Has Passing the NCLEX Become Easier Over the Years?

I’ve been reflecting on how different the NCLEX feels compared to when I first started nursing school. Years ago, passing the NCLEX was treated like the ultimate challenge. People would talk about it like climbing a mountain—limited resources, heavy reliance on textbooks, and very few structured practice options.

Fast forward to today: the amount of prep material is unbelievable. We’ve got question banks with thousands of items, adaptive testing software, live and on-demand review courses, detailed rationales, and even AI tools to break down complex topics. You can practically simulate the testing environment from your laptop or phone.

Don’t get me wrong—nursing knowledge and critical thinking are still required, and it’s by no means a “free pass.” But with so many high-quality resources and real-time feedback, it feels like the NCLEX is more accessible than ever.

For those who recently passed or are preparing now:

Do you feel like the NCLEX is still as intimidating as it used to be?

Are the newer study tools making a real difference, or is it just a different kind of challenge?

Any specific resources you’d recommend for someone starting out?

Curious to hear everyone’s thoughts—especially from those who took the exam years ago and those testing soon.