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100+ Free Kaplan Nursing Practice Questions
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Question 1
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Which part of the nervous system is responsible for the 'fight-or-flight' response?
A
B
C
D
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2026 Statistics
Key Facts: Kaplan Nursing Exam
91
Total questions on the exam
Kaplan
2 hr 45 min
Total testing time
Kaplan
10
Physiological systems in Science section
Kaplan
100
Free practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
Kaplan's Nursing School Admissions Test delivers 91 multiple-choice items in 2 hours 45 minutes across Reading (22), Writing (21), Math (28), and Science (20). The science section tests 10 specific physiological systems for nursing-program applicants in 2026.
Sample Kaplan Nursing Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Kaplan Nursing exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the passage and answer the question. Vaccines work by introducing a weakened or inactive form of a pathogen into the body. The immune system recognizes the foreign substance and produces antibodies in response. If the person later encounters the actual disease-causing organism, their immune system can mount a rapid defense. This process, called immunization, has prevented millions of deaths worldwide from diseases such as smallpox, polio, and measles. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A.Smallpox, polio, and measles have been eliminated through vaccination.
B.Vaccines train the immune system to recognize and fight specific pathogens.
C.Antibodies are the body's main defense against viral infections.
D.Inactive pathogens are safer than weakened pathogens for use in vaccines.
Explanation: The passage explains how vaccines work by exposing the immune system to a harmless version of a pathogen so it can later recognize and respond to the real one. Every sentence supports this central concept of immune-system training.
2Read the passage and answer the question. Nurses working night shifts often experience disruptions to their circadian rhythm, the body's natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. Research shows that prolonged shift work can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and certain cancers. Hospitals are increasingly offering wellness programs that include nutrition counseling, exercise classes, and sleep-hygiene education to mitigate these effects. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a documented risk of long-term night-shift work?
A.Cardiovascular disease
B.Obesity
C.Diabetes
D.Certain cancers
Explanation: The passage explicitly lists cardiovascular disease, obesity, and certain cancers as risks of prolonged shift work. Diabetes is not mentioned, so it is the correct answer to a NOT question.
3Read the passage and answer the question. In 1854, physician John Snow traced an outbreak of cholera in London's Soho district to a single contaminated water pump on Broad Street. By plotting case locations on a map, he demonstrated a clear geographic cluster. Although germ theory was not yet established, his removal of the pump handle dramatically reduced new infections. Snow's methodical work is now considered a founding moment of modern epidemiology. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
A.John Snow believed cholera was caused by bacteria.
B.Most physicians in 1854 understood the cause of cholera.
C.Mapping disease cases can reveal patterns invisible from individual reports.
D.The Broad Street pump was the only source of contaminated water in London.
Explanation: The passage notes that mapping cases revealed a 'clear geographic cluster' that led Snow to act. This supports the inference that visualizing case data exposes patterns that would not be obvious from individual case reports.
4Read the passage and answer the question. The placebo effect — improvement in a patient's condition following a treatment with no active ingredient — is one of medicine's most studied phenomena. Researchers believe expectation, conditioning, and the patient-provider relationship all contribute. Modern clinical trials use placebo controls precisely because subjective improvements occur even when no drug is administered, making it essential to distinguish a medication's true biological effect from background expectations. What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?
A.To argue that placebos should replace conventional medications when possible.
B.To explain why clinical trials use placebo controls.
C.To criticize patients who believe in alternative medicine.
D.To describe the history of pharmaceutical research.
Explanation: The passage builds toward the explanation that placebo controls are needed because subjective improvements can occur without a real drug. The author's goal is to explain the rationale behind this trial-design choice.
5Read the passage and answer the question. Urban beekeeping has surged in popularity over the past decade. Rooftop hives now appear on hotels, schools, and even hospitals. Proponents argue that bees pollinate city gardens and that beekeeping connects residents to nature. Critics warn that high-density urban hives can outcompete native pollinators such as solitary bees and bumblebees for limited flowers, ultimately reducing biodiversity rather than enhancing it. Which statement best captures the main idea of the passage?
A.Rooftop beekeeping is dangerous and should be banned in cities.
B.Native pollinators are more important than honeybees for biodiversity.
C.Urban beekeeping has both supporters and critics who disagree about its ecological effects.
D.Honeybees are responsible for pollinating most of the world's food crops.
Explanation: The passage presents arguments from proponents and from critics without taking a side. The main idea is the existence of this disagreement over the ecological impact of urban beekeeping.
6Read the passage and answer the question. The Affordable Care Act, signed into U.S. law in 2010, expanded health insurance coverage to millions of previously uninsured Americans. Key provisions include prohibiting denial of coverage for preexisting conditions, allowing young adults to remain on a parent's plan until age 26, and offering subsidies through insurance marketplaces. Medicaid expansion in participating states extended coverage to many low-income adults. According to the passage, until what age can young adults remain on a parent's health insurance plan?
A.21
B.23
C.26
D.30
Explanation: The passage states directly that young adults may remain on a parent's plan until age 26. This is a literal supporting-detail question requiring only careful reading.
