Common Registration Assessment, Part 1
Colchicine tablet counts and course maximums for the GPhC assessment
Three original practice questions, with the working shown. Read the stated prescription or plan before calculating.
Published 16 October 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.
The NHS lists colchicine as 500 microgram tablets. To treat a gout attack, the usual dose is 1 tablet taken 2 to 4 times a day until symptoms improve, with a maximum of 12 tablets (6 mg) in one course of treatment.
After a course, at least 3 days must pass before another course can start. To prevent further attacks, the usual dose is 500 micrograms twice a day. Course limits are safety boundaries, not targets.
Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Write the unit beside every step and distinguish a single dose from a daily total or course supply. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.
The method
- Identify the exact formulation, strength, dose and frequency supplied in the question.
- Convert an X mg/5 mL strength to mg/mL if a dose-to-volume conversion is needed.
- Calculate one dose first; for tablets or capsules divide prescribed mg by mg per unit.
- Scale to the stated frequency and duration only when a total quantity is requested.
- Apply whole-container or complete-day rounding only if the question specifies it.
Three practice questions
Work each one on paper first, then open the answer. All patients and prescriptions are fictional.
Question 1
A fictional gout attack plan specifies 1 colchicine 500 microgram tablet taken 4 times a day. What is the daily amount, in micrograms and in mg?
Show the answer
Answer: 2000 micrograms (2 mg)
Working: 500 × 4 = 2000 micrograms. 2000 ÷ 1000 = 2 mg.
Question 2
A fictional plan takes 4 colchicine tablets a day. The course maximum is 12 tablets. On which day of the course is the maximum reached?
Show the answer
Answer: Day 3
Working: 12 ÷ 4 = 3 days, so the maximum is reached on day 3. No further tablets in that course.
Question 3
A fictional prevention prescription specifies colchicine 500 micrograms twice a day for 28 days. How many tablets are needed?
Show the answer
Answer: 56 tablets
Working: 1 × 2 = 2 tablets per day. 2 × 28 = 56 tablets.
NHS: How and when to take colchicine
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/colchicine/how-and-when-to-take-colchicine/
Where marks are lost
- Using a remembered strength or schedule instead of the stated product.
- Reporting a daily total when the question asks for one dose or the course.
- Treating arithmetic as evidence that a real prescription is clinically suitable.
Frequently asked questions
Are these official assessment questions?
No. They are original revision exercises, not official GPhC questions and not for patient care.
Can a quantity calculation justify a formulation switch?
No. Follow the formulation and prescription in the exercise. Real switches and dose changes need clinical checks.
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.
Practise until the method is automatic
Try 15 free questions with worked answers. No sign-up required.
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See also the formula sheet, the eight sample questions and the approved calculator page.