NMC CBT Test Format

FUTURE NURSE CARICCULAM  (August 2021)

The nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has set a new standard for all nurses registering with them including overseas trained nurses. The new curriculum already commenced for new intake of nursing students who are being trained to become a registered nurse in the UK. 

ONT-UK has updated  the CBT modules including the practice questions based on future Nurse NMC new standard of Nursing education curriculum.  The role of the nurse in the 21st century Registered nurses play a vital role in providing, leading and coordinating care that is compassionate, evidence-based, and person-centred. 

NMC says nurses are accountable for their own actions and must be able to work autonomously, or as an equal partner with a range of other professionals, and in interdisciplinary teams. In order to respond to the impact and demands of professional nursing practice, nurses must be emotionally intelligent and resilient individuals, who are able to manage their own personal health and wellbeing, and know when and how to access support. 

NMC says Registered nurses provide leadership in the delivery of care for people of all ages and from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs. They provide nursing care for people who have complex mental, physical, cognitive and behavioural care needs, those living with dementia, the elderly, and for people at the end of their life. 

They must be able to care for people in their own home, in the community or hospital or in any health care settings where their needs are supported and managed. They work in the context of continual change, challenging environments, different models of care delivery, shifting demographics, innovation, and rapidly evolving technologies. The new educational criteria need to be met any individuals who intend to register with the NMC. All overseas nurses going to NMC register need to be assessed against new future nurse curriculum standard. Therefore, NMC test of competence also updated based on this criteria.

The new test of competence is specific to the appropriate nursing field or midwifery and  consists of two parts. Part 1 is a computer-based test (CBT). The CBT contains a numeracy test (which consists of short-answer questions requiring a numerical answer), objective questions, and a theory test (which is multiple choice). The CBT can be taken at a Pearson VUE test center, available in most countries around the world.

The CBT comprises 115 questions. All questions are scored as correct or incorrect, and there is no partial credit. Part A will comprise a 15-mark numeracy assessment. Part B will be a 100-mark theory assessment. The length of the CBT is 3 hours.

Test Result

Once the exam is completed, the result is then submitted and calculated.  Examination results will be emailed to candidates within 48 hours of taking the examination. You can also obtain your results within 48 hours after testing by logging in to your Pearson VUE account, which you will have created when booking your exam. Candidates will receive a pass or fail result for each part of the test: Part A (Numeracy) and Part B (Theory). No further feedback on the test results disclosed to candidates by the NMC. 

Re-siting

Part A and Part B are taken together in a single sitting but are passed or failed independently. If any part is failed, you need only re-sit that part. The re-sit for Part A will take 30 minutes and the re-sit for Part B will take 2.5 hours. You will be administered a new form of CBT for each re-sit you take. You may sit the CBT up to three times as part of one application, with a minimum of 10 days between each sitting. If you are unsuccessful after your permitted attempts, your application will close. You’ll be required to submit a new application and will not be able to sit the CBT again for a minimum of six months.

Answering the numeracy questions

Part-A spending a maximum of 2 minutes on each numeracy question and you can do calculations on the erasable note board, then type in the answer you wish to provide on-screen. You can review answers and change them if you wish. The CBT does not use negative scoring if a question is not answered or is answered incorrectly.

Answering the multiple-choice questions

Part-B spending a maximum of 1.5 minutes on each multiple-choice question. Always select the answer you believe to be the ‘most’ correct from the options offered. You can review answers and change them if you wish. The CBT does not use negative scoring if a question is not answered or is answered incorrectly.