Common Registration Assessment, Part 1

Risedronate daily 5 mg and weekly 35 mg tablet counts for the GPhC assessment

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

Published 2 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 lists two risedronate sodium schedules for adults: one 5 mg tablet every day, or one 35 mg tablet once a week on the same day each week.

That product information advises taking the tablet at least 30 minutes before the first food, drink or other medicine of the day, with plain water.

For the weekly tablet, the same information says a forgotten tablet can be taken on the day it is remembered, then the next tablet on the usual day, and two tablets should not be taken on the same day.

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 whether the stated schedule is daily or weekly before counting.
  2. Count one tablet per day for the 5 mg daily schedule.
  3. Count one tablet per stated week for the 35 mg weekly schedule, not per day.
  4. Convert weeks into days only when the question mixes the two schedules.
  5. Keep milligrams and tablets separate; convert only if 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 risedronate 5 mg once a day. How many tablets and how many milligrams is a 28-day supply?

Show the answer

Answer: 28 tablets; 140 mg

Working: 1 tablet x 28 days = 28 tablets; 5 mg x 28 days = 140 mg.

Question 2

A fictional patient takes risedronate 35 mg once a week. How many tablets and how many milligrams is a 12-week supply?

Show the answer

Answer: 12 tablets; 420 mg

Working: 1 tablet x 12 weeks = 12 tablets; 35 mg x 12 weeks = 420 mg.

Question 3

Over the same 28 days, how many more tablets does the 5 mg daily schedule use than the 35 mg weekly schedule?

Show the answer

Answer: 24 more tablets

Working: Daily schedule: 28 tablets; weekly schedule: 28 days / 7 = 4 weeks, so 4 tablets; 28 - 4 = 24.

eMC SmPC: Risedronate sodium 35 mg film-coated tablets

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9160/smpc

Where marks are lost

  • Counting the weekly tablet as a daily tablet.
  • Mixing the two schedules in one line of working.
  • 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 dose-total calculation justify changing a real dose?

No. Follow the steps in the exercise. Real dose changes are gradual and 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.

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More calculation topics

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