7Read the passage and answer the question. When Eleanor first walked into the hospital cafeteria, she was struck by the silence. Doctors hunched over coffee cups stared into space. A few nurses spoke in low tones near the window. Even the cashier had stopped chatting. She would later learn that a young patient had died on the pediatric floor that morning. Which of the following can be inferred about the hospital staff at the time of Eleanor's arrival?
A.They were on a break and trying to relax.
B.They were emotionally affected by a recent loss.
C.They were waiting for a meeting to begin.
D.They had been told to stay quiet for an inspection.
Explanation: The unusual silence, hunched posture, and low voices, combined with the later reveal that a patient had died that morning, support the inference that the staff were grieving. The contrast with normal cafeteria chatter is the key clue.
8Read the passage and answer the question. Hand hygiene remains the single most effective measure for preventing hospital-acquired infections. Yet studies repeatedly find that healthcare workers wash their hands less than half as often as recommended. Some hospitals have installed monitoring systems that track sink and dispenser use; others have launched peer-accountability programs. Both approaches have raised compliance, but neither has eliminated the gap, suggesting cultural and workflow factors also play a role. What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?
A.To advocate for stricter punishment of noncompliant healthcare workers.
B.To highlight that addressing hand-hygiene compliance is more complex than installing monitors.
C.To describe new technologies for tracking hospital cleanliness.
D.To compare infection rates between hospitals.
Explanation: The author notes that monitoring and peer-accountability programs both help but neither fully closes the compliance gap, attributing the remainder to cultural and workflow factors. The purpose is to show the problem is multifaceted.
9Read the passage and answer the question. The Roman aqueducts are among the most impressive engineering achievements of the ancient world. Stretching for hundreds of miles, they carried water from distant springs and mountains into Roman cities. Gravity alone moved the water through a precisely graded channel, often dropping only a few inches per mile. The aqueducts supplied public fountains, bathhouses, and even private homes of the wealthy. Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A.Roman bathhouses were the primary destination of aqueduct water.
B.Roman engineering was superior to all later civilizations.
C.Roman aqueducts were a long-distance, gravity-driven water-supply system.
D.Most Romans had access to private indoor plumbing.
Explanation: The passage describes the length of the aqueducts, the gravity-driven mechanism, and the destinations supplied. Together these make the main idea the system itself as a long-distance gravity-powered water supply.
10Read the passage and answer the question. Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, but their overall environmental impact depends on how the electricity used to charge them is generated. In regions where the grid relies heavily on coal, EVs may still contribute substantially to greenhouse-gas emissions, although less than comparable gasoline vehicles. As grids incorporate more wind, solar, and hydropower, the climate advantage of EVs grows. According to the passage, what determines the climate benefit of an electric vehicle?
A.The size of the battery installed in the vehicle.
B.The mix of energy sources powering the local electric grid.
C.The age of the vehicle being driven.
D.The number of miles the vehicle is driven per year.
Explanation: The passage states that the climate impact of EVs depends on how the electricity is generated, with cleaner grids producing larger benefits. This makes the local energy mix the determining factor mentioned.
About the Kaplan Nursing Exam
The Kaplan Nursing School Admissions Test is a 91-question, four-section entrance exam used by many BSN and ADN programs as an alternative to TEAS or HESI A2. The test emphasizes critical reading, writing, math, and 10 physiological systems in the science section.
Questions
91 scored questions
Time Limit
2 hours 45 minutes
Passing Score
School set (commonly 60+ composite)
Exam Fee
Set by participating nursing schools (typically $50-$100) (Kaplan / nursing-school testing centers)
Kaplan Nursing Exam Content Outline
22 Q
Reading
Logic of passage, details, inference, purpose (45 minutes)
21 Q
Writing
Passage and paragraph development, mechanics, logic (45 minutes)
28 Q
Math
Arithmetic, algebra, word problems, conversions (45 minutes)
20 Q
Science
10 physiological systems including cardiovascular, renal, GI, neurology (30 minutes)
How to Pass the Kaplan Nursing Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: School set (commonly 60+ composite)
- Exam length: 91 questions
- Time limit: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Exam fee: Set by participating nursing schools (typically $50-$100)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Kaplan Nursing Study Tips from Top Performers
1Memorize the 10 Kaplan-tested physiological systems and high-yield facts in each
2Drill writing-logic questions — they trip up many test takers
3Practice math word problems under timed conditions (around 1.5 min/Q)
4Use elimination strategies on Reading passages — predict before reading options
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions is the Kaplan Nursing Admissions Test?
91 multiple-choice questions across four sections — Reading (22), Writing (21), Math (28), and Science (20).
How long is the Kaplan Nursing exam?
2 hours and 45 minutes total: Reading 45 min, Writing 45 min, Math 45 min, Science 30 min.
What physiological systems are tested?
Cardiovascular, electrolytes, renal, hematological, gastrointestinal, neurology, homeostasis, respiratory, immune, and sensory systems.
What score do I need to pass the Kaplan Nursing exam?
There is no universal passing score — programs set their own minimums. Many schools target a composite score in the 60s or above.