Common Registration Assessment, Part 1
Propranolol tablet strengths and daily doses for the GPhC assessment
Three original practice questions, with the working shown. Read the stated prescription or plan before calculating.
Published 17 October 2026. Independent revision material, not GPhC questions, not for patient care.
The NHS lists propranolol tablets in 10 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg and 160 mg strengths, slow-release capsules in 80 mg and 160 mg, and a liquid in strengths of 5 mg, 10 mg, 40 mg or 50 mg in 5 mL.
Usual adult doses depend on the condition: high blood pressure starts at 80 mg twice a day up to a maximum of 160 mg twice a day; migraine or angina is 40 mg 2 or 3 times a day up to 240 mg a day; anxiety is 40 mg once a day up to 40 mg 3 times a day.
Each question fixes the values needed for its arithmetic. Write the unit beside every step and keep a single dose separate from a daily total. 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.
- Calculate one dose first, dividing prescribed mg by mg per tablet.
- Scale to the stated frequency for a daily total.
- Convert an X mg/5 mL strength to mg/mL if the question uses the liquid.
- Check any daily total against a stated maximum 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 prescription specifies propranolol 80 mg twice a day using 40 mg tablets. How many tablets is one day?
Show the answer
Answer: 4 tablets
Working: 80 ÷ 40 = 2 tablets per dose. 2 × 2 doses = 4 tablets a day.
Question 2
A fictional prescription specifies propranolol for migraine at the maximum of 240 mg a day using 80 mg tablets. How many tablets is one day?
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Answer: 3 tablets
Working: 240 ÷ 80 = 3 tablets a day.
Question 3
A fictional prescription specifies propranolol 40 mg once a day using the liquid with 50 mg in 5 mL. What volume is one dose?
Show the answer
Answer: 4 mL
Working: 50 mg in 5 mL is 10 mg per mL. 40 ÷ 10 = 4 mL.
Exam approach
Convert the liquid to mg per mL first: 5 mg/5 mL is 1 mg per mL and 50 mg/5 mL is 10 mg per mL, a tenfold difference across the range.
Where marks are lost
- Confusing the four liquid strengths, which range from 1 mg to 10 mg per mL.
- Reporting a per-dose count when the question asks for the day.
- 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.
Why list all four liquid strengths?
The label decides the concentration; the same 5 mL spoonful can contain 5 mg or 50 mg.
How should I check the answer?
Check the requested unit, then work backwards from the quantity to the stated dose and duration.
Sources
- NHS: How and when to take propranolol
- GPhC, Common Registration Assessment specification and permitted items for 2026
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.