Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Levetiracetam tablet strengths and twice-daily steps for the GPhC assessment

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

Published 23 October 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

A man lying on the bed in a dark room
Photo from Pexels, used under the Pexels licence. It is a stock image and does not show the exercise.

The BNF lists levetiracetam tablets in three strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg and 750 mg.

The BNF gives the usual adult start for epilepsy as 250 mg once a day for 1 week, then 250 mg twice a day, increased in steps of 250 mg twice a day every 2 weeks up to a maximum of 1.5 g twice a day.

Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Write the unit beside every step and keep each dose step separate from a running 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 step length supplied in the question.
  2. Calculate one dose first; divide prescribed mg by mg per tablet.
  3. Apply the stated frequency within the day.
  4. Scale to the stated step length 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 plan starts levetiracetam at 250 mg once a day using 250 mg tablets for the first week. How many tablets is this step?

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Answer: 7 tablets

Working: 250 ÷ 250 = 1 tablet a day. 1 × 7 = 7 tablets.

Question 2

A fictional plan continues levetiracetam at 250 mg twice a day using 250 mg tablets for the next 2 weeks. How many tablets is this step?

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Answer: 28 tablets

Working: 250 ÷ 250 = 1 tablet per dose. Twice a day is 2 tablets a day. 2 × 14 = 28 tablets.

Question 3

A fictional plan increases levetiracetam to 500 mg twice a day using 500 mg tablets for 4 weeks. How many tablets is this step?

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Answer: 56 tablets

Working: 500 ÷ 500 = 1 tablet per dose. Twice a day is 2 tablets a day. 4 weeks is 28 days, so 2 × 28 = 56 tablets.

Exam approach

Step-by-step titrations are small sums in sequence. Do not total until every step is settled at its own dose.

Where marks are lost

  • Counting one dose a day when the question says twice a day.
  • Mixing up the three strengths when the strength is stated in the question.
  • Forgetting to convert the week or 2-week step into days.

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 titration steps?

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

How should I check the answer?

Work one step at a time, then add the step totals and check the count against the stated strengths.

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.