For aspiring nurses, passing the Nursing Licensure Examination is one of your ultimate goals to become a Registered Nurse (RN), as it will be your gateway to landing a job in a government institution. Like other board examinations, passing the NLE requires rigorous preparation, especially if you plan to review on your own.
In this blog, we discuss tips on passing the board exam successfully.
Here is a comprehensive guide to understanding and acing the NLE.
What is an NLE?
The NLE stands for the Nurse Licensure Examination.
It’s a national exam administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board of Nursing (BON).
Under Republic Act 9173, also known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, passing the NLE is a mandatory legal requirement before any individual can practice professional nursing in the Philippines.
What is the coverage of the NLE?
Knowing the scope or coverage for the Nursing Licensure Examination is crucial when you are preparing for the upcoming board exam, as it will help you evaluate the subjects you need to focus on.
Below is the summary of the Nursing coverage.
Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination (PNLE) Coverage
Type a subject or keyword to view the complete breakdown (e.g., Nursing Practice I, Nursing Practice III, Community Health, Medical-Surgical):
Nursing Practice I
Total Board Exam: 100 Questions (Part A + Part B)
| Subjects / Topics | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| Care of Individuals, Families, Population Groups and Community (Community Health Nursing) | 80% | 80 |
| Application of Nursing Process, Ethico-Legal/Moral Practice, and Quality Improvement in Primary Care | 20% | 20 |
| Total | 100% | 100 Items |
Nursing Practice II
Total Board Exam: 100 Questions (Part A + Part B)
| Subjects / Topics | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 – Care of Mother, Adolescent (Well Clients), At Risk or With Problems (Acute & Chronic) Part 2 – Human Growth and Development Care of Neonate, Infant, Toddler, Pre-school, School-age Child and Adolescent (Well Clients) Care of At-Risk Neonate, Infant, Toddler, Pre-school, School-age Sick Child, and Adolescent with Alterations in Health Status (Acute & Chronic) | 80% | 80 |
| Nursing Informatics, Communication, Documentation, and Research Utilization in Maternal-Child Care | 20% | 20 |
| Total | 100% | 100 Items |
Nursing Practice III
Total Board Exam: 100 Questions (Part A + Part B)
| Subjects / Topics | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| Care of Clients with Problems in Surgery, Oxygenation, Fluid and Electrolytes, Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Response, Cellular Aberrations (Acute and Chronic) | 80% | 80 |
| Pharmacology, Diet Therapy, Laboratory and Diagnostic Interpretations, and Safety | 20% | 20 |
| Total | 100% | 100 Items |
Nursing Practice IV
Total Board Exam: 100 Questions (Part A + Part B)
| Subjects / Topics | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| Care of Client with Problems in Nutrition, Gastrointestinal, Metabolism, and Endocrine. Perception and Coordination (Acute and Chronic) | 80% | 80 |
| Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Nursing, Leadership, and Management in Complex Clinical Settings | 20% | 20 |
| Total | 100% | 100 Items |
Nursing Practice V
Total Board Exam: 100 Questions (Part A + Part B)
| Subjects / Topics | Weight | Items |
|---|---|---|
| Care of Clients with Maladaptive Patterns of Behavior (Acute and Chronic); Care of Clients with Life-Threatening Condition, Acutely ILL/Multi-Organ Problems, High Acuity and Emergency | 80% | 80 |
| Professional Adjustment, Nursing Jurisprudence, Code of Ethics for Nurses, and Nursing Research Application | 20% | 20 |
| Total | 100% | 100 Items |
For a comprehensive guide, refer here: Board of Nursing - NLE Table of Specifications
What is the passing score for the NLE?
To pass the NLE, an examinee must obtain a general weighted average of at least 75% with no rating below 60% in any of the five core subjects.
If you get a high general average but score below 60% in even a single Nursing Practice core subject, your status will be marked as Failed or Conditional.
Here’s how your NLE scores are computed.
| Core Subjects | Weighted Score |
|---|---|
| Nursing Practice I | Part A: 80% (80 total items) Part B: 20% (20 total items) |
| Nursing Practice II | Part A: 80% (80 total items) Part B: 20% (20 total items) |
| Nursing Practice III | Part A: 80% (80 total items) Part B: 20% (20 total items) |
| Nursing Practice IV | Part A: 80% (80 total items) Part B: 20% (20 total items) |
| Nursing Practice V | Part A: 80% (80 total items) Part B: 20% (20 total items) |
Formula:
1. To get your percentage rating: Core subject Percentage (P) = Scores (S)/Raw Scores (RS) x 100
2. To get your weighted average: Weighted Score (WS)= Core subject Percentage (P) x Weighted Average (WA)
NLE Grading Sample Scenarios
The five subtests carry equal weight (20% each). The final rating is computed by adding the percentage scores of all parts and dividing by five.
