<p>The exam you are asking about is the Hesi exam. Many Nursing Programs give it to Nursing students in the second semester of their Senior year. It is a pre-NCLEX exam. It provides students with an estimate of the percentage odds that they will pass the NCLEX exam and also identifies areas where a student is weak. At least some Nursing Programs actually require Senior Nursing students to score at a certain level (determined by the school) before they can receive their BSN degree (and you can’t take the NCLEX exam until after you have graduated and have your BSN degree). If a student is not successful in achieving the required Hesi score (the number of attempts allowed varies by school) they are given some other type of bachelors degree but it is not a BSN degree (so they are not eligible to take the NCLEX exam so they cannot become licensed as an RN). Luckily very very few students end up in this situation but it has happened. When applying to Nursing Programs it would be prudent to ask if the Program requires this procedure for graduation to order to obtain the BSN degree. At least you would know what would be required of you.</p>