NMC CBT: Format, Blueprint and Preparation — NMC UK Registration from Nepal
The NMC Computer Based Test (CBT) is the first step for any Nepali nurse who wants to join the UK register. LIFE Academy, in Bharatpur 12, Chitwan, has been helping nurses through NMC UK registration for more than ten years — and CBT preparation materials are included free with our registration service.
What the NMC CBT Is
The CBT is the first part of the NMC's two-stage Test of Competence. The second part is the OSCE, taken in the UK.
| Test | What it assesses |
|---|---|
| CBT | Your theoretical understanding of nursing principles as they apply in the UK context |
| OSCE | Your practical skills in a simulated UK healthcare environment |
The CBT is a multiple-choice assessment of your professional knowledge, clinical skills and adherence to nursing principles.
CBT Structure
The CBT has 120 multiple-choice questions and a maximum of 4 hours, split into two parts.
| Part | Questions | Time | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part A: Numeracy | 15 calculation-based questions | About 30 minutes | Essential nursing calculations — drug dosages, fluid balances, unit conversions |
| Part B: Clinical | 100 multiple-choice questions | About 2 hours 30 minutes | Nursing practice, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology and infection control |
| Part B includes 20 critical questions on patient and public safety. You must score 90% on those. |
| Part A and Part B are assessed independently. Passing one does not guarantee a pass in the other. |
Adult Nursing Blueprint
If you are applying as a Registered Adult Nurse (RNA), the clinical questions in Part B follow the Test of Competence 2021: Adult Nursing Blueprint, which covers seven platforms:
- Being an accountable professional
- Promoting health and preventing ill health
- Assessing needs and planning care
- Providing and evaluating care
- Leading and managing nursing care and working in teams
- Improving safety and quality of care
- Coordinating care
Fees, Attempts and Results
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee for both parts | £83 |
| Resit — both Part A and Part B | £83 |
| Resit — Part A only | £50 |
| Resit — Part B only | £70 |
| Attempts allowed | Three attempts for both parts within one year of your application date, with at least 10 days between attempts |
| Results | Sent by email, usually within 48 hours of the test |
| If you fail all three attempts within the year, your application is closed and you must wait six months before applying again. |
| Select the correct CBT type for your application — for example NMC_RNA for Registered Adult Nurse. Booking the wrong one invalidates the test, with no refund. |
Our NMC UK Registration Service
LIFE Academy guides Nepali nurses through the whole NMC registration process, from opening the application to receiving the UK nursing PIN.
| Service | Fee (NPR) | Runs until |
|---|---|---|
| NMC UK registration support | 10,000 | You receive your UK nursing PIN |
What the service covers:
- Setting up and completing the NMC online account and application.
- Advising which English test and score the NMC requires.
- Obtaining qualification and registration verification from the Nepal Nursing Council.
- Booking the CBT with Pearson VUE and choosing the correct test type for your application.
- CBT preparation materials and courses, sent to you by email — included free with the registration service.
- Guidance through the OSCE stage and its booking.
| All official charges — NMC fees, CBT and OSCE fees, English test fees and any other payments to official bodies — are paid by the candidate directly. Our NPR 10,000 covers our service only. |
English Test Preparation and Mock Tests
The NMC also requires evidence of English. LIFE Academy teaches both OET and IELTS in Bharatpur and online, and runs full mock tests for both, with answers and review for Reading and Listening, detailed written feedback on Writing, and live Speaking sessions. Registration and English preparation can be handled in one place.
How to Prepare for the CBT
Resources
- The official NMC website, which publishes the CBT blueprint setting out the topics and knowledge areas covered.
- Pearson VUE practice tests, available to everyone, which show you the question format, style and difficulty.
- The NMC's Test of Competence preparation hub, with candidate handbooks and test specifications.
- The preparation materials and courses we send by email when you register with us.
Tips
- Learn the format first — structure, question types and time limits — before studying content.
- Practise under timed conditions. Part A gives you around 30 minutes for 15 calculations; speed matters.
- Give extra attention to the 20 critical patient safety questions in Part B. The 90% requirement leaves almost no room for error.
- Work through numeracy by hand until dosage, fluid balance and unit conversion calculations are automatic.
- Space your three attempts sensibly — there is a minimum of 10 days between them, and only one year in total.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NMC CBT?
It is the Computer Based Test, the first part of the NMC's Test of Competence for nurses trained outside the UK. It has 120 multiple-choice questions over a maximum of 4 hours: 15 numeracy questions in Part A and 100 clinical questions in Part B. The second part of the Test of Competence is the OSCE, taken in the UK.
How much does the CBT cost, and what if I fail?
Both parts together cost £83. A resit of both parts is £83, Part A alone is £50 and Part B alone is £70. You get three attempts within one year of your application date, with at least 10 days between attempts. Fail all three and the application closes, with a six-month wait before you can apply again.
What is the 90% rule in Part B?
Part B contains 20 critical questions on patient and public safety, and you must score 90% on those specifically. Part A and Part B are also marked independently, so passing numeracy does not carry you through the clinical part, or the other way round.
Is CBT preparation included in your registration service?
Yes. CBT preparation materials and courses are sent to you by email at no extra cost once you start your NMC UK registration with us. The registration service is NPR 10,000 and runs until you receive your UK nursing PIN.
What is not included in the NPR 10,000?
Every official charge — NMC application fees, the CBT and OSCE fees, English test fees and any other payments to official bodies — is paid by you directly to them. Our fee covers our service in guiding and preparing your application.
Which English test do I need for the NMC?
The NMC accepts OET and IELTS, with requirements that differ by test and sub-test. We advise you on which to take as part of the registration service, and we teach and run mock tests for both here in Bharatpur and online.
Start Your Registration
Call or message us to begin, or to ask about where you are in the process.
- LIFE Academy, Bharatpur 12, Chitwan, Nepal
- Phone / WhatsApp: (+977) 9855082586
- Website: lifeacademystudy.com