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Midwifery numeracy and literacy tests are selection screens used by many UK universities and some NHS maternity employers when shortlisting applicants for midwifery degrees, postgraduate midwifery programmes and midwifery degree apprenticeships. Midwifery admissions and employment processes vary. There is no single universal midwifery entrance exam. NMC standards do not create one shared national paper. Requirements and pass marks differ by provider. Confirm calculator rules, timing and retake policy in your own invitation.

Health Careers midwifery describes midwives as highly trained professionals supporting women through pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period. Entry usually needs GCSEs including English and a science, plus A-levels or equivalent, or an apprenticeship pathway. Anyone wanting to practise as a midwife in the UK must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after an approved programme.

Clinical calculations used in practice may differ from generic numeracy screens. Literacy may be assessed through written tasks, interviews, MMIs or academic evidence rather than one fixed paper. Treat this guide as educational practice with pregnancy-pathway and antenatal-admin flavour. Do not treat these items as clinical protocols, dosing advice or labour algorithms.

The 30 questions below are original educational exercises with a midwifery-pathway flavour. They are not official NMC, NHS, university admissions or JobTestPrep items, and they do not reproduce confidential live tests.

Key Takeaways

  • Midwifery admissions and employment assessment processes vary by university and employer.
  • NMC standards do not create one universal midwifery entrance exam.
  • Clinical calculations may differ from generic numeracy screening.
  • Literacy may be assessed through written tasks, interviews or academic evidence.
  • This pathway is distinct from Nursing Numeracy and Literacy screens.

Quick facts

Midwifery numeracy and literacy screening snapshot (provider rules control)
Item Detail
Who uses these screens Midwifery course providers and some maternity employers
Careers context Antenatal, labour and postnatal support (Health Careers)
Typical entry notes GCSEs including English and science, plus A-levels or apprenticeship (provider-specific)
Regulator after qualification Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
What controls your sitting University / trust instructions for that intake
Distinct from nursing screens Maternity contexts; separate practice set and commercial destination

Midwifery pathway context (official)

Build your mental model from primary sources:

  1. Explore midwifery for training mix of academic study and practical experience.
  2. Midwife role for antenatal responsibilities, community and hospital settings, and multidisciplinary colleagues such as GPs and maternity support workers.
  3. NMC registration for practising requirements after qualification.
  4. Your chosen university’s selection guidance for the exact literacy and numeracy format.

If you are applying for nursing rather than midwifery, use the Nursing Numeracy and Literacy guide. For healthcare-support screens that are not midwifery degree selection, see NHS Healthcare Numeracy and Literacy.

How to prepare

  1. Read Health Careers midwifery pages and your university admissions assessment brief first.
  2. Practise percentages, ratios, averages and scheduling arithmetic with antenatal clinic style tables.
  3. Practise literacy with short parent-information extracts: answer only from the text.
  4. Keep emotional scenarios out of invented protocols. Judgement belongs in interviews and official materials, not guesswork clinical rules.
  5. Use paid PrepPacks only after official guidance.

Optional third-party practice

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If you want extra timed drills after reading your provider’s rules, an independent UK midwifery numeracy and literacy practice pack can help candidates practise comparable formats.

JobTestPrep UK is an independent third-party preparation provider. It is not the NMC, NHS England, a university or an official recruitment administrator. Check the current UK price and access period before purchase. Preparation cannot guarantee a pass, interview invitation, course offer or job offer.

Practice questions

Educational exercises only. Not official university, NHS, NMC or JobTestPrep items. All calculation and reading items are practice maths and comprehension, not clinical care instructions.

Numeracy (antenatal and maternity admin flavour)

1. An antenatal education class lists attendance across four evenings: 22, 19, 25 and 18. What is the mean attendance?

A. 20 B. 21 C. 22 D. 23

Correct answer: B

Sum = 22 + 19 + 25 + 18 = 84. Mean = 84 / 4 = 21.

2. Community midwives plan home visits in the ratio 3 : 5 between morning and afternoon slots. There are 40 afternoon slots. How many morning slots are there?

A. 20 B. 22 C. 24 D. 30

Correct answer: C

Afternoon parts = 5. One part = 40 / 5 = 8. Morning slots = 3 × 8 = 24.

