Free NCLEX Study Resources

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Not everyone can afford expensive NCLEX prep courses. If you’re on a tight budget, free resources can help—but you need to know which ones are actually useful.

Here’s an honest roundup of free NCLEX resources, what they’re good for, and where they fall short.

The Truth About Free NCLEX Prep

Let me be direct: relying solely on free resources is risky.

Free resources lack:

• Enough practice questions for thorough preparation
• CAT-format readiness assessments
• Comprehensive NGN coverage
• Structured study plans
• Accurate pass probability predictions

The students most likely to pass use a quality question bank. If budget is the concern, Archer Review at $139-239 is the most affordable comprehensive option—and significantly cheaper than retaking after failing.

That said, free resources can effectively supplement paid prep or help you decide if you’re ready to invest.

Best Free Practice Questions

NCSBN Learning Extension (Official)

What it is: The organization that creates the NCLEX offers their own review course.

Free component:

• 3-week access in some promotional periods
• Limited practice questions
• Basic content review

Paid option: $50 for 5-week access with 1,000+ questions

Worth it for: Getting a feel for official NCLEX-style questions. The questions come from the source.

Limitation: Limited volume in free version. Not enough for comprehensive prep.

Link: learningext.com

RegisteredNurseRN.com

What it is: Nurse-run website with free NCLEX resources.

Free component:

• Practice questions by category
• Rationales included
• Video explanations
• Study guides

Worth it for: Supplemental practice, content review in weak areas.

Limitation: Question quality varies. Not CAT format. No readiness assessment.

Link: registerednursern.com

Nurse Plus Academy

What it is: Free nursing education platform.

Free component:

• Practice questions
• Study guides
• Flashcards
• Some video content

Worth it for: Basic content review and extra practice.

Limitation: Limited NGN content. Ad-supported.

Link: nurseplusacademy.com

Best Free Video Resources

YouTube Channels Worth Following

Sarah Registered Nurse (RegisteredNurseRN)

• Comprehensive topic coverage
• Clear explanations
• NCLEX-focused content
• Free study guides linked in descriptions

Level Up RN

• Flashcard-style videos
• Quick topic reviews
• Good for visual learners
• Covers most NCLEX content areas

Simple Nursing

• Entertaining teaching style
• Memory tricks and mnemonics
• Pharmacology coverage
• Some content behind paywall

Nexus Nursing

• NGN-focused content
• Case study walkthroughs
• Clinical judgment explanations

Best use: Content review for weak areas. Watch after identifying gaps through practice questions.

NCSBN YouTube Channel

The official NCLEX creators have a YouTube channel with:

• NGN question type explanations
• Clinical judgment model overview
• Test-taking tips

Worth watching for official guidance on the exam format.

Free Study Materials

OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology

What it is: Free, peer-reviewed college textbook.

Worth it for: Reviewing A&P foundations if you have gaps.

Link: openstax.org/subjects/science

CDC Guidelines and Resources

What it is: Official infection control and public health guidelines.

Worth it for: Infection control questions are common on NCLEX. The CDC provides the source material.

Link: cdc.gov

Drugs.com

What it is: Free drug information database.

Worth it for: Looking up medications, interactions, side effects when reviewing pharmacology.

Link: drugs.com

Free Apps

NCLEX RN Mastery (Free Version)

• Limited free questions
• Rationales included
• Tracks performance
• Full version is paid

Best for: On-the-go practice, quick reviews

Nursing.com App

• Some free content
• Video lessons
• Practice questions
• Most content requires subscription

Best for: Previewing their content style

Quizlet

• User-created NCLEX flashcard sets
• Free to use
• Quality varies widely
• Search “NCLEX” for options

Best for: Quick memorization (drug names, lab values)

Warning: User-created content may have errors. Verify information.

Free Trials from Paid Programs

Most paid question banks offer free trials. These give you access to real NCLEX-prep quality questions.

UWorld Free Trial

• Limited questions
• Full rationale access
• Good for previewing their style
• Requires credit card (cancel before billing)

Archer Review Free Trial

• Sample questions available
• Preview question format
• No credit card required for basic preview

Kaplan Free Resources

• Some free practice questions
• Preview of Decision Tree methodology
• NCLEX information webinars

Strategy: Use free trials to evaluate which paid program fits your learning style before committing.

Creating a Free Resource Study Plan

If you’re determined to start with free resources, here’s a reasonable approach:

Week 1-2: Foundation

• Watch YouTube content review in your weak areas
• Use Quizlet for basic memorization (lab values, drugs)
• Take any free practice questions to identify gaps

Week 3-4: Practice Focus

• RegisteredNurseRN practice questions (50-75 daily)
• NCSBN free trial if available
• Continue targeted content review

Week 5-6: Evaluation

• Take all available free practice tests
• Honestly assess: Are you ready?
• Decide whether to invest in a paid resource

The Decision Point

After 4-6 weeks with free resources, ask yourself:

• Can I consistently answer questions correctly across all content areas?
• Do I have enough practice with NGN question types?
• Do I know my actual readiness level?

If the answer to any of these is “no,” it’s time to invest in a paid resource.

Why I Still Recommend a Paid Question Bank

Free resources are helpful but incomplete. Here’s what you’re missing without a paid program:

Feature	Free Resources	Paid Question Bank
Question volume	200-500	2,000-3,500+
NGN coverage	Limited	Comprehensive
CAT-format practice	No	Yes
Readiness assessment	No	Yes
Performance tracking	Basic	Detailed
Pass prediction	No	Yes

The cost of failing NCLEX:

• $200 retest fee
• 45-day mandatory wait
• Delayed employment (potentially thousands in lost income)
• Emotional toll

Archer Review at $139 is less than the retest fee alone. If budget is tight, this is the most affordable comprehensive option available.

The Hybrid Approach

The smartest budget strategy combines free and paid resources:

Use free resources for:

• Content review (YouTube, textbooks)
• Memorization (Quizlet flashcards)
• Supplemental practice
• Learning before investing

Use a paid question bank for:

• Primary question practice
• Readiness assessment
• NGN preparation
• Pass probability prediction

This gives you comprehensive preparation without overspending.

Bottom Line

Free NCLEX resources exist and can help. But they’re supplements, not replacements for structured preparation.

If you can afford any paid resource, invest in a quality question bank. The difference in pass rates justifies the cost.

If you truly cannot afford paid prep right now, use the free resources above strategically—and save toward a question bank subscription before your exam date.

Your nursing career is worth the investment.

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Related resources:

• Archer vs UWorld — Compare the top NCLEX question banks
• NCLEX Study Strategies — How to use any resource effectively
• 30-Day NCLEX Study Plan — Complete month-long preparation schedule