Numeracy Skills
40 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 40 free NHS Healthcare Assistant practice questions on Numeracy Skills, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Numeracy Skills: example questions & answers
40 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
A patient weighs 70kg. What is their weight in pounds (1kg = 2.2lbs)?
- A140 lbs
- B165 lbs
- C180 lbs
- D154 lbs✓
Answer: 70kg × 2.2 = 154 lbs. Accurate weight conversions are important for medication calculations and monitoring.
A patient's temperature is 38.5°C. What is this in Fahrenheit? (Formula: (°C × 9/5) + 32)
- A101.3°F✓
- B100.3°F
- C99.8°F
- D102.5°F
Answer: (38.5 × 9/5) + 32 = 101.3°F. Temperature conversion skills are essential for assessing fevers and patient safety.
A patient is prescribed 500mg of paracetamol three times daily. How many grams will they take in 24 hours?
- A1.5g✓
- B1g
- C0.5g
- D2g
Answer: 500mg × 3 = 1500mg = 1.5g daily. Converting between mg and g is fundamental for medication safety.
A drip infusion has 1000ml to be infused over 8 hours. What is the rate in ml/hour?
- A100 ml/hour
- B150 ml/hour
- C125 ml/hour✓
- D200 ml/hour
Answer: 1000ml ÷ 8 hours = 125 ml/hour. Calculating infusion rates accurately is critical to prevent over/under-infusion.
A patient requires 5ml of liquid medication containing 10mg/ml. How many mg are they receiving?
- A40mg
- B100mg
- C25mg
- D50mg✓
Answer: 5ml × 10mg/ml = 50mg. Understanding concentration and volume calculations is essential for safe medication administration.
A patient's BMI (Body Mass Index) is calculated using their height and weight. If height is 1.70m and weight is 85kg, what is their BMI? (BMI = weight ÷ height²)
- A22.4
- B25.8
- C29.4✓
- D32.7
Answer: BMI = 85 ÷ (1.70)² = 85 ÷ 2.89 = 29.4 (overweight category). BMI calculations are used for health risk assessment.
A prescription reads 'Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml suspension, give 10ml three times daily'. How much drug is given per dose?
- A500mg✓
- B250mg
- C1000mg
- D750mg
Answer: 10ml × (250mg/5ml) = 10 × 50 = 500mg per dose. Accurate dose calculation prevents medication errors.
A patient has had 200ml of tea, 150ml of water, and 100ml of milk. What is their total fluid intake?
- A450ml✓
- B550ml
- C650ml
- D350ml
Answer: 200 + 150 + 100 = 450ml. Accurate fluid balance is essential for monitoring hydration and kidney function.
A patient's shift pattern is: 9am-5pm, 12pm-8pm, 5pm-1am. How many hours total have they worked?
- A32 hours
- B24 hours✓
- C28 hours
- D20 hours
Answer: 8 + 8 + 8 = 24 hours. Calculating working hours is important for fatigue management and workforce planning.
A medical stock contains 50 boxes of gloves. The ward uses 3 boxes per day. How many days will the stock last?
- A20 days
- B17 days✓
- C12 days
- D15 days
Answer: 50 ÷ 3 = 16.67 days (approximately 17 days). Stock management prevents supply disruptions.
A patient requires a drug at 2mg per kg of body weight. If they weigh 60kg, what is the total dose needed?
- A180mg
- B60mg
- C120mg✓
- D100mg
Answer: 60kg × 2mg/kg = 120mg. Weight-based dosing is a common and important calculation method in healthcare.
A patient's urine output is 1500ml over 24 hours. What is this in litres per day?
- A0.15 L
- B0.75 L
- C15 L
- D1.5 L✓
Answer: 1500ml = 1.5 litres. Normal urine output is 0.5-2L/day. Unit conversion is essential for monitoring fluid balance.
A patient is prescribed insulin. The vial contains 100 units/ml and they need 20 units. What volume should be drawn up?
- A20 ml
- B0.2 ml✓
- C2 ml
- D0.1 ml
Answer: 20 units ÷ 100 units/ml = 0.2ml. Accurate insulin calculations are critical to prevent dangerous hypo/hyperglycemia.
