About the exam
NMC Nursing Associate CBT Exam structure
An independent study guide aligned to the current NMC Nursing Associate CBT test specification, blueprint and Standards of proficiency for nursing associates.
Issuer and path
NMC Nursing Associate 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 units for some items.
Part B: Clinical
100 scored + 0 pretest
One hundred four-option, single-correct-answer questions mapped to six Nursing Associate platforms and Annexes A and B.
Before booking and sitting
Confirm that the exam and both modules show NAR Nursing Associate, use 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 |
| Platform 1: Being an Accountable Practitioner | 20 | 105 | 10 | Strong |
| Platform 2: Promoting Health and Preventing Ill Health | 10 | 52 | 10 | Strong |
| Platform 3: Provide and Monitor Care | 28 | 146 | 10 | Strong |
| Platform 4: Working in Teams | 10 | 52 | 10 | Strong |
| Platform 5: Improving Safety and Quality of Care | 10 | 52 | 10 | Strong |
| Platform 6: Contributing to Integrated Care | 8 | 42 | 10 | Strong |
| Annexe A: Communication and Relationship Management Skills | 7 | 37 | 10 | Strong |
| Annexe B: Nursing Associate Procedures | 7 | 37 | 10 | Strong |
How to use this guide
How to prepare for the NMC Nursing Associate CBT
Combine unit-safe calculation with newly qualified nursing associate judgement across all ages and settings, grounded in the Code, scope, person-centred care, teamwork and escalation.
1. Identify the required output
For Part A, name the value and unit. For Part B, identify whether the stem asks for priority, first action, explanation, escalation or monitoring.
2. Protect immediate safety
Recognise deterioration, medicines error, infection, safeguarding or accountability risk before routine care.
3. Apply role and person context
Use the person's concerns, observations, history, preferences, capacity, setting, care plan and the limits of nursing associate competence.
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 categories total 15 constructed-response questions and are generally 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 with unambiguous notation and units.
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Oral Medications
Calculate tablet, capsule and liquid oral doses from prescriptions and stock strengths.
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Injections
Calculate safe injection volumes using dose, concentration, route and person-specific factors.
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Intravenous Infusions
Calculate infusion rate, time, volume and concentration with a reasonableness check.
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Fluid Balance
Total intake and output accurately and interpret net balance in clinical context.
Choose a topic to open below
Part B blueprint
Think within nursing associate scope
The 100 clinical questions sample all six platforms and both annexes across ages and settings.
Platform 1: Being an Accountable Practitioner
The Code, legal and ethical duties, candour, evidence, inclusion, professional relationships, scope and accountable practice.
Choose a topic to open below
Platform 2: Promoting Health and Preventing Ill Health
Health determinants and inequalities, prevention, screening, health literacy and supported behaviour change across the lifespan.
Choose a topic to open below
Platform 3: Provide and Monitor Care
Holistic assessment, planning, evidence-based care, medicines, deterioration, evaluation and appropriate escalation across settings.
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Platform 4: Working in Teams
Communication, role clarity, delegation, supervision, workload, respectful challenge and effective team contribution.
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Platform 5: Improving Safety and Quality of Care
Risk systems, human factors, infection prevention, incident response, evidence, audit and quality improvement.
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Platform 6: Contributing to Integrated Care
Coordination, referrals, discharge, transitions, safeguarding and collaboration across health and social care.
Choose a topic to open below
Annexe A: Communication and Relationship Management Skills
Inclusive communication, therapeutic relationships, shared decisions, documentation, delegation and handover.
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Annexe B: Nursing Associate Procedures
Assessment and monitoring, infection prevention, medicines support, nutrition, elimination, mobility, skin and wound care.
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Dose, Strength and Quantity
Convert prescribed dose and stock strength into the amount to administer.
Key rules
Rule 1
Use required dose divided by stock dose, multiplied by stock quantity, after aligning units.
Exam cue: Write 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, scope, communication or follow-up.
Entering mass when tablets or volume are required.
Prevention: Do not choose a familiar task if it ignores deterioration, consent, 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 requires 900 mg. Tablets contain 300 mg each. How many tablets are needed?
An oral liquid contains 150 mg in 5 mL. What volume supplies a prescribed 450 mg dose?
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 Nursing Associate CBT
The current official CBT page with structure, NAR module selection, preparation, results and resit information.
Nursing Associate Test Specification v1.0
The official design with scope, Part A categories, Part B platform and annexe counts, Bloom distribution and standard-setting method.
Nursing Associate Blueprint v1.0
The official mapping of six platforms, Annexes A and B and patient safety proficiencies to the CBT and OSCE.
Nursing Associate CBT Candidate Information Booklet v3
The April 2025 booklet covering test-centre rules, calculator, note board, response methods, results and resits.
Nursing Associate preparation materials
The official hub linking the current specification, blueprint, candidate materials and Pearson VUE practice tests.
Standards of proficiency for nursing associates
The England nursing associate standards defining the six platforms and associated annexes.
The Code
The professional standards underpinning CBT decisions and registered nursing associate practice.
FAQ
Common NMC Nursing Associate CBT questions
Is this an official NMC or Pearson VUE resource?
No. This is an independent study guide. The current NMC Nursing Associate CBT page, test specification, blueprint, candidate information booklet, Standards of proficiency for nursing associates, the Code and direct NMC or Pearson VUE instructions remain authoritative.
Who is the Nursing Associate Test of Competence for?
The NMC regulates nursing associates in England only. The specification covers applicants trained outside England or without an NMC-approved pre-registration nursing associate qualification whose qualification is judged not comparable, as well as applicable readmission routes.
Is a nursing associate the same as a registered nurse?
No. The specification describes nursing associate as a stand-alone regulated role between health and care assistants and registered nurses, with its own standards and register entry. It is a generic role: test content may draw from adult, children, mental health and learning disability nursing across community, hospital and residential or nursing care-home settings. Nursing associates must still practise within their role and competence.
What response formats are used?
Part A uses constructed one-number answers and some items also require a unit. Part B uses four-option multiple-choice questions with one correct answer. The current candidate booklet also calls Part B 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. They are generally assessed at apply-and-analyse level.
How is Part B Clinical allocated?
The 100 questions are allocated as Platform 1: 20, Platform 2: 10, Platform 3: 28, Platform 4: 10, Platform 5: 10, Platform 6: 8, Annexe A: 7 and Annexe B: 7.
What cognitive levels appear in Part B?
The specification distributes Part B across 39 Remember and understand, 33 Apply and analyse, and 28 Evaluate and create questions. Preparation therefore needs applied judgement as well as recall.
What are patient safety proficiencies?
The blueprint marks certain statements PSP. It states that these patient safety proficiencies must be passed in the OSCE. They remain important preparation content, but PSP is not a separate CBT allocation row.
What is the current CBT pass mark?
The current Nursing Associate specification and candidate booklet do not publish a fixed numerical threshold. They state that Part A and Part B are standard-set separately using an initial Angoff process and statistical maintenance across forms. Rely on the official result rather than an unofficial percentage.
Can I use a calculator?
The April 2025 candidate booklet says an on-screen calculator is available. Candidates use the provided erasable note board after the tutorial; personal calculators and notes are not permitted.
Why is a full mock not enabled in this guide?
This 601-question practice bank uses 78 numeracy and 523 clinical questions. For consistent practice, every item uses the four-choice interface, so it does not reproduce Part A's constructed numeric response with optional units. Use official Pearson VUE practice tests for interface rehearsal.