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NurseSim exams / New Zealand

New Zealand NCNZ theory exam (RN): format and practice

Nursing Council of New Zealand. New Zealand

What the exam is

The theory examination for internationally qualified registered nurses, delivered by Pearson VUE.

Regulator: Nursing Council of New Zealand. Country: New Zealand.

Who takes it

Registered nurses educated outside New Zealand who need to show their qualifications meet the New Zealand standard.

Format, as the regulator publishes it

ItemWhat the regulator says
Questions120 multiple-choice questions in two parts [1]
Part A, medication safety12 questions, 30 minutes [1]
Part B, nursing knowledge108 questions, 135 minutes [1]

The pass mark is not published in the handbook, so none is shown.

How NurseSim covers it

NurseSim has 100 questions written for this exam. That is fewer than 200, so the simulation also draws on the shared pool of 4,354 registered-nurse questions (4,454 in total) and offers 5 full-length mock exams that share no question.

Every answer comes with the reasoning behind it, and you can sit timed mock exams. Free: 5 questions a day, no card needed. New Zealand NCNZ theory exam is the name of an examination of Nursing Council of New Zealand (delivered by Pearson VUE), which is not affiliated with this program and has not endorsed it.

One question from the bank

Try it.

Try oneMedical-surgical

A man with long-standing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease usually has an oxygen saturation of 88-92%. His vital signs chart has a documented modification to the oxygen saturation parameter for this reason. His saturation is now 89% and he looks as he usually does. How should the nurse interpret this reading?

  1. AScore it against the documented modified parameter, while staying alert to any other change
  2. BScore it against the standard range and call the medical team urgently
  3. CIncrease his oxygen until the saturation is above 96%
  4. DStop recording his oxygen saturation, as the modification makes it unnecessary

Answer: A. The national vital signs chart allows scored parameters to be modified for individual patient variation such as chronic hypoxaemia. The nurse scores against the documented modification, keeps observing every parameter and still escalates any clinical concern.

Pass prices

One Pass opens all 20 exams.

In euro, Danish VAT included, paid once.

30 days

€96.99€3.23 a dayChoose 30 days
Most chosen

90 days

€159.99€1.78 a dayChoose 90 days
Lowest per day

180 days

€229.99€1.28 a dayChoose 180 days

Try 5 questions free

Sources

  1. IQN theoretical examination handbook
  2. Nursing Council NZ: competence assessment process

Facts read on 16 October 2026 in the pages above. Regulators change rules and fees: confirm with them before you book. NurseSim is an independent study aid, not affiliated with or endorsed by the regulator.