Your NCLEX Candidate Performance Report, often called the CPR, is one of the most useful tools you receive after not passing the NCLEX — but only if you know how to read it.
The CPR is not there to shame you. It is there to help you prepare for your next attempt.
The simplest way to use it is this:
Start with the areas marked “Below the Passing Standard,” then work on areas marked “Near the Passing Standard,” while still maintaining the areas marked “Above the Passing Standard.”
But that is only the beginning. The real value comes when you turn the CPR into a retake plan.
What Is the NCLEX Candidate Performance Report?
The Candidate Performance Report is an individualized report for candidates who do not pass NCLEX.
It gives you information about your performance across parts of the exam, including test plan content areas and clinical judgment categories.
The CPR may show whether your performance in an area was:
- Below the Passing Standard
- Near the Passing Standard
- Above the Passing Standard
This matters because many students leave a failed attempt thinking, “I need to study everything again.”
That is usually not the best plan.
The CPR helps you see where to focus first.
What the CPR Can Tell You
The CPR can help you answer questions like:
- Which NCLEX content areas were weakest?
- Which areas were close to the passing standard?
- Which areas were stronger?
- Did I struggle more with clinical judgment?
- Where should I start my retake study plan?
- Which categories need the most practice?
- What should I stop ignoring?
This is important because a failed NCLEX attempt can feel like one big emotional blur.
The CPR gives you a starting point.
What the CPR Cannot Tell You
The CPR is helpful, but it is not a complete diagnosis by itself.
It tells you where your performance was weaker.
It does not always tell you why.
For example, if your CPR says you were below the passing standard in one area, the reason could be:
- You did not know the content.
- You missed the priority.
- You misunderstood the question.
- You rushed.
- You were anxious.
- You chose an intervention before assessment.
- You struggled with NGN case studies.
- You did not know how to review rationales.
- You memorized practice questions instead of learning the principle.
That is why you should use the CPR together with a missed-question audit.
The CPR gives you the map. Your review process gives you the explanation.
The Three CPR Performance Indicators Explained
| CPR indicator | What it generally means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Below the Passing Standard | This was one of your weakest areas compared with the passing standard | Start here first and rebuild the foundation |
| Near the Passing Standard | You were close, but not strong enough yet | Practice and strengthen after below-standard areas |
| Above the Passing Standard | This was a stronger area on that attempt | Maintain it so it does not weaken before retesting |
Do not ignore the “Above” areas completely.
But do not spend most of your time there first.
Your retake plan should be built from weakest to strongest.
Important: The NCLEX Is Not Graded in Sections
This is a key point.
The CPR gives performance indicators by content area and clinical judgment category, but the NCLEX is not graded as separate sections where each section has its own pass/fail result.
Your overall performance determines the exam result.
That means you should not think:
“I only failed because of this one section.”
A better way to think is:
“These areas show where my overall performance was weakest, so this is where my retake plan should start.”
The CPR is a guide, not the whole story.
Step 1: Read the CPR When You Are Calm Enough
Do not try to analyze your CPR while you are still in emotional shock.
Read it when you can think clearly.
You may still feel disappointed. That is okay.
But you need enough calm to ask:
- What is this report showing me?
- Where am I below?
- Where am I near?
- Where am I above?
- What patterns do I notice?
- What do I need to change before retesting?
The goal is not to punish yourself with the report.
The goal is to use it.
Step 2: Sort Your CPR Into Three Lists
Create three columns:
| Below the Passing Standard | Near the Passing Standard | Above the Passing Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Write every below area here | Write every near area here | Write every above area here |
This instantly turns the CPR from an overwhelming report into a study map.
Then rank the “Below” areas by urgency.
Ask:
- Which areas affect safety?
- Which areas show up across many question types?
- Which areas also hurt my NGN case studies?
- Which areas did I avoid during my first study plan?
- Which areas make me feel the least confident?
Start where the weakness is most dangerous or most repeated.
Step 3: Separate Content Problems From Thinking Problems
This is where many students miss the real lesson.
A weak CPR area does not always mean “study more content.”
Sometimes it means your clinical judgment process needs work.
Use this table:
| If the problem is... | It may look like... | Best fix |
|---|---|---|
| Content gap | You do not know the condition, medication, lab, or procedure | Short content review + targeted questions |
| Priority gap | You know the content but choose the wrong first action | Prioritization and patient deterioration practice |
| Delegation gap | You confuse RN, LPN/LVN, and UAP responsibilities | Scope and delegation drills |
| NGN gap | Case studies feel overwhelming or scattered | Clinical judgment practice and cue recognition |
| Rationale gap | You do questions but repeat the same mistake | Wrong-answer journal and deeper review |
| Anxiety gap | You rush, overthink, or second-guess | Timed practice and test-day routine |
| Stamina gap | Scores drop late in the block | Longer mixed blocks with breaks and recovery |
If you only study content when the real problem is priority, your score may not improve enough.
Step 4: Build Your Retake Plan From the CPR
Your CPR should decide your study order.
