Failed the NMC CBT: resits, attempts and what happens next

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.

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.