NMC CBT Structure: Part A and Part B Explained

The CBT is one sitting of 4 hours, 120 multiple-choice questions, taken at any Pearson VUE test centre worldwide. The structure is split into two parts that test different domains.

Part A: Numeracy

15 questions on drug calculation, unit conversion, and basic numeracy applied to nursing practice.

• Number of questions: 15.
• Typical content: tablet/capsule dosage calculations, liquid medication calculations, IV drip rate calculations, infusion rate calculations, weight-based dosing, unit conversions (mg/mcg, mg/g, mL/L), fluid balance, BMI.
• Calculator: on-screen calculator provided during the test interface.
• Pass threshold: high. The NMC’s standard-set pass mark for Part A is typically around 13 out of 15 (80%+). A single calculation error can be the difference.

Part A is the section many candidates underestimate. The calculations themselves aren’t difficult mathematically, but the test rewards accuracy under time pressure. A candidate who is rusty on unit conversions or who panics on weight-based dosing tends to lose marks on questions that are within their underlying capability.

Part B: Clinical

105+ questions on clinical knowledge mapped to the NMC’s Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses. Specifically the seven Future Nurse Platforms.

• Number of questions: variable (typically 105-115).
• Coverage: full breadth of UK adult nursing practice.
• Pass threshold: standard-set per question difficulty; typically around 60-70% scaled.

The seven platforms (covered in Chapter 74) are:

1. Being an accountable professional.
2. Promoting health and preventing ill health.
3. Assessing needs and planning care.
4. Providing and evaluating care.
5. Leading and managing nursing care and working in teams.
6. Improving safety and quality of care.
7. Coordinating care.

Each platform contributes a portion of the questions. The exact split isn’t published, but candidates report that platforms 3 and 4 (assessment and care delivery) carry the largest portions.

Question types

Part B questions are largely multiple-choice (single best answer). Question types include:

• Single-best-answer (SBA): choose one correct answer from 4 or 5 options.
• Extended matching: match items from a list to options.
• Brief scenario-based: short patient or workplace scenarios followed by an MCQ.
• Knowledge-based: direct testing of facts (medications, procedures, anatomy).

All questions are multiple-choice. There are no short-answer or essay questions in the CBT.

How time is allocated

You have 4 hours total to complete all 120 questions. Most candidates plan roughly:

• Part A (numeracy): 60-75 minutes. About 4-5 minutes per question.
• Part B (clinical): 165-180 minutes. About 90 seconds per question.

The 4 hours is generous if you keep moving. Time pressure usually only becomes a real factor for candidates who get stuck on early questions.

The interface lets you flag questions and return to them. Flagging difficult ones, completing the easier ones, then revisiting flagged ones is the standard strategy.

How marking works

The CBT is computer-scored. Each question is worth one mark; there’s no negative marking. Unanswered questions score zero, so guessing on uncertain questions is mathematically preferable to leaving them blank.

Scores are standardised against question difficulty. The pass mark therefore varies slightly by test version. A harder version has a lower raw pass mark than an easier version, so that across versions the difficulty level required is consistent.

What happens if you pass one part and fail the other

The two parts are scored independently. Possible outcomes:

• Pass A, Pass B: full CBT passed. Move on to OSCE preparation.
• Pass A, Fail B: retake Part B only at next sitting.
• Fail A, Pass B: retake Part A only at next sitting.
• Fail both: retake both at next sitting.

Retaking only the failed part saves time and stress but the retake is still a full booking through Pearson VUE.

How many attempts are allowed

The NMC currently allows three attempts at the CBT within a 6-month period from your first attempt. After three failed attempts, you have to wait 6 months before re-applying.

If you fail Part A or Part B on a single attempt, that counts as one attempt of the CBT even though only one part needs retaking. Plan retakes carefully.

What the test feels like in the room

Pearson VUE test centres look like commercial computer rooms: rows of partitioned cubicles, screen, keyboard, on-screen calculator, scratch paper (sometimes a whiteboard) provided. No bags, phones or personal belongings in the room. They’re locked in a separate area.

The test starts when you begin. The 4 hours runs continuously; you can take comfort breaks but the clock keeps running. Most candidates complete in 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

The next chapter covers the numeracy section (Part A) in detail: the calculation methods you’ll be tested on.