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Nursing numeracy and literacy tests are screening assessments used by many UK universities and NHS employers when shortlisting applicants for nursing degrees, nursing degree apprenticeships, nursing associate pathways and some pre-registration interviews. There is no single universal UK nursing numeracy and literacy test. Formats differ by institution and employer. Some sittings allow a calculator. Others do not. Always follow the invitation you receive.

On Health Careers: types of nursing, the four fields are adult, children’s, mental health and learning disability nursing, with the nursing associate role described as a stepping stone into registered nursing. Registration to practise as a nurse in the UK sits with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) after an approved programme. NMC standards are professional standards for education and practice. They are not one central admissions numeracy exam.

Numeracy and literacy screening is a local selection tool that checks whether you can read clinical-policy style text carefully and work accurately with percentages, ratios, conversions and simple tables under exam conditions. Drug calculations and clinical numeracy may be assessed separately from general literacy screens, depending on the provider. Treat every question on this page as educational maths practice, not clinical advice, not a protocol, and not a substitute for supervised training.

The 32 questions below are original educational exercises with a nursing-pathway flavour. They are not official NMC, NHS, university admissions or JobTestPrep items, and they do not reproduce confidential live tests.

Key Takeaways

  • There is no single national nursing numeracy and literacy exam in the UK.
  • Requirements vary by university, NHS employer, apprenticeship route and role.
  • NMC standards govern professional registration after an approved programme; they do not create one shared entrance paper.
  • Drug-calculation and clinical-numeracy tasks may appear separately from general literacy and maths screens.
  • Commercial preparation is third-party practice only and cannot guarantee a course place or job offer.

Quick facts

Nursing numeracy and literacy screening snapshot (local rules control)
Item Detail
Who uses these screens Universities, NHS trusts and training providers (varies by route)
Typical skills checked Accurate maths, careful reading, following written instructions
Related careers context Four nursing fields plus nursing associate (Health Careers)
Regulator after qualification Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
What controls your sitting Offer-holder or interview instructions from that provider
Not the same as Midwifery admissions screens or HCA Trust vacancy tests

What Health Careers and the NMC establish

Use official pages first:

  1. Nursing careers outlines degree, apprenticeship and nursing associate routes into practice.
  2. Types of nursing explains field choice and progression roles such as district nursing or theatre nursing.
  3. The NMC registration pages explain that anyone wanting to practise as a nurse in the UK must meet NMC requirements after an approved programme.
  4. Your chosen university or trust publishes the specific numeracy and literacy paper, pass mark, calculator policy and retake rules.

Do not invent a national nursing test format. Build familiarity with the skills universities assess: unit conversions for educational maths, proportions, percentages, interpreting short care-policy style passages, and following multi-step written instructions without guessing.

For wider NHS support-worker screens that are not nursing-degree selection, see NHS Healthcare Numeracy and Literacy. For maternity route screens, see Midwifery Numeracy and Literacy.

Admissions versus employment screens

University nursing admissions may use literacy and numeracy as part of interviews, MMIs or assessment centres. NHS Trust recruitment for registered or pre-registration roles may use different papers, Functional Skills evidence, or no written test at all. Apprenticeship selection can add employer-specific checks. Treat each invitation as local. Do not copy one university’s pass mark or calculator rule onto another provider.

How to prepare

  1. Read Health Careers nursing guidance and your university or trust selection pack first.
  2. Practise timed mental arithmetic and written working for percentages, ratios and metric conversions.
  3. Practise careful reading of short policies: answer only from the text.
  4. If your invitation allows a calculator, still check every step; if it does not, rebuild mental fluency early.
  5. Use paid PrepPacks only as supplemental drills after you understand your provider’s rules.

Optional third-party practice

Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

If you want extra timed numeracy and literacy drills after reading your provider’s rules, an independent UK nursing 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. Your university or Trust invitation controls the live format.

Practice questions

Educational exercises only. Not official university, NHS, NMC or JobTestPrep items. Calculation items are maths practice in nursing-flavoured settings. They are not clinical dosing instructions.

