NMC CBT Pass Mark & Scoring Explained
The NMC does not publish a fixed pass mark — and that's intentional. Here is exactly how the CBT is scored, what "passing" means in practice, and what happens if you don't pass.
In this guide
The short answer
Part A (numeracy) requires a perfect or near-perfect score — all 15 questions must be answered correctly. Part B (clinical knowledge) uses a variable pass mark set by a formal standard-setting process. You will receive a pass or fail result — you will not be told your percentage score.
Part A — how numeracy is scored
Part A consists of 15 numeracy questions. Each question requires a typed numerical answer — there is no multiple choice. A calculator is available on screen.
The NMC has confirmed that the pass standard for Part A is very high — you are expected to answer all questions correctly. This reflects the clinical reality: a drug calculation error at any level is a patient safety risk. The numeracy section is not a test where you can afford to leave a margin for error.
No partial marks
Each numeracy question is scored as correct or incorrect. There are no partial marks for a method that reaches the wrong answer. The answer must be exact.
Rounding rules apply
For drip rate questions (drops per minute), you are expected to round to the nearest whole number. The question will guide you — follow its instruction exactly.
Units matter
If a question asks for an answer in mL, entering a value in litres or another unit will be marked wrong. Read the question carefully and answer in the unit specified.
Practical implication
Because the numeracy standard is so high, Part A rewards preparation over natural ability. Every question type is predictable. Nurses who practise every category systematically — and check their work — almost always pass Part A. Nurses who underestimate it are the ones who fail it.
Part B — how clinical knowledge is scored
Part B consists of 85 multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer from four options. Every question carries one mark. There is no negative marking — a wrong answer scores zero, not minus one. This means you should never leave a question blank.
Total marks available
85
One mark per question, no negative marking
Pass mark
Variable
Set per sitting using standard-setting — not fixed in advance
The NMC does not publish the exact pass mark for Part B, and the pass mark is not the same in every sitting. This is because the CBT uses a psychometric process called standard-setting to determine the pass threshold for each set of questions.
What is standard-setting?
Standard-setting is the process used to determine how many questions a candidate needs to answer correctly in order to pass a given sitting of the exam. It ensures that a pass represents the same level of competence regardless of whether one sitting happened to have harder or easier questions than another.
In practice, this means the pass mark for Part B floats. If a particular set of questions is judged to be harder than average, the pass mark may be set lower than it would be for an easier set. The pass mark always reflects the minimum level of knowledge required to practise safely — never anything lower or higher.
What this means in plain terms
- →The pass mark is not 50%. Candidates who aim for 50% typically fail.
- →The pass mark is not 100%. You do not need to answer every question correctly.
- →Based on the NMC's published guidance and candidate reports, the effective pass standard for Part B is typically in the range of 60–70% of questions answered correctly — but this varies per sitting.
- →You cannot know the exact pass mark before or during the exam. The only reliable strategy is to answer as many questions correctly as possible.
Why the NMC doesn't publish a fixed number
Publishing a fixed pass mark (e.g. "you need 60 out of 85") would create perverse incentives — candidates would stop studying once they felt they'd covered enough to hit the number. Standard-setting also protects against question banking and exam farming: if the threshold changes with the questions, memorising past answers loses its value.
How and when you receive your results
At the end of the test session, you will receive an immediate provisional result on screen — pass or fail for each part. This is an unofficial result. Official results are confirmed by the NMC and communicated through your NMC online account.
Immediately after the exam
The Pearson VUE system displays a provisional result on screen. This is reliable in almost all cases, but it is provisional until the NMC confirms.
Within a few weeks
The NMC processes your results and updates your application. You will be notified via your NMC online portal account. Official confirmation comes from the NMC, not Pearson VUE.
What you are told
Your result is pass or fail — for each part separately. You will not receive a percentage score, a raw score, or feedback on specific questions. This is standard practice across regulated professional examinations.
If you don't pass — retakes and waiting periods
Not passing the CBT is not the end of the process. The NMC allows candidates to resit, and you only need to retake the part(s) you did not pass — not the entire exam.
You can rebook after a mandatory waiting period. The NMC recommends using this time to identify and address the specific areas that led to the fail. There is no restriction on the number of attempts.
You can rebook again. At this stage the NMC may provide additional guidance. Many candidates pass on their second or third attempt after more structured preparation.
The NMC may refer your application for review. This does not mean your application is rejected — but the NMC will want to understand what additional support or preparation you need before a further attempt.
CBT validity window
A CBT pass is valid for 3 years from the date of your pass. You must complete the full Test of Competence — including the OSCE — within this window. If you do not, you will need to resit the CBT. Plan your timeline to ensure you can complete both stages.
What this means for your preparation
Understanding how the CBT is scored should shape how you prepare:
- ✓Treat Part A as non-negotiable. Every question must be answered correctly. There is no margin for error. Systematic, formula-based practice is the only reliable approach.
- ✓For Part B, do not aim for a specific number. Aim to understand and apply nursing knowledge well enough that you can answer any question correctly — that is what will get you above the pass mark.
- ✓Never leave a Part B question blank. Guess if you have to. There is no penalty for wrong answers, and a guess gives you a 1-in-4 chance.
- ✓Review every wrong answer during practice — the rationale matters as much as the correct answer. Understanding why something is right trains your clinical reasoning, not just your recall.
- ✓A mock exam score of around 70%+ in Part B is a reasonable indicator of readiness. Scores below 60% suggest you need more preparation before booking the real exam.