About the exam
NMC Midwifery CBT Exam structure
An independent study guide aligned to the current NMC Midwifery CBT blueprint, test specification and Standards of proficiency for midwives.
Issuer and path
NMC Midwifery CBT Study Guide is administered through Nursing and Midwifery Council. Check official resources before booking, retesting, or relying on a stale requirement.
Part A: Numeracy
15 scored + 0 pretest
Fifteen applied numeracy questions using constructed one-number answers, with the correct unit where required.
Part B: Clinical
100 scored + 0 pretest
One hundred four-option, single-correct-answer questions balanced across the current Midwifery test specification's nine clinical content rows.
Before booking and sitting
Confirm that the exam and both modules show RM Midwife, use the identification tied to the application, request reasonable adjustments before booking where required, and follow current Pearson VUE and NMC instructions.
Official Outline Coverage Map
Coverage is mapped to official outline item counts so content depth can be checked without hard-coding a single exam.
| Topic | Official outline items | Your questions | Your flashcards | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measuring the Correct Dose | 2 | 10 | 10 | Strong |
| Metric Units | 2 | 10 | 10 | Strong |
| Oral Medications | 4 | 21 | 10 | Strong |
| Injections | 3 | 16 | 10 | Strong |
| Intravenous Infusions | 3 | 16 | 10 | Strong |
| Fluid Balance | 1 | 5 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 1: Being an Accountable, Autonomous, Professional Midwife | 22 | 115 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 2: Safe and Effective Midwifery Care | 12 | 63 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 3A: Public Health, Health Promotion and Protection | 10 | 52 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 3B: Assessment, Screening and Care Planning | 18 | 94 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 3C: Optimising Normal Physiological Processes | 4 | 21 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 4A: First-line Assessment and Management of Complications | 10 | 52 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 4B: Care Requiring Additional Services | 4 | 21 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 5A: Working with Others — the Midwife as Colleague | 14 | 73 | 10 | Strong |
| Domain 5B: the Midwife as Scholar and Leader | 6 | 32 | 10 | Strong |
How to use this guide
How to prepare for the NMC Midwifery CBT
Combine unit-safe calculation with newly qualified midwife judgement grounded in the Code, informed choice, continuity, physiology, timely escalation and collaborative care.
1. Identify the required output
For numeracy, name the value and unit. For clinical questions, identify whether the stem asks for priority, first action, explanation, escalation or ongoing plan.
2. Protect immediate safety
Recognise maternal or neonatal deterioration, medicines error, infection, safeguarding or accountability risk before routine care.
3. Centre the woman and newborn infant
Use the woman's concerns, observations, history, preferences, capacity, family context and the newborn's condition.
4. Calculate or compare explicitly
Align units and show arithmetic for Part A; compare all four actions against evidence, the Code, scope and escalation threshold for Part B.
5. Close the loop
Check magnitude or consequence, then include monitoring, communication, documentation, referral and review where required.
Part A blueprint
Make every unit and step visible
The six official categories total 15 constructed-response questions and are assessed at apply-and-analyse level.
Measuring the Correct Dose
Determine the amount to administer from the prescribed dose and available preparation.
Choose a topic to open below
Metric Units
Convert metric mass and volume safely while keeping notation and units unambiguous.
Choose a topic to open below
Oral Medications
Calculate tablet, capsule and liquid oral doses from prescriptions and stock strengths.
Choose a topic to open below
Injections
Calculate safe injection volumes using dose, concentration, route and patient factors.
Choose a topic to open below
Intravenous Infusions
Calculate infusion rate, time, volume and concentration with a reasonableness check.
Choose a topic to open below
Fluid Balance
Total intake and output accurately and interpret net balance in maternal clinical context.
Choose a topic to open below
Part B blueprint
Think like a newly qualified UK midwife
The 100 questions follow nine allocation rows while drawing on the six proficiency domains and integrated skilled practice.
Domain 1: Being an Accountable, Autonomous, Professional Midwife
The Code, professional autonomy, human rights, consent, evidence, advocacy, candour, records and accountable midwifery decisions.
Choose a topic to open below
Domain 2: Safe and Effective Midwifery Care
Promoting and providing continuity of care and carer through trusting relationships, coordination, informed choice and safe transitions.
Choose a topic to open below
Domain 3A: Public Health, Health Promotion and Protection
The midwife's role in population health, prevention, health literacy, inequalities and protection of women, families and newborn infants.
Choose a topic to open below
Domain 3B: Assessment, Screening and Care Planning
Holistic assessment and screening, interpretation, individualised planning, fetal and newborn wellbeing, and proportionate referral.
Choose a topic to open below
Domain 3C: Optimising Normal Physiological Processes
Promote positive outcomes across pregnancy, labour, birth, postnatal care and infant feeding while preventing avoidable complications.
Choose a topic to open below
Domain 4A: First-line Assessment and Management of Complications
Recognise, assess and begin evidence-based management of maternal or neonatal deterioration, complications and additional care needs.
Choose a topic to open below
Domain 4B: Care Requiring Additional Services
Coordinate compassionate care with medical, obstetric, neonatal, mental health, social care and other services.
Choose a topic to open below
Domain 5A: Working with Others — the Midwife as Colleague
Teamwork, delegation, supervision, communication, escalation and collaboration for safe, coordinated maternity care.
