- KNAT stands for Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test - 91 questions across four timed sections in 165 minutes.
- Math is the biggest section with 28 questions in 45 minutes; Science is the shortest at 20 questions in 30 minutes.
- Each nursing program sets its own passing cutoff, fee, and retake policy - there is no single national standard.
- Documented fees range from $25 at Clayton State University to $70 at Delgado Community College.
What Is KNAT, Exactly?
KNAT is short for the Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test, an admissions exam developed and delivered by Kaplan but administered directly by individual nursing programs - typically at the school's own assessment and testing center rather than through a commercial test center network. If you're applying to an associate or bachelor's nursing program, your school (not a national testing agency) decides when you take it, how much it costs, and what score gets you admitted.
This distinction matters. Because each nursing program owns the administration, the rules around fees, cutoffs, and retakes vary from campus to campus. There is no universal KNAT passing score or price tag - only institutional benchmarks that you need to look up for your specific program. For a deeper breakdown of how those benchmarks differ, see our KNAT Passing Score 2026 guide.
Test Format and Timing
The KNAT is delivered online as multiple-choice questions, split into four separately timed sections that together total 91 questions and 165 minutes:
- Reading: 22 questions in 45 minutes
- Math: 28 questions in 45 minutes
- Writing: 21 questions in 45 minutes
- Science: 20 questions in 30 minutes
Each section runs on its own clock, so you can't borrow extra minutes from Reading to finish Math. An on-screen calculator is built into the testing interface, and proctor-supplied scratch paper and pencils are permitted - but candidates generally cannot bring their own calculator. Plan your pacing around the tool you'll actually have access to on test day rather than practicing with a personal calculator you won't be allowed to use.
Key Takeaway
Since Math carries the most questions (28) in a tight 45-minute window, that's the section where pacing practice pays off the most. Budget roughly 90 seconds per question and know when to skip and return.
The Four KNAT Domains
The KNAT's content weighting breaks down as follows: Math 31%, Reading 24%, Writing 23%, and Science 22%. Understanding what each domain actually tests - not just how many questions it has - is the difference between studying broadly and studying efficiently. For a full walkthrough of every subtopic, see the KNAT Exam Domains 2026 guide.
Domain 1: Reading (24%)
Tests comprehension and reasoning from passages - main ideas, inference, and interpreting details under time pressure.
- 22 questions, 45 minutes
- Practice reading dense, informational passages quickly
Domain 2: Math (31%)
The largest domain on the exam, covering unit conversions, basic and advanced arithmetic operations, ratios, percentages, and word problems presented as equations or applied real-world scenarios.
- 28 questions, 45 minutes - the biggest section
- Word problems require translating scenarios into equations quickly
Domain 3: Writing (23%)
Assesses grammar, sentence structure, and standard written English conventions rather than composition or essay writing.
- 21 questions, 45 minutes
- Focus on identifying errors in mechanics and usage
Domain 4: Science (22%)
The one domain that leans toward nursing content: it's specifically physiology-focused, covering the cardiovascular, renal, hematological, gastrointestinal, respiratory, immune, sensory, and neurological systems, plus electrolytes and homeostasis.
- 20 questions, 30 minutes - shortest but most content-dense
- Requires memorizing organ system function, not general biology trivia
Notice that Reading, Math, and Writing measure general academic readiness - the kind of skills any college-bound applicant should have. Science is the exception, since it draws directly on physiology concepts you'll revisit throughout nursing school. If you're wondering how this content mix compares to overall difficulty, our How Hard Is the KNAT Exam guide breaks down where most candidates struggle.
Registration, Fees, and Retake Rules
Because the KNAT is administered by each nursing program individually, registration mechanics differ from school to school - but a few consistent patterns show up across published policies.
Exam Fees Vary by Institution
The fee is set by whichever nursing program is administering the test, not by a fixed national price. Documented amounts include:
| Institution | Published KNAT Fee |
|---|---|
| Clayton State University | $25 |
| University of Southern Mississippi | $50 |
| Jackson College | $50 |
| Delgado Community College | $70 |
Always confirm the exact fee with your target program before budgeting - see our KNAT Certification Cost breakdown for more on what these fees typically cover.