Numeracy (educational calculation practice)

1. A practice skills lab stock cupboard holds three sizes of sterile packs:

Pack size Quantity
Small 48
Medium 36
Large 16

What percentage of the total stock is medium packs?

A. 30% B. 36% C. 40% D. 45%

Correct answer: B

Total = 48 + 36 + 16 = 100. Medium share = 36 / 100 = 36%.

2. A student nurse records fluid totals for education only: morning intake 650 ml, afternoon intake 475 ml, evening intake 375 ml. What is the daily total in litres?

A. 1.4 L B. 1.5 L C. 1.6 L D. 1.65 L

Correct answer: B

Sum = 650 + 475 + 375 = 1,500 ml. Convert: 1,500 / 1,000 = 1.5 L.

3. Ward education stock is mixed in the ratio 2 : 5 between oral tablets demonstration pots and liquid demonstration bottles (practice kits only). There are 35 liquid bottles. How many oral pots are there?

A. 10 B. 12 C. 14 D. 16

Correct answer: C

Ratio parts for liquids = 5. One part = 35 / 5 = 7. Oral pots = 2 × 7 = 14.

4. A skills-lab dilution exercise uses 40 ml of concentrate mixed with water to make 200 ml of solution. What percentage of the final volume is concentrate?

A. 15% B. 20% C. 25% D. 30%

Correct answer: B

40 / 200 = 0.2 = 20%. This is educational percentage practice only.

5. Four student nurses record practice vital-sign drills lasting 18, 22, 25 and 15 minutes. What is the mean duration?

A. 18 minutes B. 20 minutes C. 22 minutes D. 24 minutes

Correct answer: B

Sum = 18 + 22 + 25 + 15 = 80. Mean = 80 / 4 = 20 minutes.

6. A university skills day schedules 3 stations of 25 minutes each plus a 15-minute briefing. How long is the afternoon block in hours?

A. 1.25 hours B. 1.5 hours C. 1.75 hours D. 2 hours

Correct answer: B

Stations = 3 × 25 = 75 minutes. Plus briefing = 90 minutes = 1.5 hours.

7. A placement rota shows night shifts for three weeks as 4, 5 and 6 nights. Night premium is £12.50 per night for this fictitious educational example. What is the total premium for the three weeks?

A. £175.00 B. £187.50 C. £200.00 D. £212.50

Correct answer: B

Nights = 4 + 5 + 6 = 15. Premium = 15 × £12.50 = £187.50.

8. Convert 2.4 litres of practice oral fluid demonstration volume into millilitres.

A. 240 ml B. 2,400 ml C. 24,000 ml D. 240,000 ml

Correct answer: B

1 L = 1,000 ml, so 2.4 × 1,000 = 2,400 ml.

9. A library of care policies issues 180 leaflets. 45% are infection-prevention summaries. How many leaflets are infection-prevention summaries?

A. 72 B. 81 C. 90 D. 99

Correct answer: B

45% of 180 = 0.45 × 180 = 81.

10. Practice stock of gloves is reduced from 1,200 pairs to 960 pairs after a skills week. What is the percentage reduction?

A. 15% B. 18% C. 20% D. 25%

Correct answer: C

Reduction = 1,200 - 960 = 240. Percentage = 240 / 1,200 = 0.2 = 20%.

11. A tablet-calculation education sheet states: each practice tablet represents 5 mg of a labelled practice substance. How many such practice tablets represent 35 mg on the sheet?

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

Correct answer: C

35 / 5 = 7. Educational counting only, not a clinical order.

12. A student has completed 42 of 56 mandatory e-learning modules. What fraction of the programme remains unfinished, in lowest terms?

A. 1/3 B. 1/4 C. 1/5 D. 1/7

Correct answer: B

Remaining = 56 - 42 = 14. Fraction remaining = 14 / 56 = 1/4.

13. Three mentors share 27 supervised practice hours in the ratio 1 : 2 : 6. How many hours does the mentor with the largest share take?