Example 1: Passed Rating
| Core Subjects | P = S/R Score x 100 | WS = P x WA |
|---|---|---|
| NP I | Part A: 70/80 x 100 = 87.5 Part B: 10/20 x 100 = 50 | 87.5 x .80 = 70% 50 x .20 = 10% WS = 80% |
| NP II | Part A: 70/80 x 100 = 87.5 Part B: 15/20 x 100 = 75 | 87.5 x .80 = 70% 75 x .20 = 15% WS = 85% |
| NP III | Part A: 60/80 x 100 = 75 Part B: 20/20 x 100 = 100 | 75 x .80 = 60% 100 x .20 = 20% WS = 80% |
| NP IV | Part A: 75/80 x 100 = 93.75 Part B: 17/20 x 100 = 85 | 93.75 x .80 = 75% 85 x .20 = 17% WS = 92% |
| NP V | Part A: 65/80 x 100 = 81.25 Part B: 19/20 x 100 = 95 | 81.25 x .80 = 65% 95 x .20 = 19% WS = 84% |
| Total and Remarks | 84.2% (PASSED) |
Nurse A passed the board examination because she achieved a general rating of 84.2%, which is above the required passing mark of 75%, and did not receive a rating below 60% in any core subject.
Example 2: Conditional Rating
| Core Subjects | P = S/R Score x 100 | WS = P x WA |
|---|---|---|
| NP I | Part A: 75/80 x 100 = 93.75 Part B: 17/20 x 100 = 85 | 93.75 x .80 = 75% 85 x .20 = 17% WS = 92% |
| NP II | Part A: 75/80 x 100 = 93.75 Part B: 15/20 x 100 = 75 | 93.75 x .80 = 75% 75 x .20 = 15% WS = 90% |
| NP III | Part A: 60/80 x 100 = 75 Part B: 20/20 x 100 = 100 | 75 x .80 = 60% 100 x .20 = 20% WS = 80% |
| NP IV | Part A: 48/80 x 100 = 60 Part B: 7/20 x 100 = 35 | 60 x .80 = 48% 35 x .20 = 7% WS = 55% |
| NP V | Part A: 50/80 x 100 = 62.5 Part B: 8/20 x 100 = 40 | 62.5 x .80 = 50% 40x .20 = 8% WS = 58% |
| Total and Remarks | 75% (CONDITIONAL) |
Nurse B received a conditional rating because, according to RA 9173, Article IV, Section 15, an examinee who obtains a general rating of 75 will receive a "conditional" remark, which means she needs to retake the subject/s with a rating below 60; however, she must score 75% on the subject/s retaken.
Example 3: Failed Rating
| Core Subjects | P = S/R Score x 100 | WS = P x WA |
|---|---|---|
| NP I | Part A: 75/80 x 100 = 93.75 Part B: 9/20 x 100 = 45 | 93.75 x .80 = 75% 45 x .20 = 9% WS = 84% |
| NP II | Part A: 80/80 x 100 = 100 Part B: 3/20 x 100 = 15 | 100 x .80 = 80% 15 x .20 = 3% WS = 83% |
| NP III | Part A: 70/80 x 100 = 87.5 Part B: 10/20 x 100 = 50 | 87.5 x .80 = 70% 50 x .20 = 10% WS = 80% |
| NP IV | Part A: 60/80 x 100 = 75 Part B: 7/20 x 100 = 35 | 75 x .80 = 60% 35 x .20 = 7% WS = 67% |
| NP V | Part A: 50/80 x 100 = 62.5 Part B: 8/20 x 100 = 40 | 62.5 x .80 = 50% 40x .20 = 8% WS = 58% |
| Total and Remarks | 74.4% (FAILED) |
Nurse C receives a "Failed" rating because her general average did not meet the minimum passing score of 75%.
To pass the Nursing Board Exam, ensure you meet the minimum weighted average of 75% without a score below 60% in any subject.
Read more: How to Compute Your Board Exam Rating
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