Are flashcards effective for the NLN PAX exam?

Yes. Flashcards use active recall — retrieving an answer from memory — which research shows is one of the most effective ways to make information stick, especially in short sessions spread over several days. That matters for PAX facts like word parts and medical roots, metric conversions, and the body systems.

What topics do the NLN PAX flashcards cover?

All three PAX sections: Verbal Ability (prefixes, roots, suffixes, context clues, synonyms, confused words, and reading skills), Mathematics (fractions/decimals/percents, measurement and proportions, algebra, and data), and Science (cell biology, genetics, the body systems, chemistry, and health). There are no physics or geometry cards — those topics were removed from the current exam.

Do these flashcards match the current NLN PAX exam?

Yes. Every card is written to the current NLN NEX (the exam that replaced the PAX in 2024) — three sections (Verbal, Mathematics, Science), with the physics, geometry, and earth-science content the 2024 update removed left out — and to official guidance from the NLN, NIH, and NIST.

How should I study with these flashcards?

Mix the modes: flip to learn, type to test recall, match for speed, and quiz to check yourself. Spend the most time on Science — it is the largest and historically lowest-scoring section — and drill the Verbal word parts and the Math fraction/decimal/percent and metric conversions until they are automatic.

Are the NLN PAX flashcards free?

Yes — 100% free, all four study modes, no paywall and no sign-up.

What are the 3 sections of the NLN PAX?

Verbal, Mathematics, and Science — each with a 60-minute limit.

Without or not (e.g., anemia = without enough blood).

Against (e.g., antibiotic, antiseptic).

Over, above, or excessive (e.g., hypertension).

Under, below, or deficient (e.g., hypoglycemia).

Slow (e.g., bradycardia = slow heart rate).

Fast (e.g., tachycardia = fast heart rate).

Before (e.g., preoperative, prenatal).

After (e.g., postoperative, postpartum).

Not (e.g., unbiased, inactive).

Again or back (e.g., reinfect, recur).

Difficult, painful, or abnormal (e.g., dysphagia).

Within (e.g., intravenous = within a vein).

Between (e.g., intercostal = between the ribs).

Under or below (e.g., subcutaneous = under the skin).

Around (e.g., pericardium = around the heart).

Many (e.g., polyuria = excessive urination).

Two (e.g., bilateral = both sides).

Bad or abnormal (e.g., malignant, malnutrition).

Heart (e.g., cardiology, cardiac).

Root: derm- / dermat-

Skin (e.g., dermatitis, dermatology).

Blood (e.g., hematology, hemorrhage).

Nerve (e.g., neurology, neuron).

Root: pulmo- / pneumo-

Lung (e.g., pulmonary, pneumonia).

Stomach (e.g., gastritis, gastrointestinal).

Kidney (e.g., nephritis, renal).

Bone (e.g., osteoporosis, osteoarthritis).

Muscle (e.g., myocardium, myalgia).

Life (e.g., biology, antibiotic).

Disease (e.g., pathology, pathogen).

Cell (e.g., cytology, leukocyte).

Joint (e.g., arthritis, arthroscopy).

Root: ophthalm- / ocul-

Eye (e.g., ophthalmology, ocular).

Inflammation (e.g., arthritis, dermatitis).

Study of (e.g., biology, cardiology).

Surgical removal (e.g., appendectomy).

Blood condition (e.g., anemia, leukemia).

Abnormal condition (e.g., osteoporosis).

Pain (e.g., neuralgia, myalgia).

Enzyme (e.g., lactase, catalase).

Suffix: -gram / -graphy

Record / process of recording (e.g., electrocardiogram).

Visual examination (e.g., colonoscopy).

Done to prevent something (e.g., prophylactic antibiotics prevent infection).

Your FREE NLN PAX Flashcards 2026 – 200+ Cards

Q: How many NLN PAX flashcards are there?

Hundreds of free NLN PAX flashcards, organized across the three sections of the exam (now delivered as the NLN NEX): Verbal Ability — prefixes, roots, suffixes, vocabulary, and reading skills; Mathematics — fraction, decimal, and percent conversions, proportions, algebra, and statistics; and Science — biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and health. They're free to use with no account required.

Realistic, NLN-aligned PAX flashcards — flip, match, type, and quiz yourself across Verbal, Mathematics, and Science, the way the nursing-entrance exam tests them.

Master cards to boost your scoreMaster cards to raise your exam readiness score

How well do you know them?