A strong order is:
- Below the Passing Standard areas
- Near the Passing Standard areas
- Clinical judgment categories
- NGN case studies
- Mixed-question stamina
- Maintenance of Above areas
Do not start with your favorite topic.
Start with what the report says is hurting you.
Example: How to Turn a CPR Into a Study Plan
Let’s say your CPR shows:
- Below: Management of Care
- Below: Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
- Near: Physiological Adaptation
- Near: Reduction of Risk Potential
- Above: Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Above: Psychosocial Integrity
A weak plan would be:
“I’m just going to redo my whole QBank.”
A stronger plan would be:
| Study priority | What to do |
|---|---|
| Management of Care | Practice delegation, prioritization, assignment, informed consent, and safety questions |
| Pharmacology | Focus on medication safety, adverse effects, labs, contraindications, and teaching |
| Physiological Adaptation | Review emergencies, complications, deterioration, and acute changes |
| Reduction of Risk | Practice labs, diagnostic tests, post-op complications, and monitoring |
| Stronger areas | Review lightly once or twice a week to maintain proficiency |
This is how the CPR becomes practical.
How to Use the CPR With NGN Case Studies
The modern NCLEX includes clinical judgment, so you should connect the CPR to NGN practice.
If your CPR shows weakness in clinical judgment categories, practice case studies using the NCLEX clinical judgment flow:
- Recognize cues.
- Analyze cues.
- Prioritize hypotheses.
- Generate solutions.
- Take action.
- Evaluate outcomes.
For each case study, ask:
- What cue mattered most?
- Which cue did I ignore?
- What hypothesis was most urgent?
- What action was safest first?
- What outcome would show improvement?
- Which answer was tempting but not priority?
NGN practice should not just be “doing case studies.”
It should be learning how to think through the case.
How to Use the CPR With a Wrong-Answer Journal
Your CPR shows broad weak areas.
Your wrong-answer journal shows repeated mistakes.
Use both.
For each missed question, write:
| Review prompt | Your note |
|---|---|
| CPR area | Which test plan area does this belong to? |
| Question type | Priority, delegation, pharm, lab, NGN, safety, teaching, etc. |
| Key cue | What detail mattered most? |
| Why I missed it | Content, priority, anxiety, misread, fatigue, or judgment? |
| Correct reasoning | Why was the correct answer safest? |
| Mistake pattern | What repeated issue does this show? |
| Next action | What should I study or drill next? |
After one week, look for patterns.
Your CPR may say “Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies.”
Your wrong-answer journal may reveal the real problem:
- You do not check labs before giving meds.
- You miss toxicity signs.
- You confuse side effects with adverse reactions.
- You choose teaching when assessment comes first.
That level of detail is what improves the next attempt.
What to Do With Areas Marked Below the Passing Standard
Start here.
For each “Below” area:
- Review the content briefly.
- Do targeted questions.
- Review rationales deeply.
- Write mistake patterns.
- Do NGN case studies related to that area.
- Recheck with mixed questions.
Do not spend five days only reading notes.
Reading can help, but NCLEX is a decision-making exam. You need to apply what you review.
What to Do With Areas Marked Near the Passing Standard
Near-standard areas are important because they may be easier to move into stronger performance.
These areas need practice, not panic.
For each “Near” area:
- Review the top concepts.
- Practice targeted questions.
- Identify repeated mistakes.
- Add related questions into mixed blocks.
- Recheck after several days.
These may become your quickest wins.
What to Do With Areas Marked Above the Passing Standard
Do not ignore them.
But do not let them steal your retake plan.
For above-standard areas:
- Review lightly.
- Do a small number of maintenance questions weekly.
- Keep the concepts fresh.
- Do not spend most of your study time there.
Strong areas can weaken if ignored completely, but they should not be your main focus.
What If Your CPR Has Many Areas Below the Passing Standard?
If several areas are below the passing standard, do not panic.
That means you need a structured rebuild.
Start with the areas that affect the most questions:
- Safety
- Management of care
- Prioritization
- Delegation
- Pharmacology safety
- Labs
- Infection control
- Patient deterioration
- Clinical judgment
Then add content-area review.
Do not try to fix everything in one week.
Create a 30–45 day plan.
What If Most Areas Are Near the Passing Standard?
If most areas are near the passing standard, you may be closer than you feel.
But “near” is not the same as ready.
Your plan should focus on:
- Consistency
- Mixed questions
- Priority and delegation
- NGN case studies
- Reducing careless mistakes
- Rationale review
- Test stamina
- Anxiety control
Near-standard performance may improve quickly with better strategy.
What If You Had Above Areas but Still Failed?
This can happen.
The NCLEX result is based on overall performance, not simply “how many sections were above.”
If you had some above-standard areas but still failed, your retake plan should protect those strengths while aggressively improving below and near areas.
Do not think:
“But I was above in some areas, so the exam was unfair.”
Think:
“I have strengths. Now I need to bring the weak areas up enough for the overall result to change.”