A. 15 B. 16 C. 18 D. 21

Correct answer: C

Parts = 1 + 2 + 6 = 9. One part = 27 / 9 = 3. Largest share = 6 × 3 = 18 hours.

14. Convert 375 micrograms to milligrams for an educational unit-conversion worksheet (1 mg = 1,000 micrograms).

A. 0.0375 mg B. 0.375 mg C. 3.75 mg D. 37.5 mg

Correct answer: B

375 / 1,000 = 0.375 mg.

15. A skills lab buys sterile saline demonstration bottles at £1.80 each. Buying 8 bottles attracts a 10% bulk discount on the total. What is the discounted bill?

A. £12.96 B. £13.00 C. £14.40 D. £16.00

Correct answer: A

Full price = 8 × £1.80 = £14.40. Discount = 10% of £14.40 = £1.44. Bill = £12.96.

16. Observation practice charts show breathing counts of 16, 18, 14, 20 and 17 breaths per minute across five educational drills. What is the median count?

A. 16 B. 17 C. 18 D. 20

Correct answer: B

Ordered: 14, 16, 17, 18, 20. Median = 17.

17. A dilution worksheet asks for a 1 : 4 concentrate-to-water mix. How many ml of water are needed with 30 ml of concentrate?

A. 90 ml B. 100 ml C. 120 ml D. 150 ml

Correct answer: C

1 part concentrate : 4 parts water. Water = 4 × 30 = 120 ml. Educational dilution ratio only.

18. A ward teaching room seats people in rows of 6. How many full rows are needed to seat 53 students with the fewest leftover seats unused after filling complete rows (students may fill a partial last row)?

A. 8 rows B. 9 rows C. 10 rows D. 11 rows

Correct answer: B

53 / 6 = 8 remainder 5, so 9 rows are needed to seat everyone.

19. Infection-prevention audit scores (%) for four bays: 88, 92, 85, 95. What is the range?

A. 7 B. 8 C. 10 D. 12

Correct answer: C

Range = 95 - 85 = 10.

20. A practice infusion education rate is labelled as 120 ml of fluid over 4 hours at a constant educational pump reading. What is the hourly rate in ml/hour?

A. 25 ml/hour B. 30 ml/hour C. 35 ml/hour D. 40 ml/hour

Correct answer: B

120 / 4 = 30 ml/hour. Educational rate arithmetic only.

Literacy (care-policy style reading)

Passage A (questions 21-24)

Ward Hand Hygiene Reminder (educational extract) Staff and students must clean their hands before and after every patient contact, after removing gloves, and before preparing any clean procedure tray. Alcohol hand rub may be used on visibly clean hands. Soap and water must be used when hands are visibly soiled or after caring for a patient with known diarrhoea. Jewelry except a plain wedding band should be removed for clinical work. If a staff member is unsure whether a procedure counts as clean, they must ask the named mentor before starting.

21. According to the extract, when must soap and water be used?

A. Before every patient contact without exception B. When hands are visibly soiled or after caring for a patient with known diarrhoea C. Only when alcohol rub is unavailable D. Only after removing jewelry

Correct answer: B

The extract names those two situations for soap and water.

22. A student has visibly clean hands before preparing a clean procedure tray. What does the extract allow?

A. No hand cleaning if gloves will be worn B. Alcohol hand rub may be used C. Only soap and water D. Hand cleaning is optional for students

Correct answer: B

Alcohol rub may be used on visibly clean hands, and cleaning is required before preparing a clean procedure tray.

23. Can a staff member keep several fashion rings on for clinical work under this extract?

A. Yes, if they wash hands more often B. Yes, if the rings are gold C. No: jewelry except a plain wedding band should be removed D. The extract does not mention jewelry

Correct answer: C

The extract is explicit about jewelry.

24. A student is unsure whether a tray count as a clean procedure. What must they do?

A. Continue and document later B. Ask any nearby student C. Ask the named mentor before starting D. Skip hand hygiene

Correct answer: C

The extract says they must ask the named mentor before starting.

