NCLEX highlight questions

The passage is split into parts you can tap or click to highlight. The question tells you what to look for, for example findings that need follow-up or entries that need correcting.

1. Read the question first, so you know what you are hunting for.
2. Read the passage as written, and judge each part on its own.
3. Highlight only what answers the question. Extra highlights can cost points.

NCSBN gives partial credit on items that have more than one correct answer, under three rules, and ties each rule to what the instructions ask you to do. Its current pages do not publish a format-by-format table, so read the instructions on each item.

• Plus/minus (+/-)

  NCSBN uses it when you may select an unspecified number of options. You earn a point for each correct option you select and lose a point for each incorrect one. The most you can earn is the number of correct options; the lowest score is zero.

  When the item lets you highlight an unspecified number of parts, it is the plus/minus case.

• Zero/one (0/1)

  NCSBN uses it when you are told to choose a specific number of responses. You earn a point for each correct response and nothing for an incorrect one. On an item worth several points, the item score is the sum of the correct responses.

  When the item tells you how many parts to highlight, it is the zero/one case.

The example below has two correct parts and lets you pick any number, so it is worth up to 2 points.

Sources: NCLEX.com, Frequently Asked Questions; NCSBN, 2026 NCLEX-RN Test Plan (PDF); NCLEX.com, Prepare (tutorial and sample items). Checked against NCSBN as of October 29, 2026.

A practice item from our own NCLEX-RN practice exams, written to the published test plan. It is not a real NCLEX question. Try it before you open the answer.

• Bow-tie
• Matrix (grid)
• Select all that apply (multiple response)
• Drop-down cloze
• Trend
• All question types