NLN PAX Flashcards

What are the 3 sections of the NLN PAX?: Verbal, Mathematics, and Science — each with a 60-minute limit.
Prefix: a- / an-: Without or not (e.g., anemia = without enough blood).
Prefix: anti-: Against (e.g., antibiotic, antiseptic).
Prefix: hyper-: Over, above, or excessive (e.g., hypertension).
Prefix: hypo-: Under, below, or deficient (e.g., hypoglycemia).
Prefix: brady-: Slow (e.g., bradycardia = slow heart rate).
Prefix: tachy-: Fast (e.g., tachycardia = fast heart rate).
Prefix: pre-: Before (e.g., preoperative, prenatal).
Prefix: post-: After (e.g., postoperative, postpartum).
Prefix: un- / in-: Not (e.g., unbiased, inactive).
Prefix: re-: Again or back (e.g., reinfect, recur).
Prefix: dys-: Difficult, painful, or abnormal (e.g., dysphagia).
Prefix: intra-: Within (e.g., intravenous = within a vein).
Prefix: inter-: Between (e.g., intercostal = between the ribs).
Prefix: sub-: Under or below (e.g., subcutaneous = under the skin).
Prefix: peri-: Around (e.g., pericardium = around the heart).
Prefix: poly-: Many (e.g., polyuria = excessive urination).
Prefix: bi-: Two (e.g., bilateral = both sides).
Prefix: mal-: Bad or abnormal (e.g., malignant, malnutrition).
Root: cardi-: Heart (e.g., cardiology, cardiac).
Root: derm- / dermat-: Skin (e.g., dermatitis, dermatology).
Root: hem- / hemat-: Blood (e.g., hematology, hemorrhage).
Root: neur-: Nerve (e.g., neurology, neuron).
Root: pulmo- / pneumo-: Lung (e.g., pulmonary, pneumonia).
Root: gastr-: Stomach (e.g., gastritis, gastrointestinal).
Root: nephr- / ren-: Kidney (e.g., nephritis, renal).
Root: oste-: Bone (e.g., osteoporosis, osteoarthritis).
Root: my- / myo-: Muscle (e.g., myocardium, myalgia).
Root: hepat-: Liver (e.g., hepatitis).
Root: bio-: Life (e.g., biology, antibiotic).
Root: path-: Disease (e.g., pathology, pathogen).
Root: cyt- / -cyte: Cell (e.g., cytology, leukocyte).
Root: arthr-: Joint (e.g., arthritis, arthroscopy).
Root: ophthalm- / ocul-: Eye (e.g., ophthalmology, ocular).
Suffix: -itis: Inflammation (e.g., arthritis, dermatitis).
Suffix: -ology: Study of (e.g., biology, cardiology).
Suffix: -ectomy: Surgical removal (e.g., appendectomy).
Suffix: -emia: Blood condition (e.g., anemia, leukemia).
Suffix: -osis: Abnormal condition (e.g., osteoporosis).
Suffix: -pathy: Disease (e.g., neuropathy).
Suffix: -algia: Pain (e.g., neuralgia, myalgia).
Suffix: -ase: Enzyme (e.g., lactase, catalase).
Suffix: -gram / -graphy: Record / process of recording (e.g., electrocardiogram).
Suffix: -scopy: Visual examination (e.g., colonoscopy).
Define: prophylactic: Done to prevent something (e.g., prophylactic antibiotics prevent infection).
Define: palliative: Care that relieves symptoms without curing the disease.
Define: benign: Not harmful; not cancerous.
Define: malignant: Harmful; cancerous and able to spread.
Define: chronic: Long-lasting or recurring over time.
Define: acute: Sudden, severe, and short-term.
Define: empirical: Based on observation or experiment rather than theory.
Define: holistic: Treating the whole person — physical, emotional, and social.
Define: nosocomial: Acquired in a hospital or healthcare setting.
Define: etiology: The cause or origin of a disease.
Define: equitable: Fair and impartial.
Define: gregarious: Sociable; fond of company.
Define: reticent: Reserved or reluctant to speak.
Define: ambiguous: Open to more than one interpretation; unclear.
Define: meticulous: Very careful and precise about detail.
Define: contraindicated: Inadvisable; a reason a treatment should NOT be used.
Define: lethargic: Sluggish, drowsy, and lacking energy.
Define: efficacy: The ability to produce a desired result (e.g., drug efficacy).
Define: adverse: Harmful or unfavorable (e.g., an adverse reaction).
Define: concise: Giving a lot of information clearly in few words.
affect vs effect: Affect = usually a verb (to influence). Effect = usually a noun (a result).
their / there / they're: Their = possessive. There = place. They're = they are.
principal vs principle: Principal = main, or a person in charge. Principle = a rule or belief.
fewer vs less: Fewer = countable items (fewer pills). Less = uncountable amount (less water).
accept vs except: Accept = to receive. Except = excluding.
its vs it's: Its = possessive. It's = it is.
then vs than: Then = time/sequence. Than = comparison.
complement vs compliment: Complement = completes. Compliment = praise.
What is the main idea?: The single most important point a passage makes — what it is mostly about.