3. A clinic room booking lasts from 09:15 to 11:00. How many minutes is the booking?

A. 95 B. 100 C. 105 D. 110

Correct answer: C

From 09:15 to 11:00 = 1 hour 45 minutes = 105 minutes.

4. Parenting-class leaflets are printed in three languages:

Language Copies
English 120
Polish 45
Urdu 35

What percentage of the total is English?

A. 55% B. 60% C. 65% D. 70%

Correct answer: B

Total = 120 + 45 + 35 = 200. English share = 120 / 200 = 60%.

5. A student midwife records practice weighing drills for newborn dolls: 3.2 kg, 2.8 kg, 3.6 kg and 3.0 kg. What is the range in kilograms?

A. 0.6 kg B. 0.8 kg C. 1.0 kg D. 1.2 kg

Correct answer: B

Range = 3.6 - 2.8 = 0.8 kg.

6. Convert 2,750 grams to kilograms for an educational conversion sheet.

A. 2.75 kg B. 27.5 kg C. 0.275 kg D. 275 kg

Correct answer: A

2,750 / 1,000 = 2.75 kg.

7. Antenatal clinic DNA (did not attend) rates fall from 16% to 12%. By how many percentage points did the rate fall?

A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5

Correct answer: C

16 - 12 = 4 percentage points.

8. A maternity support rota needs 18 shifts covered. Staff already bid for two thirds of them. How many shifts remain uncovered?

A. 4 B. 5 C. 6 D. 8

Correct answer: C

Two thirds of 18 = 12 covered. Remaining = 6.

9. An educational timeline states a course places 28 antenatal practice contacts across 7 study weeks evenly. How many contacts per week is that?

A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6

Correct answer: B

28 / 7 = 4.

10. Birth-centre room cleaning kits cost £4.50 each. A bulk order of 12 attracts a 20% discount on the total. What is paid?

A. £42.00 B. £43.20 C. £48.00 D. £54.00

Correct answer: B

Full price = 12 × £4.50 = £54.00. Discount = 20% of £54 = £10.80. Paid = £43.20.

11. Gestational-week arithmetic practice: a programme worksheet lists week 12 and week 28 teaching sessions. How many weeks apart are those labels on the worksheet?

A. 14 B. 15 C. 16 D. 18

Correct answer: C

28 - 12 = 16 weeks. Educational calendar arithmetic only.

12. Three community clinics share 90 ultrasound escort slots in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4. How many slots does the middle clinic receive?

A. 24 B. 27 C. 30 D. 36

Correct answer: C

Parts = 2 + 3 + 4 = 9. One part = 90 / 9 = 10. Middle = 3 × 10 = 30.

13. A breastfeeding workshop lasts 90 minutes including a 15-minute Q&A. What fraction of the total time is Q&A?

A. 1/5 B. 1/6 C. 1/7 D. 1/8

Correct answer: B

15 / 90 = 1/6.

14. Practice fluid chart education totals 850 ml morning and 650 ml afternoon oral intake labels on a demonstration sheet. What is the combined total in litres?

A. 1.4 L B. 1.5 L C. 1.6 L D. 1.7 L

Correct answer: B

850 + 650 = 1,500 ml = 1.5 L.

15. Appointment reminders sent: 240. Successful deliveries of the message: 216. What percentage failed?

A. 8% B. 10% C. 12% D. 15%

Correct answer: B

Failed = 240 - 216 = 24. Percentage = 24 / 240 = 10%.

16. A student logs practice blood-pressure drill readings of 118, 122, 116, 130 and 124 (educational numbers only). What is the median?

A. 118 B. 122 C. 124 D. 130

Correct answer: B

Ordered: 116, 118, 122, 124, 130. Median = 122.

17. Stock of disposable aprons falls from 500 to 425. What is the percentage remaining?

A. 75% B. 80% C. 85% D. 90%

Correct answer: C

425 / 500 = 0.85 = 85%.

18. A dilution education card asks for a 1 : 9 concentrate-to-water mix. With 25 ml concentrate, how much water is needed?

A. 200 ml B. 225 ml C. 250 ml D. 275 ml

Correct answer: B

Water = 9 × 25 = 225 ml. Maths practice only.

Literacy (antenatal information style)

Passage A (questions 19-22)

Antenatal Class Booking Note (educational extract) Classes are free for families booked under the local maternity pathway. Partners may attend if space allows, but places are limited to one support person unless a reasonable adjustment has been agreed in writing. Late arrivals of more than 15 minutes may be asked to join the next available session so that clinical demonstrations are not interrupted. Mobile phones should be on silent. Photography of other families is not permitted without their clear consent.

