WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
If the NMC requires you to take its Test of Competence, the CBT assesses numeracy and clinical knowledge for your application type. Passing it is one registration requirement, not a licence or a job offer.
Confirm your route before booking
Follow the NMC eligibility process and the Pearson account instructions issued for your application. Select the correct nursing field or midwifery test. A test for the wrong field will not satisfy your application merely because you passed it.
The NMC allows the CBT and OSCE to be taken in either order. An employer or travel plan may affect the practical sequence, but “CBT must always come first” is not the regulator’s rule.
Prepare for both parts
Part A has 15 numeracy questions in 30 minutes. Part B has 100 clinical questions in two hours and 30 minutes. Use the current NMC handbook and linked official practice resources for your field. These are separate timed parts, so dividing the total time equally across every question is a poor pacing plan.
Review the reason for each error
After a numeracy exercise, check units, the requested quantity and your calculation. For clinical practice questions, identify the principle being assessed and read the relevant professional guidance. Do not memorise answers from purported leaked questions.
Example study log: “I converted minutes to hours incorrectly; redo the unit conversion, explain it aloud, then try three fresh examples.” This is more actionable than “revise maths”. This article is an exam-planning guide, not a clinical procedure manual.
Keep results and remaining requirements separate
Each CBT part has its own pass/fail result. Check your official account for the outcome and current resit conditions. Verify fees before payment, including which part you need to rebook.
Keep a checklist for English evidence, identity, qualification checks, the OSCE and other NMC requirements. Your next action is to download the current handbook and confirm that its field matches your application.
Sources and further reading
Sources checked 2026-10-13. Examples and planning suggestions are Effikos editorial guidance.
Something needs a closer look? Send us a correction.
