SNLE
SNLE Content: The Four Sections and Their Weights
The four sections of the Saudi Nursing Licensure Examination with official weights, approximate questions per section out of 200, the seven competencies and the references SCFHS suggests.
- Next test
- 1 – 24 November 2026 Add the date to your calendar
- Questions and time
- 200 questions (two parts of 100) · 240 minutes (120 per part, with a 30-minute break)
- Pass mark
- 500 on a 200 to 800 scale
- Exam fee
- Paid when you apply for the exam online with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties; the amount is shown in your application
Start with 10 free questions to find what needs more work. No sign-up, with answer explanations.
Try 10 free questions and see your levelPut what you just read into practice
Start with 10 free questions to find what needs more work. No sign-up, with answer explanations.
Try 10 free questions and see your levelLast verified: 31 October 2026. Our sources are the SNLE applicant guide and the professional licensure exam dates page of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS). Dates can change, so check the SCFHS website. This guide comes from an independent website, not connected to SCFHS, Prometric or any government body.
In short: the exam has 200 English questions in four sections. Adult nursing alone is 40% (about 80 questions) and maternal-child nursing 30%, so these two make up 70% of the exam. Each section weight may vary by up to 5% either way.
Sections and weights
| Section | Weight | Approx. questions out of 200 | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing Fundamentals | 20% | 40 | Fundamentals of nursing, physical assessment, pharmacology, basic sciences |
| Adult Nursing | 40% | 80 | Medical, surgical, critical care, community, mental/psychiatric nursing |
| Maternal-Child Nursing | 30% | 60 | Maternity, gynecology, neonatal, pediatric medical and surgical |
| Nursing Management and Leadership | 10% | 20 | Coordinating care, quality and safety, teams, informatics, research and EBP |
Question style
Every question is multiple choice with four options and one best answer. Some test recall, and most are clinical scenarios that ask you to interpret, analyze or decide, such as what the nurse should do first. The exam may include up to 10% pilot questions that do not count toward your score.
The seven competencies
Questions across all sections measure seven competencies: professionalism, patient-centered care, evidence-based practice and research, leadership and management, quality and safety management, health education and promotion, and communication and information technology.
Suggested references
The SCFHS guide lists books for each section, including Kozier & Erb and Timby for fundamentals, Brunner & Suddarth and Lewis for adult nursing, Videbeck for mental health, Ricci and Wong for maternal-child nursing, and Marquis & Huston for management. The guide says the list is a study aid only and the questions are not necessarily taken from these books.
Where to start
Start with adult nursing because it is the largest section, then maternal-child nursing. Answer the free questions first to see your weakest section, then focus on it.
Finished reading? Try a set of questions
Start with 10 free questions to find your weakest units. Keep practising with the full question bank and mock exams from SAR 26.