Exam Guides & Articles
Plain-language answers to the questions people actually ask about U.S. exams — pass rates, scoring, retakes, and what to expect on test day. Every article pairs with a free practice test.
The NCLEX Fee Goes to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027: What Changes and What Doesn't
The NCLEX registration fee rises from $200 to $350 on Feb. 1, 2027 ($570 CAD in Canada). The fee is set by your registration date, not your exam date — here's the math on locking in $200, and the five ways candidates lose a fee without ever sitting the exam.
NCLEX Quick Results vs. the Pearson VUE Trick: How to Actually Find Out If You Passed
Quick Results costs $7.95 and posts 48 business hours after your exam. The Pearson VUE trick reads a billing screen, not a score — here's why it flips, what being wrong can cost you, and the free check most candidates skip.
What to Expect at the CPAT: Eight Events, One 10:20 Clock
The firefighter CPAT is eight events run back to back on a single 10-minute-20-second clock in a 50-pound vest, and it is scored pass/fail only — departments are not allowed to rank you by your time. Here is every event with its real numbers, the rules that end attempts, and what candidates say caught them out.
FireTEAM or FCTC: Which Firefighter Test Does Your Department Use?
The department picks the test, not you. How to tell which written exam you need, and why the FCTC and FireTEAM differ most in scoring, retakes and cost.
How Many Questions Is the CDL General Knowledge Test? Why It Depends on Your State
There is no federal question count for the CDL general knowledge test — your state sets it. Here's what federal law does fix: the 80% passing score, the question pool, and the rule that a retake must be a different test.
Is the NASM CPT Exam Hard? What the Handbook Says and What Candidates Report
The NASM CPT exam is 120 questions in two hours, and the passing score of 70 is not a percentage. Here's how the scaled scoring actually works, the escalating retake waits, and why NASM publishes no pass rate.
How Many Questions Is the NCLEX-RN? The 85-to-150 Range Explained
Every NCLEX-RN is between 85 and 150 questions, with 15 unscored. Here is what the 85-item minimum is made of, the three rules that decide when your test stops, and why the length tells you nothing about whether you passed.
The Most-Searched U.S. Citizenship Test Answers, Explained
How many amendments does the Constitution have? When is Independence Day? Who is your U.S. representative? The official answers, briefly explained.
How Many Questions Are on the CNA Written Test? Format, Passing Score, and Retakes
In most states the CNA written exam has 70 multiple-choice questions, 60 of them scored. What counts, what the oral option is, and what happens if you fail.
What's Actually on the Firefighter Written Test
There is no single national firefighter written test. Here's what FireTEAM and the FCTC exam actually contain, how the written test differs from the CPAT, and the format rules that cost candidates a hiring cycle.
Is the NMLS SAFE MLO Test Hard? Pass Rates, Scoring, and Retake Rules
About half of first-time takers fail the SAFE MLO test. Here's the official pass rate, how scoring works, the 30/30/180-day retake rule, and how to prepare.