Failed the NMC CBT: resits, attempts and what happens next
Written and checked against the NMC’s published sources by The NMCMATE editorial team.Last checked .
If you have just had a result you did not want, the rules are fixed and knowing them exactly is the difference between a plan and a bad week. There is more room here than it feels like.
The rules, as the NMC publishes them
- You get up to three attempts within one application.
- You wait at least ten days between sittings. That is a minimum, not a recommendation.
- You resit only the part you did not pass, because the parts are passed separately.
- You get a different version of the paper each time.
- If the third attempt is unsuccessful the application closes, and you wait at least six months before applying again.
| What you sit again | Fee |
|---|---|
| Part A only, the numeracy paper | £50 |
| Part B only, the clinical paper | £70 |
| Both parts together | £83 |
| A first sitting, for comparison | £83 |
Where candidates come unstuck
- Rebooking as soon as the ten days allow without changing how you prepare. The same preparation tends to produce the same result, and you have a limited number of attempts.
- Not finding out which part you failed before planning. Part A and Part B fail for completely different reasons and the fix for one is no use against the other.
- Practising the whole syllabus again when one category is the problem. Your practice history should tell you where the marks went.
- Treating the six-month wait as the end. It closes the application, not the route.
Common questions
- How many times can I take the NMC CBT?
- Three attempts within one application, with at least ten days between sittings.
- What happens if I fail the CBT three times?
- The application closes and you wait at least six months before applying again. It is a delay, not a disqualification.
- Do I have to resit the whole test?
- No. The two parts are passed separately, so you resit only the one you did not pass.
- How long do I have to wait to resit?
- At least ten days between sittings. Use them: the wait exists so that something can change before the next attempt.
Where these figures come from
- NMC: the computer-based test, booking, fees and results, link checked 8 October 2026
- NMC CBT candidate information booklet for nurses, what happens on the day: arrival, identification, breaks and results, link checked 8 October 2026
Practise for it
Questions weighted the way the NMC weights the real paper, with a worked explanation on every one. Ten free a day, no card needed.
This page is one part of the exam. Work through the whole thing with the NMC CBT study guide.