The Written (or Oral) Exam

You can choose either written or oral exam.

Written Exam

The Nurse Evaluator will hand out materials and give instructions for taking the Written Examination. 

• The Written Examination has seventy (70) multiple-choice questions. 
• You will have two (2) hours to complete the Written Examination. 
• You will be told when fifteen (15) minutes are left to finish. 
• Fill in only one (1) oval on the answer sheet for each question. 
• Markings in the test booklet will not be accepted as answers. 
• Your answers must appear on the separate answer sheet.

Oral Exam 

• The Oral Examination consists of sixty (60) multiple-choice questions and ten (10) reading comprehension questions and is given on an MP3 player.
• Each of the sixty (60) multiple-choice questions will be repeated two (2) times, after which you mark your answer on an answer sheet. 
• The reading comprehension questions test your knowledge of and familiarity with common, job-related words. 
• Each of these words is repeated three (3) times. You have two (2) hours to complete the entire Oral Examination. 
• You must pass both the multiple-choice and reading comprehension sections to pass the Oral Examination.

Note: In the Spanish oral examination, the ten (10) multiple choice questions are read in Spanish, and you are asked to match the word you hear on the recording to the English written word on the answer sheet.

Content Outline

The revised content outline is based on the findings from the 2019–2020 Job Analysis and Knowledge, Skill, and Ability Study of Nurse Aides published by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) in 2023. The examination content outline will be effective April 2024. 

The NNAAP written examination is comprised of seventy (70) multiple-choice items; ten (10) of these items are pretest (non-scored) items on which statistical information will be collected. The NNAAP oral examination is comprised of sixty (60) multiple-choice items and ten (10) reading comprehension (word recognition) items.

Sample Question

The following questions are samples of the kinds of questions that you will find on the Written Examination. Check your answers to these questions in the box below.

1. The client’s call light should always be placed:

1. on the bed
2. within the client’s reach
3. on the client’s right side
4. over the side rail 

2. Which of the following items is used in the prevention and treatment of bedsores or pressure sores? 

1. rubber sheet 
2. air mattress
3. emesis basin
4. restraint

3. When caring for a dying client, the Nurse Aide should: 

1. keep the client’s room dark and quiet
2. allow client to express his feelings
3. change the subject if client talks about death 
4. contact the client’s minister, priest, or rabbi

4. What does the abbreviation ADL mean?

1. Ad Lib 
2. As Doctor Likes 
3. Activities of Daily Living 
4. After Daylight

5. After giving a client a back rub, the Nurse Aide should always note: 

1. the last time the client had a back rub
2. any change in the client’s skin 
3. client’s weight 
4. amount of lotion used 

6. How should the Nurse Aide communicate with a client who has a hearing loss? 

1. face the client when speaking 
2. repeat the statement
3. shout so that the client can hear
4. use a high-pitched voice

Correct Answers

Self-Assessment Reading Test Sample Question

The two (2)-part Self-Assessment Reading Test that appears below will help you decide if you should consider taking the Oral Examination instead of the Written Examination. To complete the reading test, follow the instructions provided below and select the answer to each question. When you have completed the reading test, you will be able to determine the number of questions you answered correctly.

Part 1: Vocabulary

Note:

• Circle the best answer to each question. 
• When you have finished, check your answers using the answer key.
• Count the number of correct answers. 
• If your score is less than 17, you may have difficulty reading the Written Examination and should consider taking the Oral Examination.

1. You go to a doctor when you ­­_______.

1. feel sleepy 
2. need socks
3. feel sick 
4. need money
5. need clothes 

2. A person who flies an airplane is _______.

1. pilot
2. steward 
3. mother 
4. surgeon 
5. director 

3. You use a _______ to write.

1. bow 
2. calculator
3. pencil 
4. carpenter 
5. needle 

4. To exit a room means to_______ it. 

1. enter 
2. leave 
3. forget 
4. read 
5. interrupt 

5. A wedding is joyous _______. 

1. focus 
2. vehicle 
3. balloon 
4. occasion 
5. civilization 

6. To require something means to _______ it.

1. need 
2. have 
3. forget 
4. understand 
5. hear 

7. You _______ something to find its length. 

1. slice 
2. lock 
3. measure 
4. force 
5. tape 

8. Soup is served in a _______. 

1. plate 
2. bowl 
3. fork
4. chair 
5. closet 

9. To accompany someone means to _______.

1. disagree with him
2. work for him
3. go with him 
4. speak to him 
5. choose him

10. A nursing home resident receives _______ from the staff. 

1. quality 
2. fame 
3. interruption 
4. care 
5. work

11. Medicine is used to _______ pain. 

1. widen 
2. conjure 
3. enliven 
4. increase 
5. relieve 

12. To drench the flowers means to _______ them. 

1. steam 
2. drink 
3. touch 
4. soak 
5. anger 

13. A bicycle is a means of _______.

1. nourishment 
2. transportation 
3. prediction 
4. collision 
5. walking 

14. When someone speaks in a whisper, it may be difficult to _______.

1. deceive 
2. understand 
3. frighten 
4. estimate 
5. regulate

Part 2: Comprehension

In this part of the reading test, you will be provided with a series of brief paragraphs. You will read each paragraph and then answer the questions that appear after the paragraph. 

There are many kinds of fish. All fish live in water. They use their tails and fins to swim.

15. Fish live in _______.

1. cups 
2. houses 
3. air 
4. water 
5. fountains 

16. Fish use their _______ to swim. 

1. tails 
2. heads 
3. gills 
4. lungs 
5. float

Maria grew up on a farm. She loved the work on the farm. She knew when all the crops had to be planted. She would like a job on a farm or in a flower garden.

17. Maria has had experience as a _______.

1. guide 
2. farmer 
3. driver 
4. nurse 
5. teacher 

18. She would like to work in _______.

1. an office 
2. a library 
3. a garden 
4. a hospital
5. a supermarket 

19. As a child Maria lived _______. 

1. in the city 
2. in an apartment 
3. on a farm 
4. in a large house 
5. on the beach

Carolyn has a good job. She is a nurse in a large hospital. Every day she can help many people. She enjoys this very much. She also makes a good salary. Each month she can pay her bills and save some money. 

20. Carolyn works in a _______.

1. (A) hospital 
2. (B) doctor’s office 
3. (C) garage 
4. (D) school 
5. (E) library  

21. One of the things Carolyn enjoys is _______.

1. (A) working in an office 
2. (B) helping people 
3. (C) reading books 
4. (D) working late hours 
5. (E) driving a car 

22. With her salary she can pay her bills and _______.

(A) buy furniture 

(B) give to charity 

(C) save money 

(D) buy new clothes 

(E) pay for college 

This completes the Self-Assessment Reading Test.

Note: If your score is less than 17, you may have difficulty reading the Written Examination and should consider taking the Oral Examination in place of the Written Examination.