Passage B (questions 25-28)

Escalation Note for Student Placement (educational extract) If a patient’s condition changes suddenly, the student must stay with the patient if safe to do so, call for registered help immediately using the local emergency number, and not leave the call to a less experienced peer. Students must not give advice that contradicts written local guidance. Documentation of the escalation should be completed by the registered practitioner leading the response, with the student contributing factual observations when asked. Social media posts about identifiable patients are forbidden.

25. Who should complete documentation of the escalation according to the extract?

A. The student alone B. Any relative present C. The registered practitioner leading the response D. The university lecturer

Correct answer: C

The extract assigns documentation to the registered practitioner leading the response.

26. What must a student do if a patient’s condition changes suddenly and it is safe to stay?

A. Update social media for awareness B. Stay if safe, call for registered help immediately, and not leave the call to a less experienced peer C. Wait 15 minutes to see if the change settles D. Ask a peer to decide alone

Correct answer: B

That sequence is stated in the extract.

27. A student is asked for advice that conflicts with written local guidance. What does the extract require?

A. Give the advice if it sounds faster B. Invent a compromise C. Not give advice that contradicts written local guidance D. Post the dilemma anonymously online

Correct answer: C

Contradictory advice is forbidden by the extract.

28. Which statement is True based only on the extract?

A. Students must always leave the bedside during escalation B. Social media posts about identifiable patients are forbidden C. Peers should lead all emergency calls D. Lecturers complete all documentation

Correct answer: B

Only B is supported by the text.

Passage C (questions 29-32)

Break Relief Policy Snippet (educational extract) Breaks start only when a named colleague has accepted handover of observations for that bay. Mid-break returns to the bay are allowed for urgent personal reasons but must be recorded in the break log. Students on their first week must take breaks with an experienced buddy. Late return of more than 10 minutes must be reported to the nurse in charge before restarting clinical tasks.

29. When may a break begin?

A. When the student feels tired B. When a named colleague has accepted handover of observations for that bay C. After any verbal wave to a peer D. Only after university approval each day

Correct answer: B

Handover acceptance is required.

30. First-week students must:

A. Skip breaks B. Take breaks alone to build independence C. Take breaks with an experienced buddy D. Take double-length breaks

Correct answer: C

The extract requires an experienced buddy.

31. A student returns 12 minutes late from break. What is required?

A. Nothing if the bay is calm B. Report to the nurse in charge before restarting clinical tasks C. Ask a peer to backdate the log D. Extend the next break by 12 minutes

Correct answer: B

Late return of more than 10 minutes must be reported before restarting clinical tasks.

32. Mid-break returns for urgent personal reasons:

A. Are banned B. Are allowed but must be recorded in the break log C. Require university notification every time D. Cancel the rest of the shift

Correct answer: B

Allowed with logging according to the extract.

Official resources

FAQ

Is there one national nursing numeracy exam?

No. Universities and employers set their own literacy and numeracy screens. Treat your invitation and provider booklet as controlling.

Do I need NMC registration before university numeracy tests?

No. NMC registration applies when you qualify and wish to practise. Selection tests sit earlier in the pathway. Confirm details with your chosen university and the NMC after qualification.

Will every nursing assessment include drug-calculation items?

Not necessarily. Some assessment-centre guidance discusses calculation-style tasks in hypothetical scenarios. Your sitting may emphasise general numeracy, literacy or both. Never treat educational practice items as clinical orders.

Can I use a calculator?

Only if your university or employer invitation allows it. Do not assume a national rule.

How is nursing screening different from midwifery screening?

Both pathways can use literacy and numeracy. Midwifery materials and contexts differ, so use the Midwifery Numeracy and Literacy guide when that is your route.

Can paid prep guarantee a nursing place?

No. Independent PrepPacks can support familiarisation only. Outcomes depend on your application, interview and the provider’s decisions.

Next steps

Return to the UK Assessment Tests hub for more NHS, public-service and graduate guides.