NurseSim exams / United Kingdom

NMC CBT - Adult nursing (UK): format and practice

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). United Kingdom

What the exam is

The NMC Test of Competence computer-based test (CBT) for adult nursing: Part A numeracy and Part B clinical, followed by a practical exam, the OSCE.

Regulator: Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Country: United Kingdom.

Who takes it

Nurses and midwives trained outside the UK who want to register with the NMC, after the NMC has accepted their application. The NMC sets the current rules and fees: check its page before you book.

Format, as the regulator publishes it

ItemWhat the regulator says
Part A, numeracy15 questions, answers typed as numbers, 30 minutes [1]
Part A pass mark87% (13 of 15 correct) [1]
Part B, clinical100 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours 30 minutes [1]
Next step after the testA practical exam, the OSCE, in the UK [1]

The route

  1. Apply to the NMC and have your application accepted
  2. Book the computer-based test (delivered by Pearson VUE)
  3. Pass Part A and Part B
  4. Sit the OSCE in the UK
  5. Complete registration

Part A needs exact numeric answers with the units the question asks for. Practise drug calculations until they are automatic.

How NurseSim covers it

NurseSim has 125 questions written for this exam. That is fewer than 200, so the simulation also draws on the shared pool of 4,354 registered-nurse questions (4,479 in total) and offers 5 full-length mock exams that share no question.

Every answer comes with the reasoning behind it, and you can sit timed mock exams. Free: 5 questions a day, no card needed. NMC CBT - Adult nursing is the name of an examination of Nursing and Midwifery Council (delivered by Pearson VUE), which is not affiliated with this program and has not endorsed it.

One question from the bank

Try it.

Try oneMedical-surgical

A 71-year-old man with COPD has hypercapnic respiratory failure confirmed on blood gases. The doctor has documented a target saturation of 88-92% and the use of SpO2 Scale 2 on his NEWS2 chart. He is receiving oxygen through a 28% Venturi mask and his SpO2 is now 97%. What should the nurse do?

  1. AScore the saturation as 0, because 97% is within the normal range for most adults
  2. BScore the saturation as 3 and review the oxygen against his 88-92% target, informing the medical team
  3. CCross out Scale 2 and change to Scale 1, because his saturation has now returned to normal
  4. DTurn up the oxygen so that the reading stays reliably above 96% while he is short of breath

Answer: B. On SpO2 Scale 2, a saturation of 97% or above while on oxygen scores 3, because for a patient with hypercapnic respiratory failure it means he is receiving more oxygen than his prescribed 88-92% target, which risks worsening hypercapnia. The nurse should recognise the red score, titrate the oxygen in line with the prescription and inform the medical team. Only a competent clinical decision maker decides which SpO2 scale is used.

Pass prices

One Pass opens all 20 exams.

In euro, Danish VAT included, paid once.

30 days

€96.99€3.23 a dayChoose 30 days
Most chosen

90 days

€159.99€1.78 a dayChoose 90 days
Lowest per day

180 days

€229.99€1.28 a dayChoose 180 days

Try 5 questions free

Read next

Sources

  1. NMC test specification (nursing)
  2. NMC CBT candidate handbook (2021)
  3. NMC: computer-based test page

Facts read on 16 October 2026 in the pages above. Regulators change rules and fees: confirm with them before you book. NurseSim is an independent study aid, not affiliated with or endorsed by the regulator.