ASSESSMENT 2 NHS
PATHWAYS Practice Exam
2026 |Most Tested Questions
Collection & Verified Detailed
Answers | Tutor Verified
Success Exam) Graded A+
1. What is the primary purpose of NHS Pathways?
A. To diagnose every patient definitively
B. To prescribe medication remotely
C. To determine the appropriate level and urgency of care
D. To replace clinical judgement entirely
Answer: C. To determine the appropriate level and urgency of care
Rationale: NHS Pathways is a clinical assessment and triage system
designed to help determine the most appropriate response and
disposition based on symptoms and risk.
2. During a telephone assessment, which finding should generally
receive the highest priority?
A. Mild intermittent headache
B. Life-threatening difficulty breathing
,C. Mild seasonal allergies
D. Chronic stable back pain
Answer: B. Life-threatening difficulty breathing
Rationale: Potentially life-threatening airway or breathing problems
require immediate prioritisation.
3. A caller suddenly develops facial drooping, arm weakness, and
speech difficulty. What should the triager recognise?
A. Migraine only
B. Possible stroke
C. Viral infection
D. Panic attack
Answer: B. Possible stroke
Rationale: Sudden facial weakness, arm weakness, and speech
disturbance are classic warning features of stroke and require urgent
assessment.
4. Which principle is most important when assessing a potentially
seriously ill patient remotely?
A. Obtain a complete social history before assessing symptoms
B. Identify immediate life-threatening features first
C. Always begin with medication history
D. Avoid asking direct questions about symptoms
Answer: B. Identify immediate life-threatening features first
Rationale: Remote triage should prioritise immediate threats to
airway, breathing, circulation, consciousness, and other critical
functions.
,5. A patient reports severe central chest pain with sweating and
nausea. What should the triager consider?
A. Possible acute coronary syndrome
B. Simple indigestion only
C. Mild anxiety
D. Musculoskeletal pain only
Answer: A. Possible acute coronary syndrome
Rationale: Severe central chest pain accompanied by autonomic
symptoms such as sweating and nausea may indicate a cardiac
emergency.
6. Which question is particularly important when assessing chest
pain?
A. What colour are your shoes?
B. Is the pain associated with exertion or other concerning
symptoms?
C. What was your favourite meal yesterday?
D. How often do you watch television?
Answer: B. Is the pain associated with exertion or other concerning
symptoms?
Rationale: Character, onset, triggers, associated symptoms, and
severity help identify potentially serious causes of chest pain.
7. A caller is unable to speak in complete sentences because of
breathlessness. What does this suggest?
A. No clinical concern
B. Potentially significant respiratory compromise
C. Mild dehydration
D. Simple fatigue
, Answer: B. Potentially significant respiratory compromise
Rationale: Inability to speak normally because of breathlessness can
indicate significant respiratory distress and requires urgent
assessment.
8. Which is an important airway warning sign?
A. Mild sore throat
B. Inability to swallow saliva with drooling
C. Occasional sneezing
D. Mild nasal congestion
Answer: B. Inability to swallow saliva with drooling
Rationale: Drooling and inability to handle secretions can indicate
serious upper-airway obstruction or other urgent pathology.
9. A patient becomes suddenly unconscious during a telephone
consultation. What is the immediate priority?
A. Ask about their diet
B. Establish whether they are responsive and breathing normally
C. Arrange routine GP review
D. Ask about their childhood illnesses
Answer: B. Establish whether they are responsive and breathing
normally
Rationale: Responsiveness and normal breathing are immediate
priorities when assessing an unresponsive person.
10. Which symptom can indicate significant circulatory
compromise?
PATHWAYS Practice Exam
2026 |Most Tested Questions
Collection & Verified Detailed
Answers | Tutor Verified
Success Exam) Graded A+
1. What is the primary purpose of NHS Pathways?
A. To diagnose every patient definitively
B. To prescribe medication remotely
C. To determine the appropriate level and urgency of care
D. To replace clinical judgement entirely
Answer: C. To determine the appropriate level and urgency of care
Rationale: NHS Pathways is a clinical assessment and triage system
designed to help determine the most appropriate response and
disposition based on symptoms and risk.
2. During a telephone assessment, which finding should generally
receive the highest priority?
A. Mild intermittent headache
B. Life-threatening difficulty breathing
,C. Mild seasonal allergies
D. Chronic stable back pain
Answer: B. Life-threatening difficulty breathing
Rationale: Potentially life-threatening airway or breathing problems
require immediate prioritisation.
3. A caller suddenly develops facial drooping, arm weakness, and
speech difficulty. What should the triager recognise?
A. Migraine only
B. Possible stroke
C. Viral infection
D. Panic attack
Answer: B. Possible stroke
Rationale: Sudden facial weakness, arm weakness, and speech
disturbance are classic warning features of stroke and require urgent
assessment.
4. Which principle is most important when assessing a potentially
seriously ill patient remotely?
A. Obtain a complete social history before assessing symptoms
B. Identify immediate life-threatening features first
C. Always begin with medication history
D. Avoid asking direct questions about symptoms
Answer: B. Identify immediate life-threatening features first
Rationale: Remote triage should prioritise immediate threats to
airway, breathing, circulation, consciousness, and other critical
functions.
,5. A patient reports severe central chest pain with sweating and
nausea. What should the triager consider?
A. Possible acute coronary syndrome
B. Simple indigestion only
C. Mild anxiety
D. Musculoskeletal pain only
Answer: A. Possible acute coronary syndrome
Rationale: Severe central chest pain accompanied by autonomic
symptoms such as sweating and nausea may indicate a cardiac
emergency.
6. Which question is particularly important when assessing chest
pain?
A. What colour are your shoes?
B. Is the pain associated with exertion or other concerning
symptoms?
C. What was your favourite meal yesterday?
D. How often do you watch television?
Answer: B. Is the pain associated with exertion or other concerning
symptoms?
Rationale: Character, onset, triggers, associated symptoms, and
severity help identify potentially serious causes of chest pain.
7. A caller is unable to speak in complete sentences because of
breathlessness. What does this suggest?
A. No clinical concern
B. Potentially significant respiratory compromise
C. Mild dehydration
D. Simple fatigue
, Answer: B. Potentially significant respiratory compromise
Rationale: Inability to speak normally because of breathlessness can
indicate significant respiratory distress and requires urgent
assessment.
8. Which is an important airway warning sign?
A. Mild sore throat
B. Inability to swallow saliva with drooling
C. Occasional sneezing
D. Mild nasal congestion
Answer: B. Inability to swallow saliva with drooling
Rationale: Drooling and inability to handle secretions can indicate
serious upper-airway obstruction or other urgent pathology.
9. A patient becomes suddenly unconscious during a telephone
consultation. What is the immediate priority?
A. Ask about their diet
B. Establish whether they are responsive and breathing normally
C. Arrange routine GP review
D. Ask about their childhood illnesses
Answer: B. Establish whether they are responsive and breathing
normally
Rationale: Responsiveness and normal breathing are immediate
priorities when assessing an unresponsive person.
10. Which symptom can indicate significant circulatory
compromise?