Choose a topic to open below
Domain 5B: the Midwife as Scholar and Leader
Evidence, reflection, education, positive role modelling, leadership, service improvement and professional development.
Choose a topic to open below
Dose, Strength and Quantity
Convert a prescribed dose and stock strength into the amount to administer.
Key rules
Rule 1
Use required dose divided by stock dose, multiplied by the stock quantity, after aligning units.
Exam cue: Write the required and available doses first.
Rule 2
The final number must represent the amount administered rather than an intermediate conversion.
Exam cue: Name the requested output unit before calculating.
Common traps
Reversing required and stock dose.
Prevention: Do not choose a familiar task if it ignores deterioration, consent, medicines risk, scope, communication or follow-up.
Entering a mass when the question asks for tablets or volume.
Prevention: Do not choose a familiar task if it ignores deterioration, consent, medicines risk, scope, communication or follow-up.
Memory anchors
What is the core dose formula?
Required dose ÷ stock dose × stock quantity.
What precedes the formula?
Convert required and stock doses to the same unit.
What is stock quantity?
The tablet count or volume containing the labelled stock dose.
What should the final unit describe?
The amount actually administered.
What is the final check?
Direction, unit, magnitude and clinical plausibility.
Next best moves
Quick check-up
Use a short quiz to confirm the rule pattern is actually sticking.
Check-up Questions
A prescription requests 750 mg of a medicine. Each tablet contains 250 mg. How many tablets are required?
A liquid contains 200 mg in 5 mL. The prescribed dose is 600 mg. What volume is required?
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Open another topic next
Official resources
Verify the details with the official sources
Use these links for eligibility, scheduling, handbook rules, and issuer updates. Our guide helps you study; official sources tell you what the testing partner currently requires.
NMC CBT: Test of Competence 2021
The current official CBT page with structure, RM module selection, preparation, results and resit information.
Midwifery Test Specification for Candidates v1.1
The official assessment design with Part A category counts, Part B content-row counts, Bloom distribution and pass-standard information.
Midwifery Blueprint v1.0
The official mapping of the six Midwifery proficiency domains and associated skills to the CBT and OSCE.
Midwifery CBT Candidate Information Booklet v3
The April 2025 booklet covering test-centre rules, breaks, calculator and note board, response methods, results and resits.
NMC Test of Competence preparation materials
The official hub linking the current Midwifery specification, blueprint, candidate materials and Pearson VUE practice tests.
Standards of proficiency for midwives
The standards defining the six domains, including the skilled-practitioner procedures in Domain 6.
The Code
The professional standards underpinning CBT decisions and registered midwifery practice in the UK.
FAQ
Common NMC Midwifery CBT questions
Is this an official NMC or Pearson VUE resource?
No. This is an independent study guide. The current NMC CBT page, Midwifery test specification, Midwifery blueprint, candidate information booklet, Standards of proficiency for midwives, the Code and direct NMC or Pearson VUE instructions remain authoritative.
What is the current Midwifery CBT structure?
The RM CBT has Part A Numeracy with 15 questions in 30 minutes and Part B Clinical with 100 questions in 150 minutes. The total testing time is three hours, including any optional unscheduled breaks.
What response formats are used?
Part A uses constructed one-number answers and may require the correct unit. Part B uses four-option multiple-choice questions with one correct answer. The current candidate booklet also describes Part B as the theory assessment.
What are the six Part A numeracy categories?
The official allocation is Measuring the correct dose 2, Metric units 2, Oral medications 4, Injections 3, Intravenous infusions 3 and Fluid balance 1. All are at apply-and-analyse level.
How is Part B Clinical allocated?
The 100 questions are allocated as Domain 1: 22; Domain 2: 12; Domain 3A: 10, 3B: 18 and 3C: 4; Domain 4A: 10 and 4B: 4; Domain 5A: 14 and 5B: 6.
What cognitive levels appear in Part B?
The official specification distributes the 100 clinical questions across 40 Remember and understand, 32 Apply and analyse, and 28 Evaluate and create questions. Preparation should therefore include prioritisation and judgement, not recall alone.
Why is Domain 6 not a separate Part B allocation row?
The Midwifery blueprint has six proficiency domains and identifies Domain 6 as the midwife-as-skilled-practitioner skills and procedures. The current test specification's Part B allocation table gives separate question counts only to Domains 1-5 and their listed subdivisions; Domain 6 skills are mapped through the blueprint rather than assigned a separate quota.
Can I use a calculator?
The current candidate information booklet says an on-screen calculator is available. Candidates receive an erasable note board after the tutorial; personal calculators, notes and electronic devices are not permitted.
Must both CBT parts be passed together?
Part A and Part B are taken together initially but are passed independently. If one part is failed, only that part normally needs to be retaken within the applicable attempt and time rules.
What is the Part B pass mark?
It is standard-set separately and varies across test versions. The current Midwifery test specification says Part B pass marks generally fall within 75%-80%, so do not rely on one fixed percentage.
Why is a full mock not enabled in this guide?
This guide includes 78 numeracy study questions and 523 clinical scenarios, but its four-choice practice interface does not reproduce Part A's constructed numeric answers with required units. Use the official Pearson VUE practice tests for authentic interface rehearsal.