NLN NEX Science study guide
NLN NEX Science · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The NLN NEX is an assessment examination developed by the National League for Nursing (NLN), a professional organization for nursing education based in Washington, DC. Exams of this type are typically used by nursing programs and prospective students as a standardized measure of science and general academic readiness, and results are usually reported to the institution that administers the assessment rather than to the candidate alone. This study platform is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the NLN. When this page was prepared, the NLN's dedicated NEX assessment page returned a "Page Not Found" error, so the official test blueprint, item count, time limit, fee, scoring scale, retake rules, and score-reporting policy could not be confirmed from a primary source. The NLN NEX Science study guide has 4 sections and about 1,214 words.
01Life and Physical Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Fundamentals
Expect questions on cell theory, levels of organization (cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism), and homeostasis. Photosynthesis stores energy in glucose inside chloroplasts and consumes CO₂; cellular respiration releases that energy in mitochondria and produces CO₂.
303 words, about 2 min02Human Anatomy and Physiology: Systems, Feedback, and Transport
Start with the body's levels of organization and homeostasis. Negative feedback reverses a change and is the dominant control mechanism (thermoregulation, blood glucose).
290 words, about 1 min03Microbiology and Health-Related Science: Pathogens and Infection Control
Distinguish prokaryotes (bacteria, no membrane-bound nucleus) from eukaryotes (fungi, protozoa) and from viruses, which are obligate intracellular parasites with a nucleic acid core and a protein coat. Bacteria come in three basic shapes - cocci (spheres), bacilli (rods), and spirilla (spirals).
304 words, about 2 min04Scientific Reasoning and Data Interpretation: Variables, Graphs, and Evidence
A testable hypothesis predicts a relationship between an independent variable (what the researcher manipulates) and a dependent variable (what is measured). The control group receives no treatment or a placebo, while controlled variables are held constant for all groups.
317 words, about 2 min