Best NCLEX Question Banks in 2024: A Detailed Comparison Review of UWorld, Archer, Kaplan, and Bootcamp

Are you just starting your NCLEX journey and unsure which practice question bank to use? Choosing the right NCLEX resource can significantly impact your chances of passing the exam, so making an informed decision is important.

In this post, I’ll compare four of the most popular NCLEX question banks: UWorld, Archer, Bootcamp, and Kaplan. I’ve personally used UWorld and Archer to pass my CGFNS Certification Qualifying Exam and studied with Bootcamp and Kaplan for my NCLEX preparation. I'll break down their features, pricing, number of questions, rationales, on-demand lectures, and overall user experience.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the companies mentioned in this post. All information provided is based on my personal experience. If you want to learn more information about the question banks below, try checking out their websites. 

NCLEX Question Banks: A Quick Comparison

Here is an overview of the comparisons among the question banks.

UWorld: In-Depth Questions for a Comprehensive Review

• Price: $169 for a 60-day access
• Number of Questions: 2,722 + 7 self-assessments (100 questions are in each self-assessment)

Detailed Rationales.

Each question thoroughly explains pathophysiology, risk factors, and clinical manifestations. For example, a question about managing an acute asthma attack will not only explain the priority intervention but also, delve into the background of the condition itself. While this depth benefits those needing a comprehensive review, it may overwhelm learners who are already confident in foundational concepts. To help, UWorld provides a summary at the end of each rationale, highlighting the key points. Overall, UWorld is an excellent choice for thorough nursing exam preparation

Comparing NCLEX Questions to UWorld. 

UWorld has more detailed questions that make the scenarios clearer and easier to understand. This may be a disadvantage because you may be caught off guard by the vague, tricky questions commonly found on the NCLEX. UWorld tests heavily on your knowledge of nursing content and lacks in providing guidance on test-taking strategies that could help you answer tricky, high-level thinking questions.

On-demand Lectures.

Lectures are organized by subjects such as Adult Health, Child Health, Pharmacology, and more. A video lasts about 3-15 minutes and delves deep into the causes, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, management, and nursing care related to the condition. They're straightforward and thoroughly explained with easy-to-remember visual aids. 

UWorld has the most comprehensive on-demand lecture videos that dig deep into each topic. I prefer their videos over Archer's. Image from UWorld.com.

Interface. 

I found that reading a lot of material strained my eyes, so I appreciated the use of bold text and larger fonts to highlight important details. Additionally, UWorld offers graphs and reports based on your performance, helping you effectively identify and visualize your progress.

UWorld has more detailed rationales than Bootcamp and Archer but is more straightforward than Kaplan. Image taken from https://nursing.uworld.com/nclex/sample-questions/

Self Assessments. 

With the 360-day plan, I received 7 Self Assessments. Each test has 100 items and includes a wide selection of content. You are scored based on your chances of passing, and your grades are as follows: Very High, High, Borderline, and Low. They are a sufficient evaluation of one's knowledge and readiness for the NCLEX because they cover important foundational nursing concepts, but I found them to be too easy. 

Archer: Affordable and Concise NCLEX Preparation

• Price: $99 for a 60-day access to Q-bank and on-demand videos 
• Number of Questions: 2,928 (2,008 Classic questions + 920 NGN questions)

Specific and Concise Questions. 

Archer’s questions are specific and concise, contrasting with the more verbose style in UWorld. While Archer's approach mirrors the NCLEX format, it often focuses on factual knowledge rather than multiple layers of complexity. This characteristic makes Archer's "Hard Level" questions less tricky than those in Kaplan and Bootcamp, providing a more straightforward evaluation of your understanding.

On-demand Lectures. 

Archer shines with its lecture-style videos that categorize content by subject and topic. Each video lasts between 30 minutes to an hour, making it easy to digest complex information. A helpful feature lets you jump to specific times and topics in the videos, directly leading you to the topics you need to study.

Videos are organized by subject (long videos) and topic (short videos). Image from https://www.archerreview.com/.

Integrated Related Videos.

During your review of your tests, explanations automatically link you to the relevant lecture video and the specific time stamp so you can review the topic. This feature lets you return to the video lecture for a quick watch. 

Archer boasts the most user-friendly interface among the four options, with helpful features available when reviewing questions. Image from  https://www.archerreview.com/.

Straightforward Rationales. 

Archer provides direct rationales that focus on the questions without excessive detail. However, they also provide additional information at the end, which offers a glance at the topic's background.

User-Friendly Interface. 

Archer’s interface is clear and easy to use. Important terms are bolded, correct answers appear at the top, and each question shows its difficulty level, such as Hard, Medium, or Easy. The subject, lesson, client needs, and question type are also shown, giving you a great idea about what questions you should improve on. 

Readiness Assessment. 

Archer offers numerous Readiness Assessments using questions from their Q-Bank. Achieving four straight High-Very High scores suggests a strong chance of passing the NCLEX, but the assessments cover a narrower range of topics than the actual exam.

