sum/count; middle of ordered list; most frequent; max − min
Length, capacity, time
1 km = 1000 m, 1 m = 100 cm, 1 ft = 12 in, 1 yd = 3 ft, 1 mi = 5280 ft, 1 gal = 4 qt = 16 cups, 1 h = 60 min
Temperature
°F = °C·9/5 + 32, °C = (°F − 32)·5/9; a change of 1 °C = 1.8 °F
Area
rectangle l·w, triangle ½·b·h, circle π·r²
Perimeter and circumference
rectangle 2l + 2w, circle π·d = 2π·r
Volume
box l·w·h, cylinder π·r²·h; 1000 cm³ = 1 L
Speed
distance ÷ time (time in hours for mph or km/h)
Method
Read the last sentence first: what exactly is asked, and in which unit or form (lowest terms, nearest cent, one decimal place)?
Write the numbers in one form: turn mixed numbers into improper fractions, percents into decimals, and hours and minutes into one unit.
Pick the method: PEMDAS for expressions, a common denominator for adding fractions, part ÷ whole × 100 for percents, cross-multiplying for proportions, inverse operations for equations.
Work one step at a time and write each line down; round only at the very end.
Check the size of the answer with an estimate, and put an equation’s answer back in.
Nursing math & unit conversions
Metric steps
1 kg = 1000 g, 1 g = 1000 mg, 1 mg = 1000 mcg, 1 L = 1000 mL
Weight and length
1 kg = 2.2 lb, 1 lb = 16 oz, 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 ft = 12 in
Household measures
1 tsp = 5 mL, 1 tbsp = 15 mL, 1 fl oz = 30 mL, 1 cup = 8 fl oz = 240 mL
Write the given quantity with its unit and the unit you want.
Pick the equivalent: 1000 between kg, g, mg and mcg or L and mL; 1 kg = 2.2 lb; 1 tsp = 5 mL, 1 tbsp = 15 mL, 1 fl oz = 30 mL, 1 cup = 240 mL.
Write it as a fraction so that the unwanted unit cancels; for a rate, use one fraction per unit that changes.
Check the direction: a smaller unit gives a bigger number.
Round only the final answer, to the precision the question names.
Reading comprehension (entrance exams)
Method
Read the question first so you know what you are looking for.
Skim the passage for its topic and main point; the first or last sentence often states it.
Go back to the exact lines that answer the question.
For inferences, choose the option the clues most strongly support, not one that goes further.
For labels and tables, apply every rule that fits the case and do the small calculation carefully.
Healthcare vocabulary (entrance exams)
Method
Read the whole sentence and look for a context clue: a definition, a contrast, an example or a cause and effect.
Split an unfamiliar word into prefix, root and suffix and translate each part.
Read a medical term from the suffix back to the start (hepat-itis: inflammation of the liver).
Put each option into the sentence and check that the meaning still fits.
Choose the meaning used in this sentence, even if the word has another everyday meaning.
English grammar & language usage (entrance exams)
Method
Find the subject and the verb of the sentence before choosing a form.
Strip away phrases (of the …, along with …) and extra people (you and …) to test agreement and pronoun case.
Check each clause: can it stand alone? Join independent clauses with a comma + conjunction or a semicolon.
Check modifiers and lists: the describing phrase next to its word, items in the same form.
For word choice and register, pick the precise, formal and concise option.
Biology for nursing entrance exams
Method
Name the topic of the question: cell parts, transport, division, DNA and protein synthesis, inheritance, biomolecules, microorganisms or experimental design.
Recall the key rule: A–T and G–C, diffusion from high to low, water moves towards more solute, mitosis keeps and meiosis halves the chromosome number.
For crosses, write the parents’ genotypes, list the gametes and fill a Punnett square before counting.
For experiments, label the independent, dependent and controlled variables, and ask whether the evidence supports or only suggests the conclusion.
Check each option against the question asked, not just whether it is a true statement.
Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Method
Identify what is given and asked: particles, a formula, a state change, a concentration, a pH or a mass.
Use the periodic table: the atomic number gives protons, the group gives valence electrons and the usual ion charge.
Balance equations with coefficients only, element by element, oxygen and hydrogen last.
For amounts, go mass → moles → mole ratio → moles → mass, and for solutions use M = mol/L and C₁V₁ = C₂V₂.
Remember that pH is logarithmic: one unit is a factor of 10.
2Practice problems
1.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)Medium
Use the order of operations to find the value of x: x = 21 ÷ 3 × 2 − 5.
x = 21 ÷ 3 × 2 − 5
x =
2.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)Hard
On a map, 1 cm represents 5 km. Two towns are 8.3 cm apart on the map. What is the real distance x in kilometres?
1 cm : 5 km8.3 cm
x = km
3.Nursing math & unit conversionsMedium
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). A patient’s temperature is 37.9 °C. Convert it to degrees Fahrenheit T with °F = °C × 9/5 + 32. Round to one decimal place.
