NGN FAQs for Candidates

When will the new format go in effect?

The Next Generation NCLEX will become effective beginning April 1, 2023.

What types of items were approved for the Next Generation NCLEX?

Based on psychometric analysis of these item prototypes’ performance, NCSBN has approved five new item types that measure nursing clinical judgment. The following provides the names, descriptions and examples of the five item types.

1. Extended Multiple Response: Extended Multiple Response items allow candidates to select one or more answer options at a time. This item type is similar to the current NCLEX multiple response items but with more options and using partial credit scoring.

2. Extended Drag and Drop: Extended Drag and Drop items allow candidates to move or place response options into answer spaces. This item type is like the current NCLEX ordered response items but not all of the response options may be required to answer the item. In some items, there may be more response options than answers spaces.

3. Cloze (Drop – Down): Cloze (Drop-Down) Items allow candidates to select one option from a drop-down list. There can be more than one drop-down list in a cloze item. These drop-down lists can be used as words or phrases within a sentence, within tables and charts.

4. Enhanced Hot Spot (Highlighting): Enhanced Hot Spot items allow candidates to select their answer by highlighting pre-defined words or phrases. Candidates can select and deselect the highlighted parts by clicking on the words or phrases. These types of items allow an individual to read a portion of a client medical record, (e.g., a nursing note, medical history, lab values, medication record, etc.) and then select the words or phrases that answer the item.

5. Matrix/Grid: Matrix/Grid items allow the candidate to select one or more answer options for each row and/or column. This item type can be useful in measuring multiple aspects of the clinical scenario with a single item. In the example below, each of the eight rows will need to have one of the three answer choices selected.

What is the NGN scoring model?

The scoring model for NGN will extend the current scoring model. Currently, the NCLEX items are scored as either ‘all correct’ or ‘all incorrect’. These models are referred to as dichotomous models. However, the new NGN scoring models, called polytomous models, will extend this by allowing partial scores of items with multiple points.