What is a supporting detail?: A fact, example, reason, or statistic that backs up the main idea.
What is an inference?: A conclusion the author implies but does not state — provable from a specific line.
Inference vs assumption: An inference is supported by the text; an assumption is brought in from outside it.
How to find a word's meaning in context: Use surrounding clues — definition, synonym, antonym (but/however), or example.
Signal words for contrast: But, however, unlike, instead, whereas — they flip the meaning of a nearby word.
What is the author's purpose?: The reason for writing — usually to inform, persuade, entertain, or describe.
What is tone?: The author's attitude toward the topic, shown through word choice.
Application questions: Ask you to take a passage's idea and apply it to a new situation.
Main-idea trap: A true detail that is too narrow to be the whole passage's point.
Topic sentence: A sentence (often first or last) that states a paragraph's main idea.
Fact vs opinion: A fact can be verified; an opinion is a belief or judgment.
Fraction → decimal: Divide the numerator by the denominator (3/4 = 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75).
Decimal → percent: Multiply by 100 and add % (0.75 = 75%).
Percent → decimal: Divide by 100 (75% = 0.75).
1/2 = ? decimal & percent: 0.5 = 50%.
1/4 = ? decimal & percent: 0.25 = 25%.
3/4 = ? decimal & percent: 0.75 = 75%.
1/5 = ? decimal & percent: 0.2 = 20%.
1/3 = ? decimal & percent: ≈ 0.333 ≈ 33.3%.
1/8 = ? decimal: 0.125.
Add fractions: Find a common denominator, add the numerators, keep the denominator, then simplify.
Multiply fractions: Multiply numerators and multiply denominators, then simplify (no common denominator needed).
Divide fractions: Multiply by the reciprocal of the second fraction (flip and multiply).
Percent formula (part): part = (percent ÷ 100) × whole.
Percent formula (percent): percent = (part ÷ whole) × 100.
Percent change formula: (new − old) ÷ old × 100. Positive = increase, negative = decrease.
What % is 15 of 60?: 15 ÷ 60 × 100 = 25%.
What is 20% of 80?: 0.20 × 80 = 16.
A price of 80 marked up to 92 — % increase?: (92 − 80) ÷ 80 × 100 = 15%.
What is a ratio?: A comparison of two quantities, written 3:4 or 3/4.
What is a proportion?: An equation stating two ratios are equal (a/b = c/d).
How to solve a proportion: Cross-multiply: a/b = c/d → a × d = b × c, then isolate the unknown.
1 liter = ? milliliters: 1,000 mL.
1 kilogram = ? grams: 1,000 g.
1 meter = ? centimeters: 100 cm.
1 gram = ? milligrams: 1,000 mg.
Convert 2.5 L to mL: 2.5 × 1,000 = 2,500 mL.
Metric prefix kilo-: 1,000 (kilogram = 1,000 g).
Metric prefix centi-: 1/100 (centimeter = 0.01 m).
Metric prefix milli-: 1/1,000 (milligram = 0.001 g).
Order of operations (PEMDAS): Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply/Divide (left→right), Add/Subtract (left→right).
Evaluate 2 + 3 × 4: Multiply first: 3 × 4 = 12, then 2 + 12 = 14.
Solve 3x + 7 = 22: Subtract 7 (3x = 15), divide by 3 (x = 5).
Solve x/3 + 4 = 10: Subtract 4 (x/3 = 6), multiply by 3 (x = 18).
Solve 2x + 5 < 13: Subtract 5 (2x < 8), divide by 2 (x < 4).
Mean (average): Add all values and divide by how many there are.
Median: The middle value of an ordered data set.
Mode: The value that appears most often.
Range: The largest value minus the smallest value.
Mean of 4, 8, 6, 4, 10: (4+8+6+4+10) ÷ 5 = 32 ÷ 5 = 6.4.
Median of 4, 4, 6, 8, 10: 6 (the middle of five ordered values).
Mode of 4, 4, 6, 8, 10: 4 (it appears most often).
Range of 4, 4, 6, 8, 10: 10 − 4 = 6.
Area of a rectangle: length × width.
Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c² for a right triangle (c = hypotenuse).
3-4-5 right triangle: 3² + 4² = 9 + 16 = 25, so c = √25 = 5.
Translate 'a number increased by 5 is 12': x + 5 = 12, so x = 7.
Two consecutive numbers sum to 47 — the larger?: x + (x+1) = 47 → 2x+1 = 47 → x = 23, larger = 24.
Integer: A whole number and its negatives (…, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, …); no fractions.
Simplify 12/16: Divide both by 4 → 3/4.
Does the PAX include geometry?: No — the 2024 NEX update removed geometry; basic area appears only inside word problems.
Function of the nucleus: Stores DNA and directs the cell's activities — the control center.
Function of the mitochondria: Make most of the cell's ATP energy through cellular respiration — the powerhouse.
Function of ribosomes: Build proteins by translating messenger RNA.
