What is the CMSRN Passing Score?
The passing score for the medical-surgical certification exam is a standard scaled score of 95. This means you need to answer approximately 71% of the scored questions correctly to earn your credential.
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- How many questions are graded on the test?
- You will be graded on exactly 125 scored items.
- What does a standard scaled score of 95 mean?
- Your raw score is converted to a standard scale to account for test difficulty. A 95 on this scale equals roughly 71% correct out of the 125 scored items.
- How does scaled scoring work?
- Scaled scoring adjusts for slight differences in difficulty between different test versions. This ensures a fair passing standard for everyone. For exact details on the statistical methods used, check the official MSNCB handbook.
- Which exam domain has the most questions?
- Patient/Care Management is the largest section. It makes up 32% of the test, giving you 40 scored items.
- How is the rest of the test weighted?
- Nursing Teamwork and Collaboration is 21% (26 items), Elements of Interprofessional Care is 17% (21 items), Holistic Patient Care is 15% (19 items), and Professional Concepts is 15% (19 items).
- Are there unscored questions on the test?
- The verified data confirms there are 125 scored items. If you want to know if there are additional unscored pretest items mixed in, review the candidate guide provided by the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board.
- Do I lose points for guessing?
- You only earn points for correct answers. For specific penalty policies regarding incorrect answers, consult the certification board's testing manual.
- How long does my passing score last?
- Your certification is valid for 5 years.
- What do I need to maintain my passing status after 5 years?
- You must recertify by earning 90 contact hours (68 in medical-surgical and up to 22 in professional development) or by taking the exam again. You also need an active RN license and 1,000 medical-surgical practice hours completed within those 5 years.
- How should I prepare to hit the target score?
- Focus your study time on the heaviest domains like Patient/Care Management. You can test your readiness using our 4100+ practice questions.
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4,100+ practice questions with rationales on iOS
88 of 150. A patient with limited health literacy is learning to self-administer enoxaparin. During the teach-…