Question 1 · Oral medications: tablets
Furosemide 60 mg is prescribed. Furosemide is available as 20 mg tablets. How many tablets should be given?
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✓ Answer: 3 tablets
What you want ÷ what you have = 60 mg ÷ 20 mg = 3 tablets.
NMC CBT Part A numeracy 2026
NMC CBT numeracy practice test with answers
Part A of the NMC CBT is 15 numeracy questions in 30 minutes, and you need 13 correct to pass. Try the worked examples below, then practise unlimited new questions of every type.
NMC CBT numeracy questions and answers
One example of each type of Part A question. Click "Show answer" to see the working.
Question 2 · Oral medications: liquids
Amoxicillin 375 mg is prescribed. Amoxicillin oral suspension is available as 250 mg in 5 ml. What volume should be given?
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✓ Answer: 7.5 ml
(375 ÷ 250) × 5 ml = 1.5 × 5 = 7.5 ml.
Question 3 · Injections
Morphine sulfate 7.5 mg is prescribed subcutaneously. It is available as 10 mg in 1 ml. What volume should be drawn up?
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✓ Answer: 0.75 ml
(7.5 ÷ 10) × 1 ml = 0.75 ml.
Question 4 · Metric units
A prescription is written for digoxin 62.5 micrograms. How many milligrams is this?
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✓ Answer: 0.0625 mg
1 mg = 1000 micrograms, so 62.5 ÷ 1000 = 0.0625 mg.
Question 5 · Measuring the correct dose
A child weighing 18 kg is prescribed paracetamol 15 mg/kg. What dose should be given?
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✓ Answer: 270 mg
15 mg/kg × 18 kg = 270 mg.
Question 6 · Intravenous infusions: pump rate
1000 ml of sodium chloride 0.9% is prescribed over 6 hours via a volumetric pump. What rate should the pump be set to, to 1 decimal place?
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✓ Answer: 166.7 ml/hr
1000 ml ÷ 6 hours = 166.666… → 166.7 ml/hr.
Question 7 · Intravenous infusions: drip rate
500 ml of sodium chloride 0.9% is to run over 4 hours using a giving set that delivers 20 drops/ml. What is the drip rate in drops per minute?
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✓ Answer: 42 drops/min
(500 ml × 20 drops/ml) ÷ 240 minutes = 41.67 → 42 drops/min (round to a whole drop).
Question 8 · Fluid balance
Over 24 hours a patient drinks 1250 ml and receives 1000 ml IV. Output is 1650 ml of urine and 200 ml of vomit. What is the fluid balance?
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✓ Answer: +400 ml
Intake 1250 + 1000 = 2250 ml. Output 1650 + 200 = 1850 ml. Balance = 2250 − 1850 = +400 ml.
Drug calculation formulas for the NMC CBT
| Calculation | Formula |
|---|---|
| Tablets, liquids and injections | (What you want ÷ what you have) × volume |
| Weight-based dose | Dose per kg × weight in kg |
| Infusion pump rate | Volume (ml) ÷ time (hours) = ml/hr |
| Gravity drip rate | (Volume (ml) × drop factor) ÷ time (minutes) = drops/min |
| Fluid balance | Total intake − total output |
| Units | 1 g = 1000 mg; 1 mg = 1000 micrograms; 1 L = 1000 ml |
For more tips on avoiding unit and rounding mistakes, read the Part A numeracy guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass mark for NMC CBT numeracy?
The current pass mark for Part A numeracy is 87%, which is 13 out of 15 questions correct, according to the NMC's test specification. So you can get no more than two questions wrong.
Can I use a calculator in the NMC CBT numeracy test?
The NMC's information booklet tells candidates to do their calculations on the erasable note board provided at the test centre, then type the answer on screen. Practise working out answers by hand so you're comfortable on the day.
What topics are in NMC CBT Part A numeracy?
The NMC's test specification lists measuring the correct dose (2 questions), metric units (2), oral medications (4), injections (3), intravenous infusions (3) and fluid balance (1), making 15 questions in total.
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