WCTC Library: Pre-Nursing: PAX Exam Prep

Online Resources from NLN Online

In order In order to access the official digital test prep materials from the National League for Nursing (NLN), you must create an NLN account.

Create your account online.
You must list WCTC as your school.
The password link to complete your account set-up is valid for 24 hours.
Once your student account has been created, log in and click on the BUY EXAM tab.
Use the Search Catalog to select STUDENT PRODUCTS > TEST PREP > See PAX Prep Products for purchase.
The cost is $25 per subject area (math, science, and verbal) and $20 each for each PAX Prep Bonus Exam (math, science, and verbal). There are also Flash Cards available for $20.

Please contact the WCTC Testing Center if you have questions about this process. Email testingcenter@wctc.edu or call 262.695.6215.

Online Resources from the LearningExpress Library

The LearningExpress Library is available at any time to any Wisconsin resident. If you are an enrolled WCTC student, access the LearningExpress Library from the WCTC Library's database collection. If you are not an enrolled student, access the LearningExpress Library from Badgerlink. You must register for a free account to use LearningExpress. If you need assistance creating an account, please contact WCTC Library staff. There is no cost to use these online resources.

Online NLN-PAX Practice Exam Tests

Three test modes are available: simulation (timed), practice, or learner (answers provided as you go along).

Ebook

Nursing School Entrance Exams: Complete Test Preparation, 4th edition ebook
• An exam planner includes a description of the test.
• The LearningExpress test preparation system includes studying strategies.
• Three comprehensive practice tests with answers are included. Note: The Verbal Ability section on these tests includes spelling, which is not tested on the NLN PAX.
• Review and questions/answers on verbal ability, reading, math, general biology, human physiology & anatomy, chemistry, and general science are included.

Academic Support Center Services

Practice testing, instruction, and concept review are available in the Reading, Math, and Science Centers in the Student Enrichment Center (SEC). The cost is $4.50 for 108 hours of help during one semester at any of the three Centers.

The Reading, Math and Science Centers are located in the Student Enrichment Center, which is on the top floor of the B Building. Stop in or call 262.691.5311.

The Reading Center will help students build their vocabulary, discuss practice passage rationales, and provide additional verbal section materials to practice vocabulary and comprehension.
The Math Center will review challenging concepts and can provide additional math practice problems for students as needed. They also have packets on fractions and percents, and use an additional math review book.
The Science Center will also review challenging concepts with students after a practice test is taken.

About the NLN PAX Exam

The NLN PAX Exam contains 160 questions total: 60 verbal, 40 math, and 60 science, with 40 minutes allotted to each section.

Verbal ability assesses reading comprehension, critical thinking, and word knowledge.
Mathematics assesses mathematical reasoning and problem solving ability involving basic operations, word problems, unit conversions, fractions, decimals, algebra, and geometry.
Science assesses knowledge of general biology and microbiology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology, ecology, and health science.

Chat is available when the Library is open. If chat is offline, click here to submit a question.

Print Resources from the WCTC Library

Limited copies of the following books are available at the WCTC Library in the Student Enrichment Center. Registered WCTC students may check these books out for 14 days; all other borrowers are restricted to in-building use only. There is no cost to check out these items.

Most of these books include preparation for a variety of tests. Some parts do not apply to the PAX Verbal test. Before using these resources to study for the PAX Exam, we strongly recommend talking to an instructor in the Reading Center in the SEC. Instructors there can identify which information in the books below will help you study for the test.

Nursing School Entrance Exams by Sandra S. Swick; Rita R. Callahan WHAT IS HELPFUL:
• The section on root words is okay, but it adds medical terminology that is not on the PAX test.
WHAT IS NOT HELPFUL:
• No valuable discussion of reading comprehension.
• The sample tests are not specific to the PAX test.
• The verbal ability sample tests include analogies and antonyms/synonyms that are not on the PAX test.
• The passages on the reading comprehension sample test are longer than those on the PAX test.
• The number of questions on the sample tests is not the same as on the PAX test.
• The sample tests do not allow for timing practice.
Call Number: RT79 .G75 2020
ISBN: 9781438012353
Publication Date: 2020
PAX Study Guide Book 2020 & 2021 by Test Prep Books
Call Number: RT55 .P38753 2020 2020-2021
ISBN: 9781628459609
Publication Date: 2019
PAX Study Guide Book 2019 & 2020 by Test Prep Books WHAT IS HELPFUL:
• The section on critical thinking is good.
• The word level on the verbal questions is good.
• The reading passages on the verbal questions are good.
WHAT IS NOT HELPFUL:
• There is a discussion of literature devices which is unnecessary.
• The verbal questions are not structured exactly like the PAX.
• There are too many context clues on the verbal questions.
• The verbal questions do not allow for timing.
Call Number: Pre Nursing/543
ISBN: 9781628456189
Publication Date: 2019
Master the Nursing School and Allied Health Entrance Exams by Peterson's WHAT IS HELPFUL:
• The level of the words on the practice tests is good.
• The reading passages on the practice tests are at the appropriate level.
WHAT IS NOT HELPFUL:
• Analogies, spelling, and grammar are not on the PAX test.
• The instruction on reading comprehension is brief and not very useful.
• The verbal ability practice test has many things in it that will not be on the PAX test.
• There is no practice test that is modeled like the PAX vocabulary test.
• The reading passages on the practice test are not formatted like the PAX.
• The practice tests do not allow for timing.
Call Number: RT79 .G65 2019
ISBN: 9780768943092
Publication Date: 2019
PAX-RN Secrets Study Guide by PAX Nursing Exam Secrets Test Prep Staff (Editor) WHAT IS HELPFUL:
• The vocabulary test is very good and it models the PAX vocabulary section.
WHAT IS NOT HELPFUL:
• There is no reading comprehension practice test.
• This does not model the PAX test and does not allow for timing practice.
Call Number: RT55 .P3875 2018
ISBN: 9781610724883
Publication Date: 2018
Nursing School Entrance Exams: General Review for the TEAS, HESI, PAX-RN, Kaplan, and PSB-RN Exams by Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions Staff WHAT IS HELPFUL:
• The vocabulary and reading comprehension suggestions are good.
• The level on the practice test is appropriate.
WHAT IS NOT HELPFUL:
• Spelling is included which is not on the PAX test.
• The practice test does not model the PAX in format or content.
• The practice test cannot be used to practice timing.
• Does not include a description of the PAX test.
Call Number: RT79 .N863 2016
Publication Date: 2016
PAX-RN Practice Questions by Mometrix Test Preparation WHAT IS HELPFUL:
• There are two verbal practice tests and they are very much like the PAX test.
WHAT IS NOT HELPFUL:
• There is no general test information or instructions on timing.
Call Number: RT55 .P387 2014
Publication Date: 2014
McGraw-Hill's Nursing School Entrance Exams by Thomas A. Evangelist; Tamra B. Orr; Judy Unrein, Kathy A. Zahler WHAT IS HELPFUL:
• The practice for the reading comprehension portion of the test is good.
• Information about the content, including sections of the PAX, is included.
WHAT IS NOT HELPFUL:
• The quizzes include content areas that are not on the PAX, and are not set up like the PAX test.
• The information about the format of the PAX test is incorrect.
• Timing cannot be practiced since the quizzes don't model the actual PAX test.
Call Number: RT73.7 .E92 2013
Publication Date: 2013