If you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of nursing students who plan to sit for the Next Gen NCLEX this year, then you’re in the right place to get my honest and thorough review of The Princeton Review NCLEX test prep options.
We’ll dive into the nitty gritty here, to compare and contrast The Princeton Review’s NCLEX programs with those from other leading NCLEX test prep providers such as UWorld and Kaplan.
The Princeton Review NCLEX-RN Prep
3,700 NCLEX practice questions (1,920 NCLEX Practice questions from NCSBN). Get 15% off with code: TPN15
- One of the most well-known and longstanding test prep companies in the world
- Updated Qbank with Next Gen NCLEX-RN questions sourced directly from NCSBN
- Live instructors are unrivaled in expertise and experience
- No books or video lessons
- More expensive than other options
- No adaptive (CAT) practice tests and only 2 self-assessments
All About The Princeton Review NCLEX
The Princeton Review (TPR) – which provides test prep for multiple exams, not just the NCLEX – has amassed 1,900+ reviews on Trustpilot with an average score of 4.5/5 stars. More than 400 million students worldwide have taken The Princeton Review courses since the company was founded in the 1980s and we’ve personally tested out and verified several of their courses over the years.
My Thoughts on Princeton Review’s New NGN NCLEX-RN Qbank
With the Next Gen NCLEX-RN QBank, you’ll get access to about 3,700 practice problems, each of them high-quality and reflecting the 7 new question types covered on the new NCLEX in 2024. When I was working through some of the Qbank questions, I noticed more high-yield questions compared to its previous set from pre-NGN days that contained a bit more fluff. Learn more about the new Next Gen NCLEX questions.
The accompanying explanations offer a unique logical walkthrough that you can eventually use on the actual NCLEX exam.
Practice questions were sourced directly from the makers of the NCLEX. Above, you can see one of the new NGN question types: Multiple Response / Select All That Apply
It’s worth emphasizing that I really appreciated the nuance and logic included in the explanation for each question, which not only informs on the specific topic at hand but also illuminates analytical principles that apply to the entirety of the test itself.
This updated Qbank includes the 7 new question types in the NCLEX, so you can rest assured that you are getting the most up-to-date review for the new NCLEX exam.
Unlike in the past, when they had a free 5-day trial, the Princeton Review is a bit more cagey with a free trial to their NGN-NCLEX course. At the time of writing, they only offered a few video resources and a 12-question practice set without the look and feel of CAT. Although I can understand that they can’t give out free NCSBN questions that they paid access to, it’s a bit disappointing for users who want to try out the course to see if they want to purchase and study with it.
How I Scored on the NCLEX Self-Assessment
Upon enrolling in the course, we gained access to 2 NCLEX self-assessment tests. I thought it would be fun to try taking this test and see how I would score. Keep in mind that my prep did not include NGN questions. Here is my score report:
As you can see from the score report above, I’ve got a few weaker areas, specifically Safety and Infection Control, Psychosocial Integrity, and Basic Care and Comfort. My other scores are trending up from the last practice test.
Here’s one of the questions that I got incorrect on the practice test. This is a question in the Basic Care and Comfort section, which I clearly need to brush up on.
The Princeton Review’s NCLEX Options
You’ve got a pair of course options to choose from, depending on your needs and how much you’re willing to invest in your NCLEX prep. Let’s take each one-by-one:
NCLEX-RN Qbank
Price: $199 for 30 days access; $250 for 90 days; $349 for 365 days
The Princeton Review NCLEX Qbank is the heart and soul of their NCLEX prep options. You’ll gain access to the 3,700+ practice questions (about half purchased directly from the NCSBN) that also include the new NGN question types.
I’d recommend either the 90 or 365-day access for the 2 directive assessments and money-back guarantee (more on that in a moment), but if you are studying on a tight timeline or don’t anticipate using both full assessments, then by all means, save money with the 30-day access at $199.
NCLEX-RN Self Paced
Price: $699
This is where things get interesting. The Princeton Review has now partnered with NCSBN to offer a learning extension course. Essentially, they have purchased 365-day access to on demand content from the NCSBN – including slides and animated video content. This is in addition to the Qbank (which we just described above) plus the two directive self-assessments.
There are 1,000 slides of study notes that are sourced directly from NCSBN.
If you’re looking for a bit more content review on top of the Qbank, this is a phenomenal option that is sourced directly from the NCSBN, so you know you’re getting it as close to the NCLEX source. I’m extremely impressed by the use of imagery in all of these slides. In each lesson, you have extremely detailed images, lesson text, a brief knowledge check (aka quiz), and also video content. After the lesson, you’ll get some reinforcing of key concepts and a brief review. This is a huge improvement from their original Qbank course.
After completing a lesson, you’ll test your knowledge with a quick question to reinforce what you’ve learned
What you won’t get is any live instruction element. If that’s what you’re looking for, take a look at the following LiveOnline course:
NCLEX-RN LiveOnline
Price: $649
The NCLEX-RN LiveOnline introduces an extra layer of test prep, but at a premium of about $400 added on to the price tag. The prices have gone up about $150 in the past year – and now cost about $100 more than Kaplan’s live online option. Keep in mind with this price tag, however, that you will gain access to the Self-Paced course plus the Qbank.
