Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Pravastatin tablet strengths and evening doses for the GPhC assessment

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

Published 4 November 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.

A white pill bottle with scattered white tablets on a blue surface
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 pravastatin sodium tablets states that the recommended dose range for hypercholesterolaemia is 10 to 40 mg once daily, taken preferably in the evening, and that the maximum daily dose is 40 mg.

The same information states that the full effect of a given dose occurs within four weeks, so periodic lipid checks guide any dose adjustment.

It also states that a starting dose of 20 mg daily is recommended after organ transplantation in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, and 10 mg a day in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment or significant hepatic impairment.

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 a supply period. All prescriptions and patients here are fictional; these are revision materials, not for patient care.

The method

  1. Identify the stated evening dose in milligrams and the tablet strength supplied.
  2. Divide the dose by the tablet strength to count tablets per dose.
  3. Multiply the daily tablet count by the stated number of days for a supply quantity.
  4. Keep milligrams and tablets 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 patient takes pravastatin 20 mg each evening using 10 mg tablets. How many tablets are taken each evening?

Show the answer

Answer: 2 tablets

Working: 20 mg / 10 mg per tablet = 2 tablets each evening.

Question 2

A fictional patient takes the maximum pravastatin dose of 40 mg once daily using 40 mg tablets. How many milligrams is this over 28 days?

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Answer: 1,120 mg

Working: 40 mg each day x 28 days = 1,120 mg in total.

Question 3

A fictional patient starts pravastatin 20 mg daily after a transplant while taking immunosuppressants, using 20 mg tablets. How many tablets are needed for 30 days?

Show the answer

Answer: 30 tablets

Working: One 20 mg tablet each day x 30 days = 30 tablets.

eMC SmPC: Pravastatin sodium 10 mg tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/5321/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Letting the evening timing distract from the stated milligram dose and tablet strength.
  • Using the 10 to 40 mg range without identifying the exact dose in the question.
  • Forgetting that a once-daily dose means one administration each day, regardless of tablet count.

Frequently asked questions

Are these official assessment questions?

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

Does evening dosing change the arithmetic?

No. It tells you when the dose is taken. The tablet count still comes from the stated milligram dose and tablet strength.

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.