FAQ
The test is an assessment for pre-nursing students of your abilities in four essential areas. The test is slightly more than 2 hours, and is a proctored, standardized assessment. It has three parts that ask you to answer multiple-choice questions covering the following:
- Verbal Abilities
- Math
- Science
Please bring a current photo ID.
During administration of the test, examinees are only allowed to have the following:
- Writing utensil
- Scratch paper (will be provided)
- Very basic calculator
Students may NOT have any of the following items during the test administration:
- Food, drink, or candy
- Textbooks or reference books of any kind
- Sunglasses, hats, or a hood
- Music (CD players, MP3 players, iPods, etc.)
- Communication devices including cell phones, pagers, PDA, etc.
We have been advised that calculators are no longer prohibited by the NLN; however, it is at the discretion of the School of Nursing regarding their use for the NLN-PAX Assessment test. The Santa Monica College Nursing program will allow the use of a BASIC Calculator for the NLN-PAX Assessment test. A pop-up calculator is not provided.
During administration of the test, examinees are only allowed to have the following:
- Writing utensil (please bring your own pencil)
- Scratch paper (will be provided)
- Basic calculator
All testing is done at one of the following locations:
Main Campus at the Assessment Center, Liberal Arts Building, Room 109.
1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405
or
1510 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
The total test administration time is slightly more than 2 hours. It is a computer based, proctored, standardized assessment. It has three parts that ask you to answer multiple-choice questions covering the following:
- Verbal Abilities
- Math
- Science
The passing score on the NLN-PAX RN for California Community College ADN programs is a composite score of 114* (California Community College Chancellor's Office Approved Score).
Guide for the Interpretation of the Score Report Scores
The individual tests included in the examination are identified in the left-hand
column of the report. Immediately to the right, in the column labeled "Score" is the
raw score the examinee earned. This score is the number of test items the examinee
answered correctly. Each test contains some additional items that were included for
test development purposes only. These items are not used to calculate the scores.
The Composite Score
is based on the examinees' performance on the total examination, but is not the sum
of the items answered correctly. It is a standard score, i.e., a weighted combination
of the scores on the individual tests. Composite scores may range from 0 to 200. The
average is 100, and the standard deviation a measure of variability around this average
score, is 20. Most scores range between 50 and 150.
A Percentile Score
For each test and for the composite score is reported in the column labeled "Percentiles."
Percentiles, which range from 0-99, indicate what portion of a reference group of
applicants to similar nursing programs earned raw scores lower than the examinee.
For example, if the report test, shows a percentile score of 84 for a raw score of
49 on the Verbal Ability test, it means that 84% of the norms group received a raw
score of 49 or less. The percentile scores do NOT indicate the percentage of items
that were answered correctly.
Norms Group
Each norms group used in preparing this report is identified at the top of the column
labeled "Percentile Norms." For the Pre-Admission Examination-PN the norms group is
comprised of all applicants to practical nursing programs who took this test during
the period identified at the bottom of the report. For the Pre-Admission Examination-RN
three sets of norms are provided: "DI" refers to applicants to diploma programs; "AD"
refers to applicants to associate degree programs; and "ALL" refers to all applicants
to any of the three types of programs preparing examinees for registered nurse practice.
The most appropriate norms group to use is the group which matches or includes the
type of program to which the examinee is applying. This allows comparisons with other
applicants to similar programs. Each norms group is described in the section following
the test scores.
Interpreting the Scores
Percentiles substantially above the 50th percentile indicate better than average
performance, percentiles ranging from about 40-60 average, and those substantially
below the 50th percentile is poorer than average. Noting those parts of the examination
for which the percentiles are high or low may identify areas of strength or weakness.
It should be noted that equal differences in percentiles do not indicate equal differences
in ability since examinees' test scores tend to group around the average score. The
further one is from the average, in either direction, the greater is the degree of
ability represented by each additional percentage point. The difference between percentiles
of 80 and 89 is far greater in terms of ability than the difference between 50 and
59; similarly the difference between percentiles 10 and 19 is greater than the difference
between 50 and 59.
Students who do not achieve a composite score of 114* (California Community College Chancellor's Office Approved Score) or above will be required to complete additional pre-nursing readiness activities prior to admission and enrollment in the nursing program. Pre-nursing readiness activities and clearance of the diagnostic assessment must be completed within one year of the initial diagnostic assessment or you will be removed from the waitlist. This readiness/assessment test is mandatory for admission and students will not be admitted to the program until the readiness activities are completed and the assessment test has been passed. Readiness and remediation activities completed at other colleges or institutions will NOT be accepted by the Nursing Program at Santa Monica College.
Students are ineligible for the SMC ADN program should they fail to achieve a minimum composite score of 114 on the NLN-PAX during their second testing session. (SMC Nursing Program, Student Handbook, Page 74)
If you have taken the NLN-PAX RN within the last three years, please request that a NLN-PAX RN Official Test Report be sent to the Santa Monica College Nursing Program, ATTN: Eve Adler by the last day of nursing admissions testing for the upcoming class.
To order an Official Test Report, send a written request and payment $25 per report (money order or certified check only) to:
National League for Nursing
1840 Innovation Drive, Suite 106
Carbondale, Il 62903
Email Michelle Aragon at Aragon_Michelle@smc.edu including
- your original assessment date
- your full name (used to register)
- your SMC Student ID number
Please state in your email that you will be rescheduling your testing date, then return to the Registration Page and select a different date.
If you take the NLN-PAX RN at Santa Monica College’s Assessment Center your results will be automatically available to the SMC Nursing Program and you do not need to have them sent.
If you took the NLN-PAX RN at another location you will need to request that a NLN-PAX RN Official Test Report be sent to the Santa Monica College Nursing Program, ATTN: Ida M. Danzey by the last day of nursing admissions testing for the upcoming class.
To order an Official Test Report, send a written request and payment $25 per report (money order or certified check only) to:
National League for Nursing
1840 Innovation Drive, Suite 106
Carbondale, Il 62903