The live online classes are all conveniently listed out in the student dashboard and can be added to your own external calendar for easy scheduling.
The main advantage of the LiveOnline course, as the name suggests, is the 18 hours of live instruction. If you were fortunate enough in your undergrad training to benefit from a great teacher, you know how effective interpersonal instruction can be for helping you to better absorb and conceptualize difficult material.
In the live online classes, you get face-to-face time in a small classroom with your instructor. In my class, Kathleen was the instructor – she has over 45 years of nursing experience.. so she knew her stuff! There is a chat to ask questions or you can simply just ask yourself in class, because you can turn on your video and microphone.
The Princeton Review’s instructors are indisputably high-quality. All of them meet the following qualification standards:
- Active RN License
- MSN in Nursing Education
- 10+ years of teaching
- 5+ years of practice
- Certified Nurse Educator (CNE)
In addition to the instruction itself, to ensure that you’ve fully taken it in, you’ll also enjoy one-on-one access to your instructors to follow up with regarding any material taught in the class. My instructor was highly responsive when I was testing out the course, usually responding within a few hours of my message. I think this is really important for those who are looking for more than an on-demand course. If the instructor is not available for questions – then you may as well be saving the money with an on demand course.
Who Needs The Princeton Review NCLEX Course?
Even though you’ve made it through nursing school, there’s no guarantee that you’ll ace the NCLEX on your first try – especially if you don’t utilize a test prep program of some sort. Learn more on how many times you can take the NCLEX.
According to statistics from the NCSBN – 2022 test takers, the overall yearly pass rate for first-time US test takers was 82% for bachelor’s degree holders and 78% for associates degree holders.
Consider one of The Princeton Review NCLEX programs if you:
- Want a pass guarantee to make sure your investment pays off
- Would benefit from less test anxiety by practicing on real NCSBN questions
- Want access to a qualified nursing instructor in a live online course
The Princeton Review NCLEX Alternatives
Let’s run down a few of the most notable competing NCLEX programs available to nursing students and see how they stack up to The Princeton Review NCLEX.
The Princeton Review vs Kaplan
Kaplan is the other heavyweight in the test prep scene – the Evander Holyfield to The Princeton Review’s Mike Tyson (or whatever analogy you want to go with).
Its Kaplan’s NCLEX programs are comparable to the ones offered by The Princeton Review in terms of pricing and the QBank questions (about 3,800).
Their courses all come in at a lower price point to The Princeton Review, but with an important caveat – they do not source their content from the NCSBN. Although expert-crafted content and questions can be close – they never can truly compare to content from the source.
Kaplan NCLEX Review
High-quality NCLEX-RN review and simulated practice tests that includes the options of live online, on-demand, and practice offerings.
- Offers live courses in-person and online
- Extensive practice tests in the style of the NCLEX
- You can access video content 24/7 on demand or through their NCLEX channel
- Unique Decision Tree method
- Expensive compared to other NCLEX prep programs
- Practice tests are known to be tougher than the NCLEX
- Many students are discouraged by low scores on Kaplan tests
The Princeton Review vs UWorld
At $139, UWorld NCLEX prep is among the cheapest Qbank options. What sets UWorld’s Qbank apart from The Princeton Review’s is their new lesson video content. If you were looking for a course comparable to TPR’s Self-Paced at a fraction of the price, then I’d choose this.
Students absolutely love UWORLD! I have taught at 4 different nursing schools and UWorld has helped numerous amounts of students to pass the NCLEX.
Danielle Baker, PhD, MSN-Ed, RN, CHEP
UWorld NCLEX RN Test Prep | 3,500+ Practice Questions
A robust Qbank that is best for supplementing your existing NCLEX-RN comprehensive prep course.
- Extensive, well-researched bank of classic and NGN questions
- Hundreds of brief lecture videos on the most important topics on the exam
- Adaptive (CAT) Practice tests mimic the format of the exam
- Multiple Self-Assessments can be purchased separately
- Tracks your improvement in a detailed manner
- Accessible with mobile app; convenient when away from home
- No live or online review course included with the subscription
- Doesn’t offer a comprehensive curriculum review
- No “pass guarantee”
The Princeton Review NCLEX FAQs
Let’s explore some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding The Princeton Review’s NCLEX programs.
How does The Princeton Review’s NCLEX Score Guarantee work?
If you take the test and don’t pass, after completing the course and meeting other requirements, you qualify for a full refund. See their terms and conditions for more detailed information.
How accurate are The Princeton Review’s NCLEX questions?
Very accurate. About half of the 3,500 QBank questions are directly from the belly of the beast, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
Does The Princeton Review offer refunds on courses?
You can apply for a full refund within seven days of purchasing the course, or after 8 days but before the start of the program.
The Bottom line on The Princeton Review NCLEX
Here are the key takeaways when weighing whether to make the leap and go with The Princeton Review for your NCLEX prep:
- Leading QBank practice question reservoir, sourced from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- New animated videos and slides sourced directly from the NCSBN as well
- Flexible packaging based on access periods or mode
- Powerful pass guarantee backed by a full refund
