Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Bumetanide tablet strengths and daily doses for the GPhC assessment

Three original practice questions, with the working shown. Read the stated prescription or plan before calculating.

Published 21 October 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

Medication pills on white plastic container
Photo from Pexels, used under the Pexels licence. It is a stock image and does not show the exercise.

The BNF lists bumetanide tablets in two strengths: 1 mg and 5 mg.

The BNF gives the usual adult dose for fluid retention as 1 mg in the morning, repeated after 6 to 8 hours if required, and for more persistent fluid retention as an initial 5 mg a day, adjusted in steps of 5 mg.

Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Write the unit beside every step and keep a single dose separate from a supply total. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.

The method

  1. Identify the exact strength, dose and frequency supplied in the question.
  2. Calculate one dose first; divide prescribed mg by mg per tablet.
  3. Watch whether a second dose later in the day is stated.
  4. Scale to the stated duration only when a supply is requested.
  5. Check the tablet count is a whole number before reporting it.

Three practice questions

Work each one on paper first, then open the answer. All patients and prescriptions are fictional.

Question 1

A fictional prescription specifies bumetanide 1 mg each morning using 1 mg tablets for 28 days. How many tablets is the supply?

Show the answer

Answer: 28 tablets

Working: 1 ÷ 1 = 1 tablet a day. 1 × 28 = 28 tablets.

Question 2

A fictional prescription specifies bumetanide 1 mg in the morning and 1 mg again after 6 to 8 hours, using 1 mg tablets for 14 days. How many tablets is the supply?

Show the answer

Answer: 28 tablets

Working: Two doses a day is 2 × 1 = 2 tablets a day. 2 × 14 = 28 tablets.

Question 3

A fictional plan specifies bumetanide 5 mg each morning using 1 mg tablets for 28 days. How many tablets is the supply?

Show the answer

Answer: 140 tablets

Working: 5 ÷ 1 = 5 tablets a day. 5 × 28 = 140 tablets.

Exam approach

Unit errors outrank arithmetic errors here. Circle the unit in the question, convert deliberately, and write the unit next to the answer.

Where marks are lost

  • Counting one dose a day when the question states a second dose after 6 to 8 hours.
  • Mixing up the 1 mg and 5 mg strengths when the strength is stated in the question.
  • Reporting a daily total when the question asks for a supply, or the other way round.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official assessment questions?

No. They are original revision exercises, not official GPhC questions and not for patient care.

Do I need to memorise the strengths?

The exercise supplies them. In the assessment, read any given product information exactly as written.

How should I check the answer?

Check the requested unit, then work backwards from the quantity to the stated dose and duration.

Sources

The questions above are original and use fictional patients and prescriptions. PreRegExamPrep is not affiliated with or endorsed by the General Pharmaceutical Council.

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More calculation topics

See also the formula sheet, the eight sample questions and the approved calculator page.