Is Archer Review Worth It for NCLEX?
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely believe help students pass.
Yes, Archer Review is worth it for most nursing students. Archer’s Q-Bank + CAT + Videos costs $99 for 30 days with 3,100+ questions and review videos. UWorld’s 30-day plan, which also includes review videos, costs $139 with 2,600+ questions. Without the videos, Archer’s Q-Bank + CAT is $79 for 30 days, and Sure PASS, a separate plan with live review, starts at $159. I earn a commission on Archer purchases through my links, and not on UWorld. Choose UWorld instead if your school assigns it, you already own it, or you need more than 180 days of access.
Prices and counts in this post are from each company’s own site, checked November 6, 2026. Some Archer and UWorld prices are sale prices, so confirm at checkout.
Whether Archer is right for you depends on your learning style, budget, and timeline. Here’s my assessment of Archer’s plans, prices and pass-rate claim, compared with the alternatives.
What You Get With Archer
Archer sells several NCLEX-RN plans. All of them share the same question bank; they differ in videos and live instruction.
Practice Questions (every Archer plan):
- Archer: 3,100+ total practice questions
- Archer: 1,100+ NGN (Next Generation NCLEX) items
- Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs)
Content & Learning:
- Rationales for every question
- Archer’s 200+ hour video library, starting with the Q-Bank + CAT + Videos plan
Live Components (Sure PASS and Intense PREP only):
- 3-day live review
- 1-hour live case studies on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 3-hour live system lectures on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Archer’s Q-Bank + CAT and Q-Bank + CAT + Videos plans do not include live review
Assessment Tools:
- Readiness assessments: Archer’s plan cards list “30+ readiness assessments + CAT exams”, and Archer’s FAQ calls them “unlimited” while you still have unused questions to build them from
- Each Archer readiness assessment is an 85-question simulation
Archer Review Pricing
| Duration | Archer Q-Bank + CAT | Archer Sure PASS (with live review) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 days | $79 | $159 |
| 60 days | $99 (list $119) | $169 (list $199) |
| 90 days | $129 (list $159) | $189 (list $229) |
| 180 days | $149 (list $179) | $209 (list $259) |
Archer also sells Q-Bank + CAT + Videos ($99 to $179) and Intense PREP ($399 for 90 days, $599 for 180), which adds tutor guidance and group sessions. Private tutoring is an add-on at $75 per hour.
Check current Archer Review pricing
The 98.98% Pass Rate: Is It Real?
Archer reports a 98.98% pass rate for Q4 2024, among students who completed the Sure PASS program and then scored at least “High” on four consecutive readiness assessments. Archer says the figure is based on self-reported outcomes.
What it does and doesn’t tell you. The figure is self-reported, so no one outside Archer can check it, and it covers only students who finished the program and then hit the benchmark. Those students are, by definition, well prepared. Read it as the benchmark to reach before you schedule your exam, not as the odds for every buyer.
The takeaway: Don’t schedule your exam until you consistently score “High” on readiness assessments, whichever program you use.
Archer vs. UWorld: Honest Comparison
This is the comparison everyone wants.
| Feature | Archer Q-Bank + CAT | Archer Sure PASS | UWorld NCLEX-RN Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 3,100+ | 3,100+ | 2,600+ (30-day) to 3,100+ (360-day) |
| NGN items | 1,100+ | 1,100+ | 600+ |
| 30 to 180 days | $79 to $149 | $159 to $209 | $139 to $329 |
| Longest plan | 180 days | 180 days | 730 days ($449) |
| Live review | Not included | Included | Not offered to individual buyers |
| Readiness tests | Readiness assessments and CATs, limited by unused questions | Same | 1 to 6 self-assessments, depending on plan length |
| Pass-rate claim | See above | 98.98% (conditions above) | 98% of users who completed at least 75% of the bank, first attempt |
Where UWorld wins:
- Rationales that students most often cite UWorld for
- Longer plans (360 and 730 days)
- Some schools assign UWorld
Where Archer wins:
- More questions for less money at 30 to 180 days
- Live review included in Sure PASS
- More readiness assessments
- More NGN items (1,100+ against UWorld’s 600+)
My take: If budget matters at all, Archer is the better value. If your school assigns UWorld or its rationale style suits you, UWorld is still excellent, just pricier. For the full breakdown, see Archer vs UWorld.
Who Should Use Archer Review?
Archer is ideal for:
- Budget-conscious students — Archer’s Q-Bank + CAT is the cheapest full bank in that comparison at every length
- Students who benefit from live instruction — Sure PASS includes a 3-day live review and weekly live sessions
- Retakers — A different question bank gives you fresh practice if you’ve already used UWorld
- NGN-anxious students — Archer’s 1,100+ NGN items is extensive coverage
- Students who want clear readiness benchmarks — Frequent readiness assessments remove the guesswork
Archer might not be ideal for:
- Students whose programs require UWorld — Some schools mandate specific resources
- Students who’ve already purchased UWorld — Use what you have first
- Students who need more than six months of access — Archer’s longest plan is 180 days
What to Check Before You Buy
- Live review is plan-specific. Only Sure PASS and Intense PREP include it.
- “Unlimited” readiness assessments have a limit. They run only while you have unused questions; after that, a reset must be purchased.
- The Sure PASS Guarantee has conditions. You must be a first-time Archer Q-Bank user, complete the Q-Bank, attend the 3-day live webinar, and score High or Very High on four consecutive readiness assessments before the NCLEX.
How to Get the Most From Archer
If you decide Archer is right for you, here’s how to maximize it:
1. Take a readiness assessment early Know where you stand before diving into content.
2. Focus on weak areas Use your results to identify gaps, then target them.
3. Do questions daily Aim for 75-150 questions per day in your final weeks. Quality matters more than quantity—read every rationale.
4. Attend live sessions If you bought Sure PASS, the live review is included. Use it.
5. Don’t schedule until you’re ready Hit “High” on four consecutive readiness assessments before booking your exam date. That is the benchmark behind Archer’s pass-rate claim.
The Bottom Line
Is Archer Review worth it? For most students, yes.
Archer’s Q-Bank + CAT gives you 3,100+ questions and 1,100+ NGN items from $79 for 30 days, and Archer’s Sure PASS adds live review for $159 to $209. Students who finished Sure PASS and then scored High or better on four consecutive readiness assessments passed at 98.98% in Q4 2024, by Archer’s self-reported figures.
It’s not the most recognized brand (that’s still UWorld), but recognition doesn’t pass your NCLEX—preparation does.
If you’re on a budget, want live instruction, or need a different approach after failing with another resource, Archer is worth serious consideration.
Try Archer Review’s Sure Pass Program
Related resources:
- NCLEX Study Strategies — How to structure your prep
- NCLEX Readiness Assessments — How to know when you’re ready to test
About the Author
License Guide Team
Clinical Editorial Team
Our editorial team includes licensed nurses and healthcare professionals dedicated to providing accurate, up-to-date nursing licensure information sourced directly from state boards of nursing.