Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Pantoprazole tablet strengths and course lengths for the GPhC assessment

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

Published 25 October 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

White and yellow medication on a white surface
Photo from Pexels, used under the Pexels licence. It is a stock image and does not show the exercise.

The NHS lists pantoprazole tablets in 20 mg and 40 mg strengths. The usual dose is 20 mg a day for heartburn and 20 mg to 40 mg a day for reflux disease.

The BNF lists courses of 40 mg once daily for 4 to 8 weeks for ulcers and severe reflux, increased up to 80 mg a day in severe cases.

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

  1. Identify the exact formulation, strength, dose and frequency supplied in the question.
  2. Convert an X mg/5 mL strength to mg/mL if a dose-to-volume conversion is needed.
  3. Calculate one dose first; for tablets or capsules divide prescribed mg by mg per unit.
  4. Scale to the stated frequency and duration only when a total quantity is requested.
  5. 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 prescription specifies pantoprazole 20 mg once daily for 28 days, using 20 mg tablets. How many tablets cover the course?

Show the answer

Answer: 28 tablets

Working: 1 tablet × 28 days = 28 tablets.

Question 2

A fictional dose is pantoprazole 40 mg, using 20 mg tablets. How many tablets is one dose?

Show the answer

Answer: 2 tablets

Working: 40 ÷ 20 = 2 tablets.

Question 3

A fictional plan uses 80 mg a day, using 40 mg tablets. How many tablets is one day?

Show the answer

Answer: 2 tablets

Working: 80 ÷ 40 = 2 tablets.

NHS: How and when to take pantoprazole

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/pantoprazole/how-and-when-to-take-pantoprazole/

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.

More calculation topics

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