BoardVitals NCLEX Review (2025): The Hardest Questions?
Best for: Best for Difficulty Updated 12/2/2025Price: from 119 USD/month
Pros
- Questions are notoriously difficult, often harder than the NCLEX
- Vital Concepts feature explains the core topic in depth
- Distractor explanations tell you exactly why wrong answers are wrong
- CAT (Computer Adaptive Testing) mode included
- 100% Pass Guarantee included with all plans
Cons
- Interface is functional but less polished than UWorld
- Lacks a comprehensive video library (it's a QBank first)
- Can destroy your confidence if you aren't prepared for the difficulty
The Verdict: Training with Weights
BoardVitals has a reputation in the medical community (they also do USMLE and board prep for doctors) for being hard. Their NCLEX bank is no exception. Many students report scoring 50-60% on BoardVitals and then passing the NCLEX with flying colors.
The philosophy is simple: if you can handle BoardVitals, the real NCLEX will feel easy.
The “Vital Concepts” Difference
Most QBanks give you a rationale for the specific question. BoardVitals goes a step further with Vital Concepts.
- The “Why”: After a question about, say, Digoxin toxicity, the “Vital Concept” box will give you a mini-summary of everything you need to know about Digoxin.
- Distractor Analysis: They spend a lot of time explaining the wrong answers. This is crucial for developing the critical thinking skills needed to eliminate options on the NGN (Next Gen NCLEX).
Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT)
Like UWorld and Nursing.com, BoardVitals offers a CAT mode. It adapts to your performance, serving you harder or easier questions to mimic the exam. While not as famous as SIMCLEX, it is a solid tool for gauging readiness.
Who Should Use It?
BoardVitals is not for students who are struggling with basic content. If you don’t know your lab values, this QBank will just frustrate you.
- Use BoardVitals if: You are a high achiever who wants to ensure a pass, or if you have already failed once and need to ramp up the difficulty.
- Avoid if: You need hand-holding or video lectures.
Final Thoughts
BoardVitals is a “finisher.” It’s a great tool to use in the final month of prep to sharpen your skills and toughen your mental endurance. It lacks the bells and whistles of a full course, but for pure question practice, it is a heavyweight contender.