NCLEX/REx PN

All You Need to Know

The following are strategies to consider when preparing to write the REx-PN.

Applicants may choose to use all or some of these suggestions or may decide to develop their own strategies for taking the test. Regardless of how they choose to prepare for their test, all applicants should evaluate their learning needs and upgrade their skills and knowledge where needed before attempting the test.

Review CNO’s practice documents.
If you are an internationally educated nurse, consider enrolling in a program offered by an educational institution designed to help applicants to CNO become familiar with current nursing practice in Ontario.
If English or French is not your first language, take an English or French language course that emphasizes both written and oral skills.
Consider joining a nursing peer support group. These groups can provide suggestions for preparing to write the exam.
Review the test plan. The Test Plan details the content areas that the REx-PN tests. It also describes how the exam is structured, including length and scoring.
Review questions , which can be downloaded in English and French. The preview allows you to review exam items similar to the REx-PN items you’ll see on test day. The preview is a static exam that is not scored nor a predictor of whether you will pass or fail your actual REx-PN. The 125 items included in this preview will not appear on the current or future exams

Some applicants may choose to enrol in an examination preparation course that may help them review content and learn techniques for computer adaptive tests.

You may find prep courses helpful in preparing to write the exam, but the choice of what will help you prepare is yours. Third-party vendors may develop and offer REx-PN preparation courses, but it is important to know that they do not have access to the REx-PN question bank. CNO is aware of some prep courses being developed in English but cannot attest to their success in helping someone to prepare to write the REx-PN. Information provided from CNO website at https://www.cno.org/become-a-nurse/examinations/registered-practical-nurse-rpn-registration-examinations/preparing-for-the-rex-pn

Exam Question Types

These include:

Drag-and-Drop: When choosing a response, test-takers can drag an option to the answer box, keeping in mind that multiple answers might be correct. Test-takers can also drag the option back to its original list or eliminate it from the question entirely.

Drop-Down: This involves a section that offers a selection of drop-down choices for completing a sentence or paragraph, with each choice presenting three to five potential answers.
Drag-and-Drop Rational: This query involves a question with either a singular cause and effect or dual causes. Test-takers can select an answer from a list and place it over a specified target. They can easily drag the answer back to the list or remove it if they want to change their choice. This method ensures a dynamic and interactive approach to assessing understanding, allowing for a straightforward and efficient evaluation process.
Drop Down Rationale and Table: This type of question involves one sentence that outlines a cause and its effects, potentially leading to multiple outcomes. The response might take the form of a dyad, consisting of a single sentence with two options to choose from, or a triad, presenting a single sentence accompanied by three selectable options.
Matrix Multiple Choice and Response: These inquiries consist of four to ten lines, each offering two or three choices. Participants must select one option per line to proceed. Completing all selections is mandatory before moving on to the subsequent question.
Multiple Response Select N: This type stands out from other multiple-choice questions because test-takers select only a specified number of options, unlike in other formats where they might be allowed to choose all that apply.
Multiple Response Grouping: The multiple-choice question format involves a structured table containing two to five categories, each offering two to four choices. All categories feature an equal number of options, requiring test-takers to make at least one selection per category to proceed.
Highlight Text and Table: Taste-takers select key parts of the text to pinpoint what’s crucial for the task at hand. The type of question features answers broken down into manageable pieces, with a limit of ten options available. Test-takers have the flexibility to choose or remove options as they deem appropriate.