Function of the cell membrane: Selectively controls what enters and leaves the cell.
Function of the endoplasmic reticulum: Transport network; rough ER has ribosomes, smooth ER makes lipids.
Function of the Golgi apparatus: Packages and ships proteins (the cell's post office).
Function of lysosomes: Digest and break down waste and worn-out cell parts.
What do plant cells have that animal cells lack?: A cell wall, chloroplasts (photosynthesis), and a large central vacuole.
Phases of mitosis (in order): Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase (PMAT) — then cytokinesis.
What happens in metaphase?: Chromosomes line up single-file along the cell's middle (the metaphase plate).
What happens in anaphase?: Sister chromatids are pulled apart to opposite poles.
Mitosis vs meiosis: Mitosis makes 2 identical diploid cells (growth/repair); meiosis makes 4 varied haploid gametes.
When does DNA replicate?: During the S phase of the cell cycle (before mitosis).
What is DNA?: The double-helix molecule storing genetic instructions as sequences of A, T, C, G.
DNA base pairing: Adenine pairs with Thymine (A–T); Cytosine pairs with Guanine (C–G).
Genotype vs phenotype: Genotype = the genetic makeup (Aa); phenotype = the observable trait it produces.
Dominant vs recessive allele: Dominant (uppercase) masks recessive (lowercase); recessive shows only as aa.
Aa × Aa Punnett square result: Genotype 1:2:1 (AA:Aa:aa); phenotype 3:1 (dominant:recessive).
What does a Punnett square predict?: The possible genotypes and phenotypes of offspring from a cross.
Osmosis: The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane (low→high solute).
Diffusion: Movement of particles from higher to lower concentration until evenly spread.
Hypertonic solution: Higher solute than the cell, so water leaves and the cell shrinks.
Hypotonic solution: Lower solute than the cell, so water enters and the cell swells.
Photosynthesis: Plants use sunlight, CO₂, and water to make glucose and oxygen in chloroplasts.
Cellular respiration: Cells break down glucose with oxygen to release ATP energy in the mitochondria.
What is homeostasis?: The body's maintenance of a stable internal environment via feedback loops.
Negative vs positive feedback: Negative feedback reverses a change (insulin); positive amplifies it (childbirth, clotting).
Function of catalase: Breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen.
What is a substrate (enzymes)?: The molecule on which an enzyme acts.
Levels of biological organization: Cell → tissue → organ → organ system → organism.
Cardiovascular system job: Heart and vessels pump blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients.
Respiratory system job: Lungs exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Nervous system job: Brain, spinal cord, and nerves sense and control the body.
Musculoskeletal system job: Bones and muscles give structure, protection, and movement.
Digestive system job: Breaks food into nutrients and absorbs them.
Endocrine system job: Glands release hormones that regulate body processes.
Urinary system job: Kidneys filter blood and remove waste as urine.
Integumentary system job: Skin protects, regulates temperature, and senses the environment.
Lymphatic/immune system job: Defends against infection and returns fluid to the blood.
Path of blood through the heart: Body → right heart → lungs → left heart → body.
Arteries vs veins: Arteries carry blood AWAY from the heart; veins carry it TOWARD the heart.
The pulmonary artery & vein exception: Pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood; pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood.
Strongest heart chamber: The left ventricle — it pumps oxygen-rich blood to the whole body.
Which vessel returns oxygenated blood to the heart?: The pulmonary vein (from the lungs to the left atrium).
Hormone that regulates blood calcium: Parathyroid hormone (PTH).
Role of red blood cells: Carry oxygen using hemoglobin.
Role of white blood cells: Fight infection (part of the immune response).
Role of platelets: Start blood clotting.
Function of the cerebellum: Coordinates voluntary muscle movement and balance.
Which is NOT a skeletal-system function?: Body-temperature regulation — that's the integumentary/circulatory job, not the skeleton's.
What is the atomic number?: The number of protons in an atom; it defines the element.
Protons, neutrons, electrons: Protons (+) and neutrons (neutral) in the nucleus; electrons (−) orbit it.