Kaplan: NCLEX-Style Questions with Comprehensive Rationales

• Price: $153 for a 2-month access to Q-bank + 3 CATs
• Number of Questions: 2,200 + 3 CATs

Similar to NCLEX-style Questions. 

Kaplan NCLEX Q-Bank offers a question style similar to NCLEX, with vague questions that can lack context, mirroring the actual exam experience. This experience prepared me to take the NCLEX, as I knew what to expect.

Comprehensive Question Review. 

After each practice question, Kaplan provides extensive explanations for the correct answers. During the review, you will find two tabs: "Think like a Nurse," highlighting the nursing concepts behind the correct answers, and "Content Refresher," which gives a quick overview. However, note that some rationales can be overly long and sometimes vague, making the review process more time-consuming than anticipated.

Kaplan's explanations can vary from being too brief and unclear to excessively detailed. I also found their interface to be the least visually appealing, and the text was more difficult to read compared to other options. Images from https://atom.kaptest.com/.

Computer Adaptive Tests (CATs). 

The Kaplan NCLEX Q-Bank includes three Computer Adaptive Tests, which are more complex than typical NCLEX questions. They feature tricky, high-level thinking questions that effectively simulate the real exam environment. Unfortunately, once you finish a CAT, you cannot revisit questions to review or see the correct answers, limiting your opportunity for further learning. You will receive a performance report that indicates how you scored relative to passing levels but lacks detailed insights.

User Interface Experience. 

The interface of Kaplan's Q-Bank closely replicates that of the NCLEX, reflecting real testing conditions where you cannot return to previous questions. However, I found that the website lacks modern aesthetics. There are no visual progress graphs, and the platform can sometimes be buggy and laggy. Reading the rationales can also be challenging due to font choices and the little use of visual aids, which could enhance learning.

Your only progress indicator is your overall performance score and the scores on specific client needs. In contrast, UWorld and Archer provide graphs and detailed reports on your performanceImage from https://atom.kaptest.com/.

Bootcamp: A Balanced NCLEX Prep Solution

• Price: $99 for a 3 month access 
• Number of Questions: 1,947, which includes four Readiness Assessments

Accurate Assessments for NCLEX Success. 

The questions are vague and complex, resembling the NCLEX format but without the added trickiness found in some Kaplan questions. Performing well on Bootcamp exams can significantly boost your chances of passing the NCLEX in just 85 questions, offering a comprehensive scope of content that evaluates your knowledge and test-taking skills.

Champion of Case Studies. 

While Bootcamp does not have on-demand videos on nursing subjects, it features recorded videos that explain how to tackle each question of every case study. These videos help you identify immediate nursing priorities and differentiate them from less urgent concerns.

Reviewing case studies includes a written and video explanation on how to answer and analyze the given situation. Image from https://bootcamp.com/nclex.

Best of Both Worlds in Rationales. 

Bootcamp's rationales for answers combine the best elements of Archer and UWorld. They are clear and concise like Archer's, but also provide essential background information similar to UWorld, highlighting the most significant details in a brief format. This structure caters primarily to those with a solid foundation in nursing concepts who want to practice their test-taking skills effectively. If you need more comprehensive material, you may benefit more from UWorld. 

Unique Features for Enhanced Learning. 

As you review your exam answers, Bootcamp allows you to categorize questions into "Learning," "Reviewing," or "Mastered" tags based on the credits received for each question. This organization enables targeted review sessions, focusing on areas needing improvement. Additionally, the platform includes a messaging feature to interact with Bootcamp AI, offering responses to any lingering questions not covered in the explanations.

Like UWorld and Archer, you can view the percentage of people who answered correctly, which may inform you of the question's difficulty level. Image from https://bootcamp.com/nclex.

Comprehensive Readiness Assessments. 

Bootcamp provides four Readiness Assessments, each with 100 items designed to gauge your preparedness for the NCLEX. Scoring is similar to UWorld, with Very High, High, Borderline, and Low ratings. However, Bootcamp distinguishes itself by giving insights into specific topic areas where you may need further study, ensuring a thorough understanding of the material. 

Both UWorld Self Assessments and Bootcamps Readiness Assessments cover a wide range of content, which enables you to thoroughly evaluate your knowledge. Image from https://bootcamp.com/nclex.

Conclusion: Choose the Right NCLEX Question Bank for You

In conclusion, there is no perfect NCLEX question bank; the best choice for you depends on your individual learning needs and preferences. UWorld is ideal for those seeking a thorough review, while Archer provides a more affordable and concise approach. Kaplan is great for NCLEX-style questions and offers a realistic testing experience, although it may not be the most user-friendly option. Bootcamp strikes a good balance between affordability and comprehensive preparation, making it an excellent choice for those who want flexibility and targeted learning.

Ultimately, the key to passing the NCLEX is consistent practice and review. Choose the resource that best aligns with your learning style, and tailor your study approach accordingly. Good luck on your NCLEX journey — you’ve got this!