Attempt Limits and Waiting Periods
Attempt limits, waiting periods between retests, and how long a score stays valid are all set by the individual nursing program rather than by a central authority. Commonly published policies include:
- One or two attempts allowed per application period
- A minimum 30-day wait required between retest attempts
- Score validity ranging anywhere from six months to three years
Because these rules differ so widely, check your specific program's policy before you register - don't assume the rules from a friend's school apply to yours. Our KNAT Requirements guide covers eligibility rules and prerequisite coursework in more detail, and our KNAT Exam Dates guide covers how testing windows and deadlines typically work.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites for the KNAT beyond whatever your nursing program's own application requires. Some programs, however, restrict testing to applicants who are in their final semester of prerequisite coursework, so timing your registration around your course schedule matters just as much as studying content.
How KNAT Scoring Works
Results are returned immediately after testing - you'll see a percentage score for each of the four sections, plus a cumulative score. There's no single passing threshold across all schools; each program sets its own admission cutoff. Two documented examples:
- Jackson College (AAS-N program): 62% cutoff
- MSU Billings City College: 65% cutoff
These numbers illustrate the range you might encounter, but they are not universal - your target program's own published cutoff is the only number that matters for your application. Our KNAT Passing Score guide goes deeper into how programs typically set and interpret these cutoffs, and KNAT Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows looks at outcome trends more broadly.
Who Takes the KNAT and Why
Nursing programs use the KNAT as an admissions screening tool - it's not a licensing exam and it doesn't certify you to practice. Instead, it helps admissions committees gauge whether an applicant has the academic foundation (reading comprehension, math fluency, writing mechanics, and basic physiology recall) to succeed in a demanding nursing curriculum before they invest a seat in the program.
Because outcomes hinge on getting into a program in the first place, many applicants treat the KNAT as a gatekeeping milestone worth taking seriously. If you're evaluating whether investing prep time is worthwhile relative to program costs and career outcomes, our Is the KNAT Certification Worth It analysis and KNAT Salary Guide put that decision in context.
Preparing for Each Section
A generic study plan won't help much here - the KNAT's four sections require distinctly different preparation. A simple way to structure your final weeks is to sequence review around section size and content novelty: spend more time on Math because it's the largest section, and dedicate focused time to Science because its physiology content is less familiar than general reading and writing skills.
Math Foundations
- Drill unit conversions, ratios, and percentages
- Practice translating word problems into equations
- Time yourself against the 45-minute/28-question pace
Reading and Writing
- Practice comprehension with dense informational passages
- Review grammar and sentence-structure conventions
- Take timed sets matching the 22- and 21-question formats
Science Physiology Review
- Study each organ system: cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, GI, hematological, immune, sensory, neurological
- Review electrolytes and homeostasis concepts
- Run condensed 30-minute practice sets
Full Timed Practice
- Complete full-length, four-section practice runs
- Identify your weakest domain and do targeted review
- Confirm your program's specific cutoff and retake policy
For a more detailed week-by-week plan and section-specific tactics, see our KNAT Study Guide 2026. And if you want quick, condensed review material before test day, the KNAT Cheat Sheet 2026 summarizes must-know facts in one page. You can also work through realistic practice questions on our KNAT practice test platform to get comfortable with the on-screen calculator and timed-section format before test day.
Key Takeaway
Don't split study time evenly across all four sections - weight your prep toward Math (largest question count) and Science (least familiar content) while keeping Reading and Writing sharp with shorter, regular practice sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This article covers the Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test specifically - developed by Kaplan and administered by individual nursing programs. If you encounter other information under the same acronym, confirm it's referring to this exam before relying on it.
The KNAT has 91 multiple-choice questions across four sections - Reading (22), Math (28), Writing (21), and Science (20) - for a total testing time of 165 minutes.
Generally no. The test includes a built-in on-screen calculator, and candidates are typically not permitted to bring their own. Proctor-supplied scratch paper and pencils are allowed.
There's no single passing score - each nursing program sets its own cutoff. Published examples include 62% at Jackson College's AAS-N program and 65% at MSU Billings City College. Check with your specific program for its requirement.
Fees are set by the administering nursing program and vary; documented examples range from $25 at Clayton State University up to $70 at Delgado Community College. Confirm the exact fee with your program.
Retake policies are set by each program, but common patterns include one or two attempts per application period, a minimum 30-day wait between attempts, and score validity ranging from six months to three years.