ATI Proctored Exam Levels

ATI proctored exam levels are a four-tier scoring system, Below Level 1, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3, that ATI applies to every Content Mastery Series proctored exam, including Pharmacology, Fundamentals, Med-Surg, Mental Health, and every other subject in the series.¹ Each tier reflects a defined probability that a student's performance predicts success on the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN in that subject area.

ATI's content expert panel derives these tiers from a formal cut-score study for each exam form, so the exact score range for a given level varies by subject and by exam year, even though the four-tier structure itself stays constant.¹

Most nursing programs set Level 2 as the required benchmark for course credit, since it corresponds to a strong probability of NCLEX readiness.² A small number of programs accept Level 1, and some competitive or accelerated programs require Level 3 on select exams.

Yes, ATI proctored exam level cutoffs are recalculated for each exam form, and searches specifically reference the 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 exam years, with 2025 currently showing the highest search interest, followed by 2026. This reflects real, ongoing update activity: ATI periodically issues new exam forms with revised item banks, and each new form carries its own cut-score study.¹

The nursing profession also saw a significant content shift industry-wide in April 2023, when the National Council of State Boards of Nursing officially launched the Next Generation NCLEX exam, prompting ATI and other test developers to update assessments accordingly.³ Despite these updates, the four-tier level structure itself, Below Level 1 through Level 3, has remained ATI's consistent scoring framework across every one of these years.

No, a single universal passing score does not exist, because ATI calibrates cut scores separately for every subject and every exam form. A Level 2 cutoff on the Pharmacology exam is not the same raw score as a Level 2 cutoff on the Mental Health or Med-Surg exam.¹ Each subject's specific level breakdown is detailed on that subject's dedicated guide, including Pharmacology, Fundamentals, and Med-Surg.

A student scoring Below Level 1 on any ATI proctored exam typically completes a structured remediation assignment before a retake, following a policy each nursing program sets independently rather than ATI itself.⁴ Consequences vary by program: some deduct course points for a Below Level 1 score, while others simply require a passing retake score before progression to the next course.

Yes, a Level 2 or higher score on an ATI Content Mastery Series exam is designed to correlate with NCLEX readiness in that specific content area, since ATI builds its proficiency levels using statistical models that compare exam performance to NCLEX pass outcomes.² A strong Level 2 or Level 3 pattern across multiple subject exams is one of several signals nursing programs use to gauge overall NCLEX preparedness, though it is not the only factor programs or students should rely on.

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Is Level 2 always the required score to pass?
Yes, at most nursing programs, though a program's syllabus or handbook governs the exact policy, and some programs accept Level 1 or require Level 3.

Do ATI levels reset each exam year?
Yes, cut scores are recalculated per exam form, though the four-tier level structure itself has stayed consistent across the 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 exam years.

Can two students with the same raw score get different levels?
Yes, if they took different exam forms or subjects, since each form has its own cut-score study and level boundaries.¹

Sources: 1. ATI RN and PN Content Mastery Series Proficiency Level Definitions, atitesting.com. 2. ATI RN and PN Content Mastery Series test blueprints, atitesting.com. 3. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), Next Generation NCLEX launch, April 2023. 4. ATI Standardized Course Exams Policy, Washington State University College of Nursing.