A 30-Day CPR-Based Retake Plan
| Week | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | CPR diagnosis | Sort categories, identify below/near areas, audit missed-question patterns |
| Week 2 | Below-standard repair | Target the weakest areas with content review + practice questions |
| Week 3 | Near-standard improvement | Strengthen near areas and add mixed practice |
| Week 4 | NGN + readiness | Practice case studies, mixed blocks, stamina, and readiness checks |
This plan works best if you are consistent.
If you have more than 30 days, stretch the plan and give weak areas more time.
A 45-Day CPR-Based Retake Plan
| Phase | Days | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Days 1–7 | Emotional reset, CPR analysis, weak-area map |
| Phase 2 | Days 8–18 | Below-standard content repair and targeted questions |
| Phase 3 | Days 19–28 | Near-standard areas, priority, delegation, and safety |
| Phase 4 | Days 29–38 | NGN case studies, mixed questions, and stamina |
| Phase 5 | Days 39–45 | Readiness checks, light review, and test-day plan |
Use the 45 days with intention.
Do not wait until the last two weeks to start.
CPR Study Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these mistakes:
- Ignoring the CPR because it feels painful
- Studying every topic equally
- Starting with your favorite subject
- Only watching videos
- Doing random questions without a plan
- Avoiding NGN case studies
- Not reviewing rationales deeply
- Retaking before weak areas improve
- Assuming “near” means safe
- Forgetting to maintain stronger areas
- Using shame as motivation
Shame burns out fast.
A plan lasts longer.
How Brilliant Nurse Helps You Use Your CPR
Brilliant Nurse is built for students who need clarity after a failed attempt.
If your CPR shows weak areas but you do not know what to do next, Brilliant Nurse can help you turn that information into action through:
- NGN-style practice
- Readiness tracking
- AI coaching
- Weak-area guidance
- Simple explanations
- Rationale support
- Personalized study direction
The goal is to stop studying blindly.
If you failed NCLEX and need a clearer restart, take the free Brilliant Nurse readiness quiz at brilliantnurse.com/quiz.
Quick Answer
The NCLEX Candidate Performance Report is sent to candidates who do not pass the exam. It shows performance indicators across NCLEX test plan content areas and clinical judgment categories, including “Below the Passing Standard,” “Near the Passing Standard,” and “Above the Passing Standard.” The CPR is intended to show strengths and weaknesses, but the NCLEX is not graded in separate sections; overall performance determines pass/fail status. Candidates should use the CPR to prioritize retake study, starting with areas below the passing standard, then near-standard areas, while maintaining stronger areas. The CPR should be combined with missed-question analysis, NGN practice, and readiness tracking.
What Brilliant Nurse Wants You to Remember
Your CPR is not a shame report.
It is a strategy document.
It shows where to start. It helps you stop guessing. It gives your retake plan direction.
Do not ignore it because it hurts.
Use it.
Brilliant Nurse helps future RNs prepare with NGN-style practice, readiness tracking, AI coaching, and simple explanations. With a 94% pass rate and a money-back guarantee, you can prepare with more confidence.
Start with the free readiness quiz at brilliantnurse.com/quiz.
Who gets a Candidate Performance Report?
Candidates who do not pass the NCLEX receive a Candidate Performance Report. Candidates who pass do not need a CPR because they passed the exam.
What does Below the Passing Standard mean on the CPR?
Below the Passing Standard means that area was one of your weaker areas compared with the passing standard. You should concentrate on these areas first when preparing to retake NCLEX.
What does Near the Passing Standard mean on the CPR?
Near the Passing Standard means your performance was close but not strong enough in that area. These areas should be studied after your below-standard areas because they may be easier to improve.
What does Above the Passing Standard mean on the CPR?
Above the Passing Standard means that area was stronger on your exam attempt. You should still review these areas to maintain proficiency, but they should not take priority over weaker areas.
Does the CPR tell me exactly why I failed NCLEX?
No. The CPR shows strengths and weaknesses by content area and clinical judgment category, but it does not explain every reasoning mistake. Combine it with missed-question review to understand why you struggled.
Is NCLEX graded by sections?
No. The CPR gives performance indicators by area, but the NCLEX is not graded in separate sections. Overall exam performance determines the pass/fail result.
How should I study using my CPR?
Start with areas marked below the passing standard, then work on areas near the passing standard. Use targeted questions, NGN case studies, rationale review, and readiness tracking to measure improvement.
Should I study areas marked Above the Passing Standard?
Yes, but lightly. Maintain stronger areas while spending most of your time on below and near-standard areas.
What if all my CPR areas are below the passing standard?
Do not panic. Start with high-impact areas like safety, prioritization, delegation, pharmacology safety, labs, infection control, and clinical judgment. Build a structured 30–45 day plan.
What if most of my CPR areas are near the passing standard?
That may mean you are closer than you feel, but you still need focused improvement. Work on consistency, mixed practice, NGN case studies, and rationale review before retesting.
How can Brilliant Nurse help me use my CPR?
Brilliant Nurse helps you turn CPR weaknesses into a study plan with NGN-style practice, readiness tracking, AI coaching, weak-area guidance, and simple explanations.