NMC CBT exam guide 2026: format, booking, retakes and how to prepare

The NMC CBT is part 1 of the UK Test of Competence for nurses trained abroad. It is a computer test of 115 questions: 15 numeracy questions in 30 minutes (Part A) and 100 clinical multiple-choice questions in 2 hours 30 minutes (Part B). You take it at a Pearson VUE centre in your own country, it costs £83, and you get up to three attempts per application with at least 10 days between them.

Where the CBT fits in NMC registration

The Test of Competence has two parts. The CBT tests knowledge. The OSCE tests practical skills and is held only in the UK. You can take them in either order, but most nurses take the CBT first, from home, before they have a UK job. You must pass both within two years of each other. Once you pass both, your Test of Competence is valid for five years.

You cannot book the CBT straight away. First you open an NMC application and the NMC confirms your eligibility. Only then does it give you authorisation to test. See the full process in our NMC registration guide.

CBT format at a glance

The whole sitting lasts a maximum of 3 hours, and this includes any breaks. Breaks are not scheduled. If you take one, the clock keeps running.

What the questions cover

The CBT tests you against the NMC's Future nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurses (2018), at the level of a newly qualified UK nurse. It is field-specific: an adult nurse sits a different CBT from a mental health or children's nurse. The NMC publishes a blueprint for each field showing which standards and skills can be tested in the CBT, the OSCE or both. Download yours from the NMC preparation materials page.

The numeracy part uses the kind of calculations nurses do on a ward, such as medicine doses, unit conversions, infusion rates and fluid balance. The clinical part asks what a safe, accountable UK nurse should do: assessment, care planning, safety, ethics and the NMC Code, consent, communication, safeguarding and working in a team.

What is the pass mark?

The NMC does not publish a fixed pass mark or percentage. Its booklet says an initial standard was set and statistical techniques keep that standard the same across different versions of the test. Ignore any website that claims an exact "pass mark". Aim to be comfortably strong in every area of the blueprint.

How to book the CBT with Pearson VUE

1. Wait for NMC authorisation. After the NMC confirms you need the Test of Competence, Pearson emails you an account confirmation and a temporary password. Check your junk folder for emails ending in @pearson.com.
2. Log in to Pearson VUE and click "view exams".
3. Choose the exam for your field. This is critical:
   • Adult nurse: NMC_RNA
   • Children's nurse: NMC_RNC
   • Mental health nurse: NMC_RNMH
   • Learning disabilities nurse: NMC_RNLD
   • Midwife: NMC_RM
   If you book the wrong one, the NMC cannot accept your result and Pearson will not refund you.
4. Select both modules (numeracy and clinical) for your first attempt.
5. Choose a test centre and date, then pay £83 at checkout. You can book up to one working day ahead, if seats are free.

In some countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and Pakistan, Pearson says candidates who struggle to pay by card can buy test vouchers instead. See the Pearson VUE NMC page.

Test centres in India and elsewhere

Pearson VUE has test centres in most countries. India has centres in many large cities, but which centres offer NMC dates changes over time. Do not rely on a list from a blog. Use Pearson's "Find a test center" tool when you book, and compare dates at two or three nearby cities. Popular centres can fill weeks ahead, so book early if you have a deadline.

If you need adjustments

If you have a disability, health condition or injury, email TOC@nmc-uk.org before you book, with evidence from a professional report. The NMC reviews requests within 10 working days. Adjustments can include a separate room, breaks, or up to 25% extra time.

CBT fees

From the NMC costs page. Rupee amounts use about ₹127 to £1 (late October 2026) and will vary.

The CBT is usually paid by the nurse. Some employers refund it after you join. Ask before you sign, and get any promise in writing.

Retakes, waiting periods and validity

• Parts are marked separately. If you pass numeracy but fail clinical, you resit only clinical (2.5 hours). A numeracy-only resit takes 30 minutes. You get a new version of the test each time.
• Three attempts per application. Each sitting counts as one attempt.
• At least 10 days between sittings.
• All attempts within one year. After that, you must resit both modules again.
• After three failed attempts, your NMC application closes. You must wait at least six months, then submit a new application and sit the CBT again.
• Exceptional circumstances. The NMC may allow an extra attempt, by application, for example if the centre did not follow its processes, there was an interruption such as a fire alarm, or you were ill or severely anxious.
• Validity. You must pass the CBT and OSCE within two years of each other. Once both are passed, your Test of Competence is valid for five years.

Results and pass rates

You receive an exam report at the centre. Pearson emails your result and shows a breakdown in your account within 48 hours. Your NMC online account updates within about 48 hours. You get pass or fail for each part only. The NMC gives no further feedback, to protect the test.

The NMC publishes pass rates every quarter. For January to March 2026, it reports that 2,967 applicants sat the CBT and 63% passed both parts (this figure includes resits). On first attempts that quarter, 76% passed numeracy and 77% passed clinical. Clinical pass rates were lower on second (63%) and third (59%) attempts. Check the latest NMC pass rates. The message is simple: most people pass, but about 1 in 4 does not pass each part first time, and resits get harder, not easier, if you do not change how you prepare.

How to prepare: a 6-week plan

This is a suggested plan for a working nurse studying about 1 to 2 hours a day. Adjust it to your own level.

Official and trusted resources

• NMC preparation materials: blueprints for each field and the CBT candidate booklet.
• Pearson VUE NMC practice tests: free, open to all, no booking needed.
• The NMC Code: the basis for many clinical and professional questions.
• UK national guidance your blueprint points to, such as NICE guidance and Resuscitation Council UK guidelines.

The NMC says it does not endorse any course or training provider. Paid coaching can help some people, but no course can guarantee a pass. Be wary of anyone selling "real exam questions". Sharing or using live CBT questions is misconduct and can end your application.

Common reasons people fail the CBT

• Answering from home-country practice. The test wants the UK answer: patient choice, consent, escalation, delegation and documentation as the NMC Code describes them.
• Not choosing the "most" correct option. Several answers may look reasonable. Choose the safest, most patient-centred one that a newly qualified UK nurse should do first.
• Numeracy slips. Wrong units (mg vs micrograms), rounding too early, or typing the answer in the wrong format. One mistake in 15 questions matters a lot.
• Poor time management. Spending 5 minutes on one hard question. Flag it, move on and come back.
• Leaving questions blank. There is no negative marking. Always give an answer.
• Studying from memory dumps. The NMC uses new forms of the test, so memorised questions rarely help and can put your application at risk.
• Reading English too slowly. Clinical questions are long. If reading speed is a problem, practise with timed clinical texts, not just general English.

Test day: what to expect

• Arrive 30 minutes early. Bring the same valid passport that is on your NMC account. If you renewed it, update the NMC first; the NMC says updates can take up to seven working days.
• You will be photographed and give a digital signature. A palm-vein scan may be used when you leave or return to the room.
• Everything goes in a locker: phone, watch, bag, food, notes and even lip balm. Religious head coverings are allowed but will be checked.
• You get an erasable note board and marker. Do not write on it until the tutorial ends. Writing earlier counts as "brain dumping" and your result can be put on hold.
• Never discuss or post questions afterwards. The NMC treats this as misconduct.

After you pass

Your next steps are usually to secure a UK job with visa sponsorship, complete your NMC registration application, and prepare for the OSCE in the UK. Read our Health and Care Worker visa guide and OSCE guide. If you would like help finding a licensed employer, use the free "Check your route" form on our home page. We never charge nurses, and we cannot promise a job or visa.