19. When may a second support person attend according to the extract?

A. Always B. Only if they arrive early C. Only if a reasonable adjustment has been agreed in writing D. Never

Correct answer: C

The extract limits support people unless a written reasonable adjustment exists.

20. What may happen if someone arrives more than 15 minutes late?

A. Automatic course failure B. They may be asked to join the next available session C. They must leave the maternity unit permanently D. They receive a financial penalty

Correct answer: B

That consequence is stated.

21. Photography of other families:

A. Is encouraged for social media B. Is allowed if the phone is on silent C. Is not permitted without their clear consent D. Is decided by the receptionist alone

Correct answer: C

Clear consent is required.

22. Are classes charged to families on the local pathway according to this extract?

A. Yes, always B. No: classes are free for families booked under the local maternity pathway C. Only evening classes are free D. The extract does not say

Correct answer: B

The extract states classes are free for those families.

Passage B (questions 23-26)

Community Visit Safety Reminder (educational extract) Student midwives on community observation must travel with the named mentor’s knowledge of the visit list. If a home environment feels unsafe on arrival, the student and mentor should leave promptly and report to the community midwifery office using the local reporting form. Students must not enter alone if the mentor is delayed more than 10 minutes without updated instructions. Confidential papers must stay in the locked bag provided.

23. What should happen if a home feels unsafe on arrival?

A. Stay to finish paperwork quietly B. Leave promptly and report using the local reporting form C. Post a warning on social media D. Ask neighbours for advice

Correct answer: B

Leave and report as stated.

24. May a student enter alone if the mentor is 20 minutes late with no updated instructions?

A. Yes B. No C. Yes if the family is known D. Only if phones are charged

Correct answer: B

The extract forbids entering alone after more than 10 minutes without updated instructions.

25. Where must confidential papers stay?

A. In a coat pocket B. On the car dashboard for ease C. In the locked bag provided D. With the family overnight

Correct answer: C

Locked bag requirement.

26. Who must know the visit list for student community observation?

A. Any classmate B. The named mentor C. Only the GP reception team D. The extract does not require anyone to know

Correct answer: B

Travel with the named mentor’s knowledge of the visit list.

Passage C (questions 27-30)

Infant Feeding Information Desk (educational extract) Staff giving feeding information must use current local leaflets and must not invent rules about feeding method. Families who request translation should be offered an interpreter service where available. Students may answer factual questions that appear on the leaflet but must escalate clinical feeding concerns to a registered midwife. Desk opening hours are 10:00 to 14:00 on weekdays only.

27. What must staff use when giving feeding information?

A. Personal opinion from social media B. Current local leaflets C. Outdated leaflets from another trust if similar D. Any blog printout

Correct answer: B

Current local leaflets are required.

28. A family asks for translation. What does the extract say?

A. Translation is never available B. They should be offered an interpreter service where available C. Students must translate even without training D. Families must bring their own interpreter every time

Correct answer: B

Offer interpreter service where available.

29. Clinical feeding concerns should be:

A. Handled only by students for learning B. Escalated to a registered midwife C. Posted on the unit noticeboard D. Deferred until the next monthly class

Correct answer: B

Escalation to a registered midwife is required.

30. Is the desk open on Saturday morning according to the extract?

A. Yes, 10:00 to 14:00 B. Yes, all day C. No: weekdays only D. Only by appointment on Saturdays

Correct answer: C

Opening hours are weekdays only.

Official resources

FAQ

Is there one national midwifery numeracy exam?

No. Universities and maternity employers set their own literacy and numeracy screens. Your invitation controls.

Do NMC standards create an entrance exam?

No. NMC standards relate to approved education and registration to practise. They do not create one universal midwifery admissions paper.

Are midwifery screens the same as nursing screens?

No. Contexts, course requirements and local papers differ. Use this midwifery guide for maternity pathways and the nursing guide for nursing pathways.

Can I treat practice calculations as clinical dosing advice?

No. Items on this page are educational maths and reading practice only. They are not clinical protocols.

Can paid prep guarantee a midwifery place?

No. Independent PrepPacks support familiarisation only.

Next steps

Return to the UK Assessment Tests hub for more NHS and graduate guides.