It looms large at the end of every nurse’s education. It’s a daunting, intimidating collection of questions meant to test knowledge on anything, everything, and then some other things.

It is, without further ado, the National Council Licensure Examination.

Or, as you like to call it, the NCLEX®. So, why is the test so scary? Is it the amount of information on it? Is it the reality that, upon successful completion, you are an actual nurse? Or is it simply the fear of failure?

Well, relax, for there is comfort in numbers. Cold, hard statistics can make sense out of anything, and the NCLEX is no different. A quick look at some of the figures from the past 10 years of the RN test might help warm your heart a little this holiday season:

Did you know that 71.88% of everyone (1,253,972 people) who has taken the NCLEX-RN test in the past 10 years has passed it? Not bad, is it? That means more than 7 out of every 10 graduates who step up to the proverbial plate hit a home run. That percentage has dipped below 70 only twice in 10 years (69.4 in 2001 and 68.8 in 2000).

Okay, okay, so some of you are probably thinking “70% isn’t so good. That’s like a C.” But it gets better. If you were educated in the United States and you are taking the test for the first time, the passing percentage goes through the roof. How high? Try 85.8%. Now, we’re into the solid “B” range.

Things, however, do get a bit murkier when taking the test over again. Of those educated in the U.S., only 50.19% have passed the exam in the past 10 years when doing a retake.

Wondering when, historically, is the best time to tackle the beast? Check out the pass rates according to the calendar:

• January to March: 70.25%
• April to June: 73.45%
• July to September: 76.79%
• October to December: 55.54%

July to September, which is when most people (65,367 this year) take the test, wins the prize. October to December historically has, by far, the smallest number of test takers and the worst pass rate. So, anytime from April to September appears to be the way to go.

We’re guessing it’s probably because people think more clearly in warm weather.

Source: NCLEX statistics from ncsbn.com. Accessed on Nov. 30.