37.9 °C
T = °F
4.Nursing math & unit conversionsHard
Practice exercise (made-up values, not clinical guidance). During a shift a patient takes 1 tbsp of liquid supplement, 1 tsp of cough syrup, 1 cup of tea. Using the equivalents given, find the total oral intake V in mL.
1 tbsp = 15 mL1 tsp = 5 mL1 cup = 8 fl oz = 240 mL
V = mL
5.Reading comprehension (entrance exams)Medium
“The pharmacist asked Mrs. Kim whether she took any other medicines, including vitamins and herbal products, before giving her the new prescription.” Why did the pharmacist most likely ask this?
ATo find out her date of birth
BTo check for possible interactions
CTo sell her more vitamins
DTo decide the colour of the medicine label
6.Reading comprehension (entrance exams)Hard
“When the reporter asked the mayor about the delayed bridge project, the mayor talked at length about the new park and the town’s low crime rate.” What does the mayor’s answer suggest?
AThe park and the bridge are the same project.
BThe mayor avoided the question.
CThe bridge project is already finished.
DThe mayor answered the question fully.
7.Healthcare vocabulary (entrance exams)Medium
Choose the meaning of the word in bold: “A patient with a weak swallow is at risk of aspiration.”
ABleeding from the stomach lining
BBreathing food or fluid into the lungs
CFalling when getting out of bed at night
DLosing a large amount of weight
8.Healthcare vocabulary (entrance exams)Hard
Choose the meaning of the word in bold: “The patient’s condition began to deteriorate overnight.”
ARemain the same
BGrow steadily worse
CBecome hidden
DImprove slowly but steadily
9.English grammar & language usage (entrance exams)Medium
Choose the correct pronoun: “The nurse and the aide finished ___ rounds early.”
Ahis
Bits
Cher
Dtheir
10.English grammar & language usage (entrance exams)Hard
Choose the best transition: “The new schedule saved money. ___, staff morale dropped because of longer shifts.”
AOn the other hand
BTherefore
CFor example
DSimilarly
11.Human anatomyMedium
Which valve lies between the left atrium and the left ventricle?
AAortic valve
BPulmonary valve
CMitral (bicuspid) valve
DTricuspid valve
12.Human anatomyHard
After a stroke, a patient speaks fluently but uses meaningless words and cannot understand speech. Where is the lesion most likely to be?
APrecentral gyrus of the non-dominant hemisphere
BInferior frontal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere
CCerebellar hemisphere
DPosterior superior temporal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere
13.Human physiologyMedium
The Frank–Starling mechanism describes that:
AThe atria contract after the ventricles
BContractility falls when temperature rises
CHeart rate rises when arterial blood pressure falls suddenly
DStroke volume rises when ventricular filling increases
14.Human physiologyHard
Which combination of signs is expected in a patient in early hypovolaemic shock after major bleeding?
ATachycardia, cool pale skin and reduced urine output
BBradycardia, cool pale skin and high urine output
CBradycardia, warm flushed skin and high urine output
DTachycardia, warm flushed skin and high urine output
15.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
Which statement describes active transport?
AIt moves only water across the membrane
BIt moves substances down their concentration gradient without using any energy
CIt uses energy to move substances against a concentration gradient
DIt happens only in dead cells
16.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
Sucrose is broken down into glucose and fructose during digestion. What type of reaction is this?
ADehydration synthesis, which releases a water molecule
BDehydration synthesis, which uses a water molecule
CHydrolysis, which uses a water molecule
DHydrolysis, which releases a water molecule
17.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
An exothermic reaction is at equilibrium. What happens if the temperature is raised?
AThe equilibrium shifts toward the products, raising the yield
BThe reaction becomes endothermic
CThe equilibrium shifts toward the reactants
DThe equilibrium does not change
18.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
Why does atomic radius decrease from left to right across a period?
AEach element adds a new electron shell
BMore protons pull the electrons of the same outer shell closer
CThe atoms lose electrons across the period
DNeutrons push the electrons outward less strongly
3Solutions
1.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)
Answer: x = 9
Order of operations (PEMDAS/BODMAS): work inside parentheses first, then exponents (powers), then multiplication and division from left to right, and last addition and subtraction from left to right. Multiplication does not come before division, and addition does not come before subtraction: each pair is done in the order it appears. A negative number in parentheses keeps its sign when squared: (−3)² = 9, but −3² = −9.
One operation at a time
Multiplication and division go from left to right: divide 21 by 3 first.
x = 21 ÷ 3 × 2 − 5
= 7 × 2 − 5
= 14 − 5
Result
x = 9
Answer
x = 9
2.Pre-nursing math (entrance exam)
Answer: x = 41.5 km
Rates and scales: speed = distance ÷ time, with the time in the unit of the answer (2 h 15 min = 2.25 h, because 15 min = 15/60 h). A map scale is a proportion: 1 cm on the map stands for a fixed distance on the ground, so multiply the map distance by it.