A patient's blood pressure is recorded as 145/92 mmHg. What does the lower number represent?
- ASystolic pressure
- BPulse pressure
- CMean arterial pressure
- DDiastolic pressure✓
Answer: The lower number (92) is diastolic pressure (heart resting). Normal BP is approximately 120/80. Understanding vital sign values is essential.
A medication costs £30 and there's a 20% discount. What is the final cost?
- A£20
- B£10
- C£24✓
- D£6
Answer: £30 × 0.20 = £6 discount; £30 - £6 = £24. Understanding percentages helps with medication cost calculations and resource management.
A patient is on a fluid restriction of 1500ml per day. They've had 600ml by noon. How much more can they have?
- A1200ml
- B900ml✓
- C800ml
- D600ml
Answer: 1500 - 600 = 900ml remaining. Monitoring fluid restrictions is important for patients with heart failure or kidney disease.
A patient's heart rate is 72 beats per minute. How many beats in one hour?
- A3600 beats
- B4000 beats
- C5000 beats
- D4320 beats✓
Answer: 72 beats/min × 60 min = 4320 beats/hour. Understanding vital sign rates over time helps with patient monitoring.
A prescription requires a 1:1000 dilution of a medication. If you start with 100ml of the concentrated drug, what will the final volume be?
- A1,000,000ml
- B10,000ml
- C100ml
- D100,000ml✓
Answer: A 1:1000 dilution means 1 part drug to 999 parts diluent, totalling 1000 parts. 100ml × 1000 = 100,000ml. Dilution calculations require precision.
A patient's daily medication costs £2.50. What is the monthly cost? (Use 30 days)
- A£50
- B£60
- C£75✓
- D£30
Answer: £2.50 × 30 = £75. Calculating medication costs over time helps with budgeting and patient education.
A patient requires oxygen at 2 litres per minute. How much oxygen is needed for an 8-hour shift?
- A16 litres
- B1000 litres
- C960 litres✓
- D120 litres
Answer: 2L/min × 60 min/hour × 8 hours = 960 litres. Understanding resource consumption is important for equipment management.
A patient receives 250ml blood transfusion in 30 minutes. What is the infusion rate in ml/hour?
- A250 ml/hour
- B750 ml/hour
- C500 ml/hour✓
- D1000 ml/hour
Answer: 250ml in 30 min = 500ml/hour (30 min is half an hour). Accurate transfusion rates are critical for patient safety.
A patient's daily fluid intake target is 2 litres. They've consumed 800ml so far. What percentage of their target have they reached?
- A50%
- B30%
- C40%✓
- D20%
Answer: 800ml ÷ 2000ml × 100 = 40%. Calculating percentages helps track hydration and nutrition goals.
A medication costs £4.50 per tablet. A patient needs 2 tablets twice daily for 7 days. What is the total cost?
- A£63
- B£252
- C£84
- D£126✓
Answer: 2 tablets × 2 daily × 7 days = 28 tablets. 28 × £4.50 = £126. Understanding medication costs supports resource management.
A patient's temperature reading is 37.5°C. Is this within normal range?
- AYes, normal is 36.5-37.5°C✓
- BNo, this is above the normal range
- CNo, it's too low
- DTemperature doesn't vary normally
Answer: Normal body temperature is approximately 36.5-37.5°C (can vary slightly). 37.5°C is at the upper limit of normal.
A wound care kit costs £25 and you need 6 kits per week. What is the annual cost? (52 weeks)
- A£8,000
- B£8,200
- C£7,800✓
- D£9,000
Answer: £25 × 6 = £150/week. £150 × 52 = £7,800/year. Calculating resource costs supports budget planning.
A patient requires a 30:2 compression ratio during CPR. If they give 30 compressions, how many rescue breaths?
- A5 breaths
- B15 breaths
- C2 breaths✓
- D20 breaths
Answer: Current guidelines recommend 30 compressions : 2 rescue breaths. This ratio optimises blood flow and oxygenation during CPR.
A patient's oxygen saturation improves from 88% to 94% after intervention. What is the percentage point improvement?
