 of 1600 at most universities, though 1200 is usually enough for lower-level nursing programs
• Cost: Roughly $50, plus a fee for the essay
• Prep: Khan Academy offers free practice questions and full-length tests; the PSAT is good format practice

ACT

The second most common test behind the SAT, covering similar material. The main difference is a science section, which can suit nursing applicants.

• Who it's for: Aspiring nursing assistants, LPNs, and RNs
• Format: 4 multiple-choice sections plus an optional essay
• Questions: 75 English, 60 math, 40 reading, 40 science
• Length: 2 hours 55 minutes without the essay or breaks, 3 hours 50 minutes with them
• Competitive score: 23 of 36 beats the national average; the most competitive schools want at least 30
• Cost: Roughly $50, plus a fee for the essay
• Prep: The ACT website has free study guides, daily questions, and section practice tests

GRE

If you already hold an RN license and want to become an advanced practice nurse, a master's program may require the Graduate Record Exam. It measures verbal skills, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing, with optional subject tests in areas like biology and chemistry.

• Who it's for: RNs pursuing a master's
• Format: 2 sections mixing multiple-choice, select-in-passage, and numeric entry, plus 1 writing section
• Questions: Computer version has 40 verbal, 40 quantitative, and 2 writing tasks; the paper version has 50 verbal, 50 quantitative, and 2 writing tasks
• Length: 3 hours 45 minutes (computer), 3 hours 30 minutes (paper)
• Competitive score: High 150s on verbal and quantitative, 4.5 on writing
• Cost: $205 for the General GRE, plus $150 per subject test
• Prep: ETS offers free sample questions, scoring guides, and prep tips

Exam formats, costs, and scoring change. Confirm current details with the test administrator and your target school before you register.

Preparing for nursing entrance exams

Passing an entrance exam is not an on-the-fly exercise. Work the plan.

Set a target score first. A concrete number keeps your prep focused. Then build a study schedule around your habits, the test date, and the material you need to cover, and stick to it.

Master the format before test day. Know the question types you will face and how to move through them. Take practice tests under real conditions and timing, then check your results and adjust your plan toward your weak areas.

Once you know the format, walk in with a strategy. Knowing when to make an educated guess and how to budget your time can be the difference between hitting your target and missing it. If your confidence is low, a tutor or tutoring service can shore up weak spots before the exam.

Do not study every waking hour. Burnout produces worse results, not better ones. Protect time for your interests and downtime alongside the prep.

FAQ

Do I need to take a nursing entrance exam?

It depends on the school, but the vast majority of pre-licensure programs require at least one, and some require more.

What is the difference between the TEAS and HESI?

Both center on healthcare, but the subject matter differs. The HESI runs more targeted questions and is the longer test, with roughly 350 questions over about 4 hours. The TEAS leans more general-knowledge, with about 170 questions over roughly 2.5 hours.

Is the TEAS required for all nursing programs?

No. It is common, but not universal. Some programs use the HESI, the SAT or ACT, or a holistic review instead.