Course Description and Competencies

What to Expect

This course is divided into four key sections, each covering essential topics for nursing school entrance exams. You’ll focus on strengthening your understanding of reading, language usage, mathematics, and scienceβ€”all critical areas for nursing school success. Topics include test-taking strategies, grammar and sentence structure, data interpretation, human anatomy, biology, chemistry, and more. Within each section, complex concepts are broken down into manageable units to support effective learning. Throughout the course, you’ll encounter interactive elements such as knowledge checks, practice questions, and diagnostic assessments to reinforce your learning. Engaging with these activities will deepen your understanding, track your progress, and help build the confidence you need for exam day. 

Course Competencies

This course covers the following competencies:

  • The learner demonstrates the ability to effectively manage test-taking challenges, including time management, anxiety reduction, and strategic answering techniques, to perform confidently on standardized exams.
  • The learner analyzes and interprets written passages, identifies key ideas and inferences, and applies correct grammar, vocabulary, and writing conventions in academic and professional contexts.
  • The learner solves mathematical problems involving arithmetic, algebra, and data interpretation, and applies these skills to real-world scenarios such as dosage calculations and unit conversions in healthcare settings.
  •  The learner explains and applies foundational concepts in anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, and physics (as required), demonstrating critical thinking in scientific reasoning and problem-solving. 

Assessment

The final assessment provides an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the competencies in this course. You may attempt the assessment two times before additional support is necessary. If you require further attempts, please contact your Student Experience Team. 

1 Final Exam
2 Competency Units
1 Diagnostic Exam

Course Outline

ModuleUpon completion of this module, you will be able to:
Exam Foundations
  • Effectively manage your time during standardized exams to ensure you complete all sections within the allotted time.
  • Explore techniques to reduce anxiety and maintain focus during high-stakes testing situations.
  • Develop strategic answering skills to approach different question types with confidence and accuracy.
Reading and Language Skills
  • Practice identifying main ideas, supporting details, and making inferences from reading passages.
  • Recognize the structure of a passage and determine the author’s intent and tone.
  • Apply correct grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary usage within various contexts.
Mathematics
  • Perform arithmetic operations involving fractions, decimals, percentages, and ratios.
  • Solve equations and word problems using appropriate mathematical strategies.
  • Interpret and analyze data presented in charts, graphs, and tables.
  • Apply unit conversions and perform dosage calculations relevant to healthcare scenarios.
Science
  • Understand the body’s systems and their primary functions.
  • Apply foundational biological and chemical principles to scientific and medical contexts.
  • Analyze cause-and-effect relationships in clinical and real-world scientific scenarios.

Technology Requirements

We want you to have the tools to succeed! Since this course includes at least one proctored test, please be sure to have a working microphone, speakers, and an external webcam. Unfortunately, an internal webcam (built into many laptops) is not acceptable. (Note: The external webcam is required only for exams that have proctors. You do not need one for practice tests and other non-proctored assessments.) If you haven't already, be sure to download the Meazure Learning Guardian browser, which you will need for the proctoring system.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. If you haven't already, download this free software. You may encounter an interactive form that contains fields that you can select or fill in. Review how to fill in a PDF form.

For other details about the technology you'll need, review the Computer System and Technology Requirements. If you have questions about your setup, contact support@academy.wgu.edu.

Key Contacts

Course Connect
Check out this online community to take advantage of course resources, including videos and tips from your educators. You can ask and answer questions, provide feedback on your progress, and interact with fellow students. You will find this platform in the Student Resources section of the course. Log on and do some exploring!

Tutor.com
If you need academic support, don’t hesitate to contact Tutor.com. There, you have access to thousands of tutors. And they are available 24/7 from any internet-ready device. You can also benefit from instructional videos, study tools, and other assistance. 

Technical Support
If you encounter technical issues, be sure to contact the Help Desk. Just submit a Support Request for assistance.

Program Support
Do you have questions about your account? Student Support has answers. They can help with billing, switching courses, and other requests. You can contact them at (888) 320-0540 or support@academy.wgu.edu.

Accommodations

WGU provides compliant and accessible learning experiences. If you require accommodation, please contact us at the start of the course. You can email disability@academy.wgu.edu.

We are committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities have equal access to WGU's services and materials. We strive to use best practices for accessibility. Our goal is to conform to existing U.S. laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Our learning management system (LMS) platform is Open edX. Open edX’s commitment to accessible content is published in their Website Accessibility Policy.