Ionic bond: One atom transfers electrons to another (metal + nonmetal, e.g., NaCl).
Covalent bond: Two atoms share electrons (nonmetals, e.g., water).
Physical vs chemical change: Physical keeps the substance (melting ice); chemical makes a new one (rusting).
The pH scale range: 0 to 14: below 7 acidic, 7 neutral, above 7 basic.
What does an acid do?: Donates hydrogen ions (H⁺); has a pH below 7.
What does a base do?: Accepts H⁺ or forms hydroxide (OH⁻); has a pH above 7.
Is the pH scale logarithmic?: Yes — each step is a tenfold change; pH 3 is 10× more acidic than pH 4.
Blood pH: Tightly held near 7.4 — slightly basic.
Acid + base reaction: Neutralization, producing a salt and water.
States of matter: Solid (fixed shape), liquid (fixed volume), gas (fills its container).
What is the periodic table organized by?: Increasing atomic number, with elements of similar properties in columns (groups).
What is an element?: A pure substance made of one kind of atom, defined by its proton count.
Health area on the PAX: Substance use, physical health, growth & development, mental health, and safety.
What does the PAX Science section NOT include?: Physics and earth science — removed in the 2024 NEX update.
Prefix: epi-: Upon or over (e.g., epidermis = the outer skin layer).
Prefix: ex-: Out of or away (e.g., exhale, excise).
Prefix: macro-: Large (e.g., macroscopic).
Prefix: micro-: Small (e.g., microscope, microorganism).
Root: thermo-: Heat or temperature (e.g., thermometer, hypothermia).
Root: psych-: Mind (e.g., psychology, psychiatry).
Root: ot- / aur-: Ear (e.g., otitis, auditory).
Suffix: -uria: Urine condition (e.g., polyuria, hematuria).
Suffix: -plegia: Paralysis (e.g., paraplegia).
Define: subtle: Delicate or hard to notice; understated.
Define: viable: Capable of working or surviving.
Define: deteriorate: To become progressively worse.
Define: alleviate: To make a problem or pain less severe.
Define: comprehensive: Complete; covering everything.
Define: arbitrary: Based on random choice, not reason or system.
loose vs lose: Loose = not tight. Lose = to misplace or be defeated.
stationary vs stationery: Stationary = not moving. Stationery = writing paper.
Define: prognosis: The likely course or outcome of a disease.
Define: diagnosis: Identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms.
Define: symptom: Evidence of disease the patient feels or reports.
Solve 4x − 9 = 23: Add 9 (4x = 32), divide by 4 (x = 8).
Evaluate 3a − 2b when a=5, b=4: 3(5) − 2(4) = 15 − 8 = 7.
Next in 2, 6, 18, 54, …: 162 (each term is multiplied by 3).
5 textbooks cost 60 — cost of 8?: 60 ÷ 5 = 12 each; 12 × 8 = 96.
Reduce a ratio 6:9: Divide both by 3 → 2:3.
Convert 0.4 to a fraction: 4/10 = 2/5.
Convert 3/5 to a percent: 3 ÷ 5 = 0.6 = 60%.
Average speed for a trip: Total distance ÷ total time (not the average of the speeds).
What does 'per' signal in a word problem?: A ratio or rate (e.g., miles per hour, mg per kg).
First step in an algebra word problem: Define a variable for the unknown, then translate words into an equation.
Function of the alveoli: Tiny lung air sacs where oxygen and CO₂ are exchanged with the blood.
Function of the nephron: The kidney's filtering unit that forms urine.
Function of the neuron: A nerve cell that transmits electrical and chemical signals.
Smallest unit of an element: The atom.
Difference between an organ and a tissue: A tissue is a group of similar cells; an organ is several tissues working together.
Producers vs consumers (ecology): Producers make their own food (plants); consumers eat other organisms.
What is a gene?: A segment of DNA that codes for a protein.
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats — which gives quick energy?: Carbohydrates are the body's main quick energy source.
What controls voluntary movement?: The cerebellum coordinates it; the cerebrum initiates it.
Gap junctions: Cell junctions allowing direct electrical communication, as in cardiac muscle.
Function of the lymphatic system: Returns fluid to the blood and coordinates the immune response.
ATP: Adenosine triphosphate — the molecule cells use to store and spend energy.
Independent vs dependent variable: Independent = what you change; dependent = what you measure in response.
Controlled variable: A factor held constant to keep an experiment fair.
Accuracy vs precision: Accuracy = closeness to the true value; precision = repeatability of results.

