NHS PATHWAYS 2026 CORE EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔How is vertigo defined? - ✔✔Specific medical term used to describe the sensation of
spinning or having the room spinning about you
✔✔List 4 possible signs of meningitis in a baby? - ✔✔Fever
Very sleepy
Very cold hands/feet
Pale and blotchy skin
✔✔What causes the rash that can occur with certain types of meningitis? -
✔✔Meningococcal bacteria multiply rapidly in the bloodstream, they begin to release
endotoxins from their outer coating. The bodies natural defences have little effect on
these poisons and eventually blood vessels become damaged causing blood to leak
into the tissues under skin.
✔✔List 4 symptoms of a stroke? - ✔✔New difficulty speaking
New confusion
Weakness of arm/leg
Numbness or tingling feeling
✔✔How can you tell if someone has a complete blockage of their airway? - ✔✔The
caller begins to choke.
✔✔If a persons stool is black and like tar. Where is the bleeding likely to be coming
from? - ✔✔Upper digestive tract
✔✔If a persons stool is red or maroon like colour. Where is the bleeding most likely to
be coming from? - ✔✔Lower digestive tract
✔✔Describe the possible appearance of vomited blood? - ✔✔Bright red, or have posts
of dark brown bits resembling soil or coffee grounds.
✔✔If a person has injured their arm, there is a question within pathways asking if the
arm has become cold, pale or blue. What is this question trying to rule out? - ✔✔If blood
vessels have been damaged.
✔✔List 3 signs of wound infection - ✔✔Pain
Redness
Swelling
✔✔List 2 factors that weaken immune system and may increase the risk of infection -
✔✔HIV/AIDS
, Conditions that a person is born with that affect the immune system
✔✔What does insulin do? - ✔✔Helps move glucose from the bloodstream into the cells
for them to use as energy
✔✔What is type 1 diabetes? - ✔✔pancreas produces little or no insulin
✔✔What is type 2 diabetes? - ✔✔insulin resistance
✔✔What condition leads to unconsciousness more quickly? - ✔✔Low blood sugar
Hypoglycaemia
✔✔When would Glucagon be used? - ✔✔In case of a severe hypoglycaemia attack
✔✔Urine infections in pregnant women can cause what problem? - ✔✔Early labour
✔✔Name 3 symptoms of a urine infection? - ✔✔Stinging or burning when passing urine
Blood in urine
Cloudy or smelly urine
✔✔What is the cause of "shoulder tip" pain in relation to an ectopic pregnancy? -
✔✔Causes by blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy pressing on the diaphragm
✔✔What might green and/or brown amniotic fluid indicate? - ✔✔That the baby may be
tired or in trouble
✔✔List 3 symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection? - ✔✔Pain when passing urine
Abdominal pain
Pain during sex
✔✔Many cases of earache clear up without treatment and don't require antibiotics - ✔✔
✔✔Burns to which part of the body are more prone to complications? - ✔✔Face, hands,
feet and around large joints and the genital area.
✔✔What is the name of the place that can diagnose and treat sexually transmitted
infections where the person can attend without giving their name and if they wish to and
their GP won't be informed without their consent? - ✔✔Genitourinary Medicine Clinic
✔✔What is the normal body temperature? - ✔✔37 degrees Celsius
✔✔We should always try to give the caller a diagnosis if possible. True or false? -
✔✔False
ANSWERS GUARANTEE A+
✔✔How is vertigo defined? - ✔✔Specific medical term used to describe the sensation of
spinning or having the room spinning about you
✔✔List 4 possible signs of meningitis in a baby? - ✔✔Fever
Very sleepy
Very cold hands/feet
Pale and blotchy skin
✔✔What causes the rash that can occur with certain types of meningitis? -
✔✔Meningococcal bacteria multiply rapidly in the bloodstream, they begin to release
endotoxins from their outer coating. The bodies natural defences have little effect on
these poisons and eventually blood vessels become damaged causing blood to leak
into the tissues under skin.
✔✔List 4 symptoms of a stroke? - ✔✔New difficulty speaking
New confusion
Weakness of arm/leg
Numbness or tingling feeling
✔✔How can you tell if someone has a complete blockage of their airway? - ✔✔The
caller begins to choke.
✔✔If a persons stool is black and like tar. Where is the bleeding likely to be coming
from? - ✔✔Upper digestive tract
✔✔If a persons stool is red or maroon like colour. Where is the bleeding most likely to
be coming from? - ✔✔Lower digestive tract
✔✔Describe the possible appearance of vomited blood? - ✔✔Bright red, or have posts
of dark brown bits resembling soil or coffee grounds.
✔✔If a person has injured their arm, there is a question within pathways asking if the
arm has become cold, pale or blue. What is this question trying to rule out? - ✔✔If blood
vessels have been damaged.
✔✔List 3 signs of wound infection - ✔✔Pain
Redness
Swelling
✔✔List 2 factors that weaken immune system and may increase the risk of infection -
✔✔HIV/AIDS
, Conditions that a person is born with that affect the immune system
✔✔What does insulin do? - ✔✔Helps move glucose from the bloodstream into the cells
for them to use as energy
✔✔What is type 1 diabetes? - ✔✔pancreas produces little or no insulin
✔✔What is type 2 diabetes? - ✔✔insulin resistance
✔✔What condition leads to unconsciousness more quickly? - ✔✔Low blood sugar
Hypoglycaemia
✔✔When would Glucagon be used? - ✔✔In case of a severe hypoglycaemia attack
✔✔Urine infections in pregnant women can cause what problem? - ✔✔Early labour
✔✔Name 3 symptoms of a urine infection? - ✔✔Stinging or burning when passing urine
Blood in urine
Cloudy or smelly urine
✔✔What is the cause of "shoulder tip" pain in relation to an ectopic pregnancy? -
✔✔Causes by blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy pressing on the diaphragm
✔✔What might green and/or brown amniotic fluid indicate? - ✔✔That the baby may be
tired or in trouble
✔✔List 3 symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection? - ✔✔Pain when passing urine
Abdominal pain
Pain during sex
✔✔Many cases of earache clear up without treatment and don't require antibiotics - ✔✔
✔✔Burns to which part of the body are more prone to complications? - ✔✔Face, hands,
feet and around large joints and the genital area.
✔✔What is the name of the place that can diagnose and treat sexually transmitted
infections where the person can attend without giving their name and if they wish to and
their GP won't be informed without their consent? - ✔✔Genitourinary Medicine Clinic
✔✔What is the normal body temperature? - ✔✔37 degrees Celsius
✔✔We should always try to give the caller a diagnosis if possible. True or false? -
✔✔False
