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What Is the CCRN Passing Score?

The real cut score under the current test plan — and why the old “70-75%” advice is wrong

The Current Passing Score

ExamPassing (raw cut) ScoreScored Questions≈ Percentage
Adult CCRN83125≈ 66%
Pediatric CCRN83125≈ 66%
Neonatal CCRN84125≈ 67%

These cut scores apply to the test plan that launched November 12, 2025. The exam has 150 questions, but only 125 are scored — the other 25 are unscored pretest items you can't identify, so treat every question as if it counts.

Myth check: older prep resources say you need “70–75%”. That guidance predates the current test plan. Under the Nov 2025 plan, 83 correct out of 125 scored questions (about 66%) passes the Adult exam.

How the Cut Score Is Set

AACN uses the modified Angoff method: a panel of critical-care experts rates every question's difficulty, and the psychometric analysis of those ratings sets the raw cut score. That's why the passing score is a fixed number per test-plan version — not a curve, and not a percentile. You are never competing against other test-takers.

What This Means for Your Prep

Drill with exam-style practice questions until your average sits above 75%, and use timed practice tests to build 3-hour stamina.

Frequently Asked Questions

What score do you need to pass the CCRN?
Under the test plan effective November 12, 2025, the passing score is 83 out of 125 scored questions for the Adult and Pediatric CCRN, and 84 for the Neonatal CCRN — roughly 66-67% correct.
Is the CCRN graded on a curve?
No. The cut score is fixed per test-plan version using the modified Angoff method. Your result depends only on your own answers, never on other candidates.
Do the 25 unscored questions affect my result?
No — 25 of the 150 questions are unscored pretest items being evaluated for future exams. You can't tell which ones they are, so answer every question as if it counts.
When do I find out if I passed?
Immediately. Computer-based CCRN exams display your preliminary pass/fail result at the testing center as soon as you finish.

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CCRN Pass RateRetake PolicyPractice QuestionsComplete CCRN Guide

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