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By Career EmployerUpdated Jun 19, 2026

200+ free NLN PAX flashcards — 4 ways to study

NLN PAX Flashcard of the Day

The classic card. Do you know this one?

Click Study Flashcards above to open the flashcard hub — hundreds of NLN PAX cards you can flip, match, type, or quiz yourself on. Every card is drawn from the three sections of the PAX (now the NLN NEX), so you study exactly what the exam tests.^[1] Pair them with our free practice questions and study guide.

NLN PAX Flashcard Study Modes

Most flashcard sites give you one thing: a card to flip. Ours has four modes so you can both learn the material and prove you know it — the difference between recognizing an answer and recalling it under pressure.

Flip (Study) — the classic card. Flip term ↔ definition, shuffle the deck, and mark each card “Got it” or “Still learning.”
Match (Game) — a timed game: pair each term to its definition as fast as you can. Great for cementing word parts and metric conversions.
Type (Recall) — read the definition and type the term. Typing forces true active recall instead of passive recognition.
Quiz (Test) — multiple-choice questions generated from the cards, so you can self-test exactly like exam day.

Free NLN PAX flashcards from Career Employer — active recall for the NLN PAX / NEX nursing-entrance exam

Why Flashcards Work for the NLN PAX Exam

Flashcards aren’t busywork — they’re built on active recall: pulling an answer out of memory strengthens it far more than re-reading notes. Pair that with spacing — short sessions across several days rather than one cram — and you retain more in less time.

That matters on the PAX, where facts like prefixes and medical roots, fraction-to-percent and metric conversions, and the body systems must be instantly available. Used alongside our practice questions and study guide, flashcards turn review time into measurable progress.

NLN PAX Flashcards by Section

The cards are organized by the three PAX sections. Weight your study toward the heaviest one — Science is the largest section of the exam:^[1]

NLN PAX sections and their share of the exam
NLN PAX section	Share of scored items
Science	~38% (55 scored items)
Verbal Ability	~34% (50 scored items)
Mathematics	~28% (40 scored items)

How to Get the Most Out of These Flashcards

Start early, review daily. Begin flashcards as you cover each section, not the week before — a few minutes a day beats one marathon session.
Use Type and Quiz, not just Flip. Recognizing the right answer is easy; recalling and choosing it is the real test.
Drill word parts and conversions hardest. Prefixes/roots/suffixes and fraction-decimal-percent and metric conversions are the densest, most-repeatable points.
Mirror the exam weighting. Spend the most time on Science — at ~38% it carries the most points and is the most improvable.
Study the current exam. There are no physics or geometry cards here — those topics were removed in the 2024 NEX update.
Then prove it. When the cards feel easy, confirm with our practice questions — aim for 80%+ before exam day.

NLN PAX Flashcards FAQ

Hundreds of free NLN PAX flashcards, organized across the three sections of the exam (now delivered as the NLN NEX): Verbal Ability — prefixes, roots, suffixes, vocabulary, and reading skills; Mathematics — fraction, decimal, and percent conversions, proportions, algebra, and statistics; and Science — biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and health. They're free to use with no account required.

References

1.National League for Nursing (NLN). “NEX (Nursing Entrance Exam, formerly the PAX) — Assessment Page & Technical Brief.” NLN.org. ↑
2.National Institutes of Health / National Library of Medicine. “StatPearls & MedlinePlus (cell biology, genetics, body systems, acids & bases).” NIH/NLM. ↑
3.National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). “The International System of Units (SI) — units, conversions & measurement.” NIST.gov. ↑

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