- A8 percentage points
- B10 percentage points
- C6.8%
- D6 percentage points✓
Answer: 94% - 88% = 6 percentage point increase. This improvement typically indicates effective oxygenation intervention.
A patient needs 1500mg of medication daily in 3 equal doses. What is each dose?
- A375mg
- B750mg
- C500mg✓
- D250mg
Answer: 1500mg ÷ 3 = 500mg per dose. Calculating divided doses ensures correct medication administration.
A ward has 25 beds. 16 are occupied. What percentage occupancy is this?
- A54%
- B64%✓
- C56%
- D75%
Answer: 16 ÷ 25 × 100 = 64%. Bed occupancy rates help with resource and staffing allocation.
A patient's BMI was 28.5 six months ago and is now 26.8. Have they lost or gained weight?
- AGained 1.7 BMI points
- BLost 1.7 BMI points✓
- CNo change in body mass index
- DCannot determine without height
Answer: A decrease in BMI indicates weight loss. BMI improvements are positive health markers when excess weight is reduced.
A medication is supplied as 5mg/ml. A patient needs 15mg. What volume is needed?
- A5ml
- B2ml
- C3ml✓
- D15ml
Answer: 15mg ÷ 5mg/ml = 3ml. Dose concentration calculations are essential to prevent medication errors.
A patient's mean arterial pressure (MAP) is (systolic + 2 × diastolic)/3. If BP is 140/90, what is the MAP?
- A105 mmHg✓
- B115 mmHg
- C110 mmHg
- D100 mmHg
Answer: (140 + 180)/3 = 320/3 = 106.7 ≈ 105 mmHg. MAP indicates tissue perfusion adequacy (goal usually >65 mmHg).
A patient receives IV fluid over 4 hours at 250ml/hour. How much total fluid will they receive?
- A1000ml✓
- B250ml
- C750ml
- D500ml
Answer: 250ml/hour × 4 hours = 1000ml. Calculating total fluid volumes ensures accurate hydration management.
A patient's creatinine level is 1.2 mg/dl (normal ~0.7-1.3). Is this within normal limits?
- AYes, within normal✓
- BImpossible to determine
- CNo, too high
- DNo, too low
Answer: Creatinine 1.2 mg/dl is within the normal range 0.7-1.3, indicating normal kidney function.
A staff member works 3 shifts of 12 hours each per week plus 4 hours admin. Total weekly hours?
- A32 hours
- B44 hours
- C40 hours✓
- D36 hours
Answer: (3 × 12) + 4 = 36 + 4 = 40 hours. Accurate shift calculations support fair scheduling and compliance.
A patient's weight increases from 68kg to 72kg in one week. Is this a concern?
- AWeight cannot change by that much in a single week
- BYes, this is likely to be 4kg of body fat gained
- CYes, likely fluid retention (investigate)✓
- DNo, this is within normal day-to-day variation
Answer: 4kg in one week is unlikely to be fat. Suspect fluid retention, medication effects, or recording error. Investigate the cause.
A patient's haemoglobin dropped from 13.2 g/dl to 10.8 g/dl. What is the change?
- A2.4 g/dl decrease✓
- B2.4% decrease
- C20% decrease
- D18% decrease
Answer: 13.2 - 10.8 = 2.4 g/dl. This drop is clinically significant and may require investigation or transfusion.
A patient's sodium level is 138 mmol/L (normal 135-145). Is this abnormal?
- ACannot assess without potassium
- BYes, this is below the reference range
- CYes, too high
- DNo, within normal range✓
Answer: 138 mmol/L is within normal range 135-145. No intervention needed unless trending abnormally.
A patient requires a 2-hour observation. Observations every 15 minutes. How many observations total?
- A12 observations
- B10 observations
- C15 observations
- D8 observations✓
Answer: 2 hours = 120 minutes. 120 ÷ 15 = 8 observations. Planning observation frequency ensures comprehensive monitoring.
A patient's glucose is 250 mg/dl (fasting normal <100). What percentage above normal?
- A150%✓
- B250%
- C100%
- D60%
Answer: (250-100)/100 × 100 = 150% above normal. Hyperglycemia of this level requires intervention.