{"id":811,"date":"2023-04-06T16:45:51","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T16:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=811"},"modified":"2026-02-04T20:16:03","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T20:16:03","slug":"nclex-rn-question-types","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/nclex\/nclex-rn-question-types\/","title":{"rendered":"NCLEX-RN\u00ae Question Types"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The NCLEX-RN\u00ae is composed of primarily multiple-choice, four-option, text-based questions written at the application\/analysis level of difficulty. These questions may include charts, tables, or graphic images. There are three components of an NCLEX-RN\u00ae exam multiple-choice question. They are as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The <i>stem <\/i>of the question. The stem includes the situation that describes the client, his or her problems or health care needs, and other relevant information. It also includes a question or an incomplete statement. This is the question that you must answer.<\/li>\n<li>Three incorrect answers, referred to here as <i>distracters<\/i>.<\/li>\n<li>The correct answer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The three distracters will probably sound logical to you. They may even be based on information provided in the stem, but they don\u2019t really answer the question. Other incorrect answers may be actions that are common nursing practice but not ideal nursing practice.<\/p>\n<p>The correct answer is the only choice that is recognized as correct by the NCLEX-RN\u00ae exam, so you need to learn to select it. Remember that most answer choices are written at the application level: you will not be able to select answers based on recognition or recall. You must understand the <i>whys <\/i>of nursing care in order to select the correct response.<\/p>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-yes   avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><\/p>\n<h2>NCLEX Item Types<\/h2>\n<h4>Taking the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/nclex\/next-generation-2023\/\">Next Generation NCLEX<\/a>?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4>Try our free NCLEX practice questions.<\/h4>\n<p>\n<\/div><div  class='avia-button-wrap avia-button-right ' ><a href='https:\/\/www.kaplanquizzes.com\/next-gen-nclex\/'  class='avia-button  avia-color-theme-color   avia-icon_select-no avia-size-large avia-position-right '   ><span class='avia_iconbox_title' >Free Next Gen NCLEX Practice Questions<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_promobox  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >NCLEX-RN\u00ae Sample Practice Question<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_heading '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><p>A woman is admitted to the hospital with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. A laparotomy is scheduled. Preoperatively, which of the following goals is <i>MOST <\/i>important for the nurse to include on the client\u2019s plan of care?<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. Fluid replacement<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">2. Pain relief<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">3. Emotional support<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">4. Respiratory therapy<\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><br \/><b>Solution:<\/b><br \/>Answer choice (1), fluid replacement, makes sense because this client has a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is implantation of the fertilized ovum in a site other than the endometrial lining, usually the fallopian tube. Initially, the pregnancy is normal; but as the embryo outgrows the fallopian tube, the tube ruptures, causing extensive bleeding into the abdominal cavity. Answer choice (4), respiratory therapy, does not make sense with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. The obstetrical client is not likely to need respiratory care prior to surgery. After reading this question, many students select answer choices (2) or (3) as the correct answer. They justify this by emphasizing the importance of managing this woman\u2019s pain, or addressing her grief about losing the pregnancy. However, Neither answer choice takes priority over the physiological demand of fluid replacement prior to surgery.<\/p>\n<p><div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_iconlist  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >NCLEX-RN\u00ae Alternate Format Test Questions<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>Your NCLEX-RN\u00ae exam may also contain questions in a format other than traditional four-option, text-based, multiple-choice questions. These other types of questions, called <i>alternate questions<\/i>, are part of the test pool of questions for the NCLEX-RN\u00ae exam. These alternate format question types include:<br \/><div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_iconlist '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue818' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Multiple response questions<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><a title=\"NCLEX Alternate Format Questions: Select All That Apply\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/nclex\/nclex-alternate-format-questions-select-all-that-apply\/\">Multiple response questions<\/a> require you to select all answer choices that apply from among five or six answer options<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8ba' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >\u201cHot spot\u201d questions<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><a title=\"NCLEX Alternate Format Questions: Hot Spot\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/nclex\/nclex-alternate-format-questions-hot-spot\/\">&#8220;Hot spot&#8221; questions<\/a>\u00a0require you to identify a \u201chot spot\u201d or specific area on a graphic image by clicking on the correct area with the mouse<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8db' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Fill-in-the-blank questions<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><a title=\"NCLEX-RN Alternate Format Questions: Fill-in-the-Blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/nclex\/nclex-rn-alternate-format-questions-fill-in-the-blank\/\">Fill-in-the-blank questions<\/a>\u00a0require you to calculate a number and then type it into a blank space provided after the question<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8a5' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Drag-and-drop\/ordered response questions <\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p><a title=\"NCLEX-RN Alternate Format Questions: Drag and Drop\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/nclex\/nclex-rn-alternate-format-questions-drag-and-drop\/\">Drag-and-drop\/ordered response questions<\/a> ask you to place answers in a specific order<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>There are also three types of alternate format questions that are variations on the traditional four-option multiple-choice question. These include:<br \/><div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-last '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue8c7' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Chart\/exhibit questions<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Chart\/exhibit questions require you to click an Exhibit button to display charts and\/or exhibits that provide information needed to answer the question. Once you have done so, you then select the correct choice from among four multiple-choice answer options.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue860' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Audio item questions<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Audio item questions present you with an audio clip that you listen to on headphones. After listening to the clip, you then select the correct choice from among four multiple-choice answer options.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue80e' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Graphics questions <\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Graphics questions present you with graphics instead of text as the four multiple-choice answer options.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><br \/>These questions are either counted toward your NCLEX-RN\u00ae exam results or they are experimental questions for future exams that are not counted.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class='avia-iframe-wrap'><iframe title=\"How to Approach NCLEX Test Questions\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oZTw6gj2zRc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The NCLEX-RN\u00ae is composed of primarily multiple-choice, four-option, text-based questions written at the application\/analysis level of difficulty. These questions may include charts, tables, or graphic images. There are three components of an NCLEX-RN\u00ae exam multiple-choice question. They are as follows: The stem of the question. The stem includes the situation that describes the client, his [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[97],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/811"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=811"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49140,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/811\/revisions\/49140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}