Register
Question 1
Which term refers to animals without backbones?
Correct Answer:
Invertebrates
Explanation:
This question tests how we classify animals by whether they have a backbone. Animals without backbones are called invertebrates. This group includes insects, spiders, snails, worms, and jellyfish, and it makes up the vast majority of animal species. Animals with backbones, by contrast, are vertebrates and include fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Pathogens are disease-causing agents and don’t describe a group of animals by backbone status, and taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying organisms, not a type of animal. So the best term for animals without backbones is invertebrates because it directly describes the absence of a backbone.
Question 2
Which term describes a colloidal dispersion of a liquid in another liquid?
Correct Answer:
Emulsion
Explanation:
Emulsion describes a colloidal dispersion of a liquid in another immiscible liquid. In these systems, tiny droplets of one liquid are spread throughout the other liquid, such as oil droplets in water (oil-in-water) or water droplets in oil (water-in-oil). Emulsions often need an emulsifier to stay mixed because the liquids don’t naturally blend. This is different from a suspension, which has solid particles floating in a liquid and may settle out, and from a solution, where substances are dissolved at the molecular level with no distinct droplets. While colloid is a broader category, it’s the specific liquid-in-liquid case that’s called an emulsion.
Question 3
Which term is the study of algae?
Correct Answer:
Phycology
Explanation:
Phycology is the study of algae. The word uses phykos, an old term for seaweed or algae, plus -logy, meaning the study of. This field covers the biology, classification, physiology, and ecology of algae—from microscopic green algae to large seaweeds. Other terms refer to different organisms or fields: mycology is the study of fungi, bacteriology is the study of bacteria, and ecology focuses on how organisms interact with each other and their environment. Since the question asks for the term specifically about algae, phycology is the best fit.
Question 4
Where are neutrons located?
Correct Answer:
In the nucleus
Explanation:
Neutrons reside in the atomic nucleus, the dense center of an atom where protons are also found. They’re held there by the strong nuclear force, contributing to the nucleus’s mass and stability. Electrons occupy surrounding space in electron shells, so neutrons aren’t located outside the nucleus or in the electron shells. In the context of a normal atom, neutrons are together with protons in the nucleus; free neutrons can exist outside nuclei in other situations, but not as part of the atom’s structure.
Question 5
The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney.
Correct Answer:
True
Explanation:
The main idea here is that the nephron is the kidney’s functional unit. The nephron is the smallest structure that carries out the kidney’s essential tasks: filtering blood, reabsorbing needed substances, secreting wastes, and forming urine. Each kidney contains about a million nephrons, all working together to process blood and make urine. Because of this, the statement is true. The alternatives suggesting uncertainty or that the fact isn’t stated don’t fit with how kidneys are understood in physiology, and saying it’s false would contradict established anatomy.
Question 1
Exam overview

About this Exam

Embarking on a career in nursing requires more than just a desire to care; it requires proven academic foundational knowledge.

The National League for Nursing (NLN) Nursing Entrance Exam (NEX) is the premier standardized test used by nursing schools across the United States to assess the readiness of prospective students for rigorous LPN/LVN and RN programs.

This specific exam section—the NEX Science Practice Test—is meticulously designed for aspiring nurses who need to demonstrate mastery of essential scientific concepts before gaining admission to their chosen nursing curriculum.

Successfully navigating this test confirms that you possess the core scientific literacy needed to understand human health, disease, and pharmacological interventions, making it a critical gateway to your healthcare future.

More details

Additional Information

What the Course Entails and Exam Details

The NLN NEX Science exam assesses your competency across five fundamental scientific domains, ensuring you have the requisite knowledge for nursing coursework.

While math and verbal skills are tested separately, this section focuses purely on your ability to apply scientific principles to health-related scenarios.

The syllabus covers General Biology, including cell structure, genetics, microbiology, and ecology.

Human Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) is a primary focus, testing your understanding of the major body systems—such as the cardiovascular, skeletal, and nervous systems—and how they maintain homeostasis.

You must also demonstrate proficiency in foundational Chemistry, including atomic structure, chemical reactions, and basic biochemistry.

The final two domains are Health, which covers nutrition and disease prevention, and Scientific Reasoning, assessing your ability to interpret data and design simple experiments.


What to Expect in the Final Exam

When you sit for the actual NLN NEX Science exam, you will encounter a strict, timed environment designed to test both your knowledge accuracy and your time management skills.

The standard exam presents you with 60 multiple-choice questions in total.

It is vital to know that only 55 of these questions are scored; the remaining 5 are unscored "pilot items" field-tested by the NLN for future exams, and you will not know which questions are unscored.

You are allotted exactly 60 minutes to complete this section, giving you precisely one minute per question, which emphasizes the need for rapid recall and confident decision-making.

The exam is linear, and there is no penalty for guessing, so you should attempt to answer every single question.


How to Study and Exam Centers

Preparation for the NEX Science section must be proactive and systematic, moving beyond passive reading to active application of concepts.

Begin by taking a diagnostic practice test—such as the [Timed] 55 Questions format—to identify your weakest domains, whether that is respiratory physiology or organic chemistry basics.

Allocate focused study time to those specific areas, creating active recall tools like flashcards for complex vocabulary (especially within A&P).

Practice timed sessions consistently to simulate the pressure of the 60-minute constraint, training your brain to answer 55 questions efficiently without sacrificing accuracy.

The final, official NLN NEX is administered exclusively in a computer-based, proctored environment.

Depending on your chosen nursing program’s requirements, you may take the exam through your school’s private testing portal, at an authorized physical testing center (such as standard Pearson VUE or specialized academic centers), or through a secure remote proctoring service from your own home.


Job Opportunities from the Course

A strong performance on the NLN NEX Science exam is the essential key that unlocks admission to nursing school, allowing you to begin your journey toward a rewarding career in healthcare.

Once you have utilized this exam pathway to gain admission and subsequently complete your nursing program and licensing, a vast array of job opportunities becomes available to you.

Your scientific aptitude demonstrated on the NEX will serve you well in various specialized settings.

The primary career paths this foundation supports include:

  • Registered Nurse (RN) - Staff Hospital Nurse

  • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN)

  • Emergency Room (ER) Nurse

  • Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurse

  • Pediatric Nurse

  • Geriatric/Long-Term Care Nurse

  • Home Health Nurse

  • Public Health/Community Health Nurse

  • Occupational Health Nurse

  • Telehealth/Triage Nurse

Quiz information

Frequently Asked Questions

The complete question count is available after full access is unlocked.
No fixed duration is currently configured for this quiz.
Question explanations are included where they are available in the quiz content, helping you review the reasoning after answering.
Yes. You can retake the practice test again as you continue studying during your available access period.
After your access is confirmed, you can continue into the complete practice exam from this quiz flow.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, this page provides independent practice material for study and exam preparation and is not the official examination itself.
Keep studying

Related Questions

2026 CFORCE Options Class Marker Practice Test

0 min

2026 FFM Agent Broker Certification Practice Exam

0 min

2026 George Access Practice Exam

0 min

2026 Wellcare ACT Mastery Practice Exam

0 min

Aquatic Pest Management & Aquatic Science Practice Exam

0 min

A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

0 min