SNLE exam format at a glance
The Saudi Nursing Licensing Exam is a computer-based Prometric test set by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. These are the structural facts published in the official SCFHS Applicant Guide.
- 200 multiple-choice questions in total
- Delivered in two parts of 100 questions each
- 120 minutes allowed per part
- A scheduled 30-minute break between the two parts
- Up to 10% of questions may be unscored pilot items
- Four-option single-best-answer format throughout
What the timing actually means for your pace
120 minutes for 100 questions is about 72 seconds per item. That is generous for recall questions and tight for long clinical scenarios, so the skill is banking time early.
Target 45 seconds on recall items
Normal values, drug classes, precaution types and definitions should be answered and left alone. Every second saved here funds a scenario later.
Allow 90–120 seconds on scenarios
Priority, delegation and 'what does the nurse do first' stems need the stem read twice. Read the last line first so you know what is being asked before you process the case.
Flag, do not stall
If an item is still unclear after 90 seconds, choose your best option, flag it and move. Reaching the end with 10 minutes spare beats a perfect first 60 questions and a rushed final 40.
Use the break deliberately
The 30-minute break is scheduled, not optional extra study time. Eat, hydrate and reset — part two carries exactly the same weight as part one.
Question styles you will meet
SCFHS describes a mix of recall and scenario-based questions testing interpretation, analysis, decision-making and problem-solving. In practice they fall into four recognisable shapes.
- Recall — a fact, value, classification or definition tested directly
- Interpretation — you are given data (labs, vitals, a rhythm description) and must say what it means
- Priority and decision-making — 'first', 'initial', 'most important' action stems
- Problem-solving — a multi-part scenario where the safe next step depends on two or more findings
How the 200 questions are distributed
Content follows the official four-domain SCFHS blueprint. Multiply each weighting by 200 to see how many questions each domain is worth on your paper.
Adult Nursing — 40% (about 80 questions)
The largest domain: adult medical-surgical and critical care judgement, with the pharmacology and safety decisions that sit inside those cases. Subtopics: Cardiovascular — acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, dysrhythmia priorities; Respiratory — COPD oxygen targets, asthma escalation, chest drain care; Renal and fluid-electrolyte — hyperkalaemia, dialysis care, acid-base balance; Endocrine — DKA, hypoglycaemia, thyroid and adrenal emergencies; Neurological and perioperative nursing.
Maternal-Child Nursing — 30% (about 60 questions)
Antenatal through newborn care plus paediatric nursing across the developmental stages. Subtopics: Antenatal assessment and high-risk pregnancy; Intrapartum monitoring — fetal heart patterns, labour stages; Postpartum care — haemorrhage sequence, pre-eclampsia and magnesium toxicity; Newborn assessment, APGAR and normal vital ranges; Paediatric dosing, dehydration grading and respiratory emergencies.
Nursing Fundamentals — 20% (about 40 questions)
The core of safe practice: the nursing process, patient safety, infection prevention and basic care skills. Subtopics: Nursing process and prioritisation (assessment before intervention); Vital signs, physical assessment and documentation; Infection prevention and control — WHO five moments, isolation precautions; Patient safety — two identifiers, falls, restraints, incident reporting; Mobility, wound care, nutrition and elimination.
Nursing Management and Leadership — 10% (about 20 questions)
Professional practice: delegation, ethics, quality improvement and the regulatory context of nursing in Saudi Arabia. Subtopics: Delegation and supervision of assistive personnel; Ethics, informed consent, confidentiality and mandatory reporting; Scope of practice and SCFHS professional standards; Quality improvement, audit and evidence-based practice; Team communication, handover and conflict resolution.
Practising in the real format
Reading notes does not rehearse pacing. The only way to make 200 questions across two blocks feel routine is to sit them that way beforehand.
- Sit full-length 200-question mocks, not 25-question quizzes, at least twice before test day
- Split your mock the same way the exam does: 100 questions, break, 100 questions
- Practise on a screen laid out like the Prometric interface, with flagging and a review palette
- Review every rationale afterwards — including the items you got right by guessing
Official sources
Question count, timing, pilot-item allowance and domain weightings on this page are taken from the official SCFHS SNLE Applicant Guide.
SNLE Prep is an independent study provider and is not affiliated with SCFHS. Always confirm current rules on the official portal. Back to all SNLE guides.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the SNLE?
200 multiple-choice questions in total, split into two parts of 100 questions each, per the SCFHS SNLE Applicant Guide.
How long is the SNLE exam?
You get 120 minutes for each 100-question part, with a scheduled 30-minute break between the two parts. That works out at roughly 1.2 minutes per question.
Are all SNLE questions scored?
No. Up to 10% of the items may be unscored pilot questions used to trial future content. They are not identified on screen, so treat every question as if it counts.
What question format does the SNLE use?
Four-option single-best-answer multiple choice. The mix runs from straightforward recall through to scenario questions that test interpretation, analysis, decision-making and problem-solving.
Prepare with SNLE Prep
Our programmes are built for the Saudi Nursing Licensing Exam (SNLE): 250+ subtopic notes, a cheat sheet for every subtopic, 6,000+ questions with rationales and real-format Prometric mock tests.