Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Ferrous fumarate 210 mg tablets and daily tablet counts for the GPhC assessment

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

Published 11 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

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Photo from Pexels, used under the Pexels licence. It is a stock image and does not show the exercise.

The manufacturer's UK product information for Ferrous Fumarate 210mg Tablets states that for iron deficiency anaemia in adults and the elderly the dose is 1 tablet two to three times a day, and that for prophylaxis the dose is 1 tablet once or twice a day.

The same information prints that each 210 mg ferrous fumarate tablet approximates to 65 to 70 mg of elemental iron; that is a printed approximation, not an exact equality, and it should be quoted as a range.

The NHS ferrous fumarate page explains the medicine is used to treat and prevent iron deficiency anaemia, which is why anaemia and prophylaxis schedules differ in frequency.

Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Write the unit beside every step and distinguish ferrous fumarate from elemental iron. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.

The method

  1. Identify whether the stated schedule is anaemia (2 to 3 times a day) or prophylaxis (once or twice a day).
  2. Multiply the stated tablets per day by the stated days for a course quantity.
  3. For elemental iron, multiply the tablet count by the printed 65 to 70 mg range and keep it as a range.
  4. Keep tablets, mg of ferrous fumarate and mg of elemental iron separate; convert only when the question asks.

Three practice questions

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

Question 1

A fictional adult takes ferrous fumarate 210 mg tablets, 1 tablet three times a day for iron deficiency anaemia. How many tablets are taken each day, and how many over 28 days?

Show the answer

Answer: 3 tablets daily; 84 tablets

Working: 1 tablet x 3 times daily = 3 tablets daily. 3 x 28 days = 84 tablets, a total of 17,640 mg of ferrous fumarate.

Question 2

A fictional adult takes ferrous fumarate 210 mg tablets, 1 tablet once a day for prophylaxis. How many tablets are needed for 30 days?

Show the answer

Answer: 30 tablets

Working: 1 tablet x 30 days = 30 tablets.

Question 3

A fictional patient takes 3 ferrous fumarate 210 mg tablets daily. Using the manufacturer's printed approximation of 65 to 70 mg of elemental iron per tablet, what is the approximate daily elemental iron intake?

Show the answer

Answer: Approximately 195 to 210 mg

Working: 3 x 65 mg = 195 mg and 3 x 70 mg = 210 mg. This is the manufacturer's printed approximation, quoted as a range rather than an exact figure.

eMC SmPC: Ferrous Fumarate 210mg Tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/2821/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Quoting elemental iron as an exact figure; the manufacturer prints 65 to 70 mg per tablet, so the answer stays a range.
  • Applying the anaemia schedule to prophylaxis; anaemia is one tablet two to three times a day, prophylaxis once or twice a day.
  • Using the 210 mg salt weight for elemental iron; multiply the tablet count by the printed 65 to 70 mg approximation instead.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official assessment questions?

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

Does this calculation decide a real ferrous fumarate course?

No. Follow the stated schedule in the exercise. Real courses follow the prescriber and the product information.

How should I check the answer?

Identify the schedule, multiply the daily tablet count by the stated days, and use the 65 to 70 mg range only for elemental iron.

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

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More calculation topics

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