Multiply by the scale
x = 8.3 × 5 = 41.5 km
Answer
x = 41.5 km
3.Nursing math & unit conversions
Answer: T = 100.2 °F
Temperature: °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9 and °F = °C × 9/5 + 32. Subtract 32 before you multiply when going from °F, and add 32 after you multiply when going from °C. A quick check: 37 °C is 98.6 °F, and every 1 °C is 1.8 °F.
Multiply by 9/5
37.9·9/5 = 68.22
Add 32
T = 68.22 + 32 = 100.2 °F
Answer
T = 100.2 °F
4.Nursing math & unit conversions
Answer: V = 260 mL
Household measures and weight: nursing exams use rounded equivalents: 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 mL, 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 15 mL = 3 tsp, 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 30 mL = 2 tbsp, and 1 cup = 8 fl oz = 240 mL. For weight, 1 kg = 2.2 lb and 1 lb = 16 oz; for length, 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Set the conversion up so that the unit you do not want cancels out.
Each item in mL
1 tbsp = 1·15 = 15 mL
1 tsp = 1·5 = 5 mL
1 cup = 1·240 = 240 mL
Add
V = 15 + 5 + 240 = 260 mL
Answer
V = 260 mL
5.Reading comprehension (entrance exams)
Answer: B · To check for possible interactions
Why this is the answer
Some medicines, vitamins and herbal products can interact. Asking about everything she takes helps the pharmacist check that the new prescription is safe.
Answer
B · To check for possible interactions
6.Reading comprehension (entrance exams)
Answer: B · The mayor avoided the question.
Why this is the answer
Speaking at length about other topics instead of the bridge suggests that the mayor was avoiding the question.
Answer
B · The mayor avoided the question.
7.Healthcare vocabulary (entrance exams)
Answer: B · Breathing food or fluid into the lungs
Why this is the answer
Aspiration is the inhaling of food, fluid or other material into the airway and lungs.
Answer
B · Breathing food or fluid into the lungs
8.Healthcare vocabulary (entrance exams)
Answer: B · Grow steadily worse
Why this is the answer
To deteriorate is to become progressively worse in condition or quality.
Answer
B · Grow steadily worse
9.English grammar & language usage (entrance exams)
Answer: D · their
Why this is the answer
The antecedent is “the nurse and the aide”, a compound joined by “and”, so the plural pronoun “their” agrees with it.
Answer
D · their
10.English grammar & language usage (entrance exams)
Answer: A · On the other hand
Why this is the answer
“On the other hand” introduces a contrasting point. “Therefore” would wrongly say the savings caused the drop, and “similarly” shows likeness.
Answer
A · On the other hand
11.Human anatomy
Answer: C · Mitral (bicuspid) valve
Why this is the answer
The mitral (bicuspid) valve separates the left atrium and left ventricle; the tricuspid valve does the same on the right side.
Answer
C · Mitral (bicuspid) valve
12.Human anatomy
Answer: D · Posterior superior temporal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere
Why this is the answer
This is Wernicke's (receptive) aphasia, caused by damage to Wernicke's area in the posterior superior temporal gyrus. Broca's area in the inferior frontal gyrus causes non-fluent aphasia.
Answer
D · Posterior superior temporal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere
13.Human physiology
Answer: D · Stroke volume rises when ventricular filling increases
Why this is the answer
Greater end-diastolic volume stretches the myocardium, which increases the force of contraction and the stroke volume, matching output to venous return.
Answer
D · Stroke volume rises when ventricular filling increases
14.Human physiology
Answer: A · Tachycardia, cool pale skin and reduced urine output
Why this is the answer
Baroreceptor-driven sympathetic activation raises heart rate and constricts skin vessels. Reduced renal perfusion, ADH and aldosterone lower urine output.
Answer
A · Tachycardia, cool pale skin and reduced urine output
15.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · It uses energy to move substances against a concentration gradient
Why this is the answer
Active transport uses ATP and carrier proteins (pumps) to move substances from low to high concentration. Diffusion and osmosis are passive.
Answer
C · It uses energy to move substances against a concentration gradient
16.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · Hydrolysis, which uses a water molecule
Why this is the answer
Hydrolysis breaks a bond by adding water across it, as when sucrase splits sucrose. Dehydration synthesis is the reverse: it joins monomers and releases water.
Answer
C · Hydrolysis, which uses a water molecule
17.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · The equilibrium shifts toward the reactants
Why this is the answer
For an exothermic reaction, heat is like a product. Adding heat shifts the equilibrium backward to absorb it, so the yield of products falls.
Answer
C · The equilibrium shifts toward the reactants
18.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: B · More protons pull the electrons of the same outer shell closer
Why this is the answer
Across a period, each element has one more proton but its outer electrons are in the same shell with similar shielding. The stronger nuclear charge pulls the electrons in, so the atom gets smaller.
Answer
B · More protons pull the electrons of the same outer shell closer
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