NCCQ UK THEORY PAST PAPER 2026 MOCK
TEST PACK COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
INSIGHTS
◉ When must the insertion of a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube be
coded? [1 Mark]
Answer: When a patient is admitted solely for the purpose of
insertion.
◉ What is the OPCS-4 standard when a gastroscope is not able to be
inserted further than the patient's mouth during an endoscopy? No
actual codes are required. [1 Mark]
Answer: The procedure must not be coded.
◉ The ICD-10 classification contains 22 chapters and is divided into
three different chapter types. Name the three types of chapter. [3
Marks]
Answer: Special group chapters
Body system chapters
Other chapters
,◉ When there is doubt as to where a condition should be coded
which of the three chapter types found in the axis of the ICD-10
classification takes priority? [1 Mark]
Answer: Where there is any doubt as to where a condition should be
coded, the 'special group' chapters must take priority.
◉ In order for an ICD-10 classification code to be valid what is the
minimum character length that it must be? Describe the structure of
a code and how it must be extended as documented in DRule.2:
Category and code structure. [5 Marks]
Answer: Four.
Three character category codes must subdivided into four character
subcategories.
Where a three character category code is not subdivided into four
character subdivisions the 'X' filler must be assigned in the fourth
character field so the codes are of a standard length for data
processing and validation.
Where a three character code requires assignment of both the 'X'
filler and a fifth character subdivision, the 'X' filler must continue to
be recorded in the fourth field before the fifth character, for example
M45.X3 Ankylosing spondylitis, cervicothoracic region.
,◉ Where is the 'point dash (.-)' punctuation found in the ICD-10
classification and describe its purpose? [3 Marks]
Answer: A point-dash is found in both the Tabular List and the
Alphabetical Index to indicate there are fourth character
subdivisions.
◉ Unique identifiers (reference number) are applied to four areas of
the National Clinical Coding Standards ICD-10 4th Edition (2015)
reference book; flow charts are one of these, name the other three.
[3 Marks]
Answer: Rules
Conventions
Standards
◉ Name the three types of standard documented in the National
Clinical Coding Standards ICD-10 4th Edition (2015) reference book.
Briefly describe their locations within it and how they should be
applied. [9 Marks]
Answer: General coding standards are located at the beginning of
the reference book and are applicable throughout the classification.
Chapter standards are located at the beginning of an ICD-10 chapter
of the reference book and are applicable throughout that chapter.
Note that not all chapters will have chapter standards.
, Coding standards are located throughout each ICD-10 chapter of the
reference book and are applicable to a specific diagnosis, disorder,
disease or condition, or describe the correct usage of a code,
category or range of codes. Coding standards are, generally, listed in
code, category or range order.
◉ What must clinical coders take into account when coding a
'radical operation'? [3 Marks]
Answer: When coding radical operations:
Code assignment must fully reflect the procedure(s) performed
during the radical operation.
Instructional Notes must be applied in order to fully reflect all
procedures performed.
Any uncertainty as to what procedures were performed during the
radical operation must be clarified with the responsible consultant
in order to ensure correct code assignment.
◉ What sequencing rules must be applied when a resection and
reconstruction of an organ or site has been performed during the
same theatre visit? [2 Marks]
Answer: Where resection and reconstruction have been performed
the codes that classify the resection must be assigned before the
codes that classify the reconstruction.
TEST PACK COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
INSIGHTS
◉ When must the insertion of a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube be
coded? [1 Mark]
Answer: When a patient is admitted solely for the purpose of
insertion.
◉ What is the OPCS-4 standard when a gastroscope is not able to be
inserted further than the patient's mouth during an endoscopy? No
actual codes are required. [1 Mark]
Answer: The procedure must not be coded.
◉ The ICD-10 classification contains 22 chapters and is divided into
three different chapter types. Name the three types of chapter. [3
Marks]
Answer: Special group chapters
Body system chapters
Other chapters
,◉ When there is doubt as to where a condition should be coded
which of the three chapter types found in the axis of the ICD-10
classification takes priority? [1 Mark]
Answer: Where there is any doubt as to where a condition should be
coded, the 'special group' chapters must take priority.
◉ In order for an ICD-10 classification code to be valid what is the
minimum character length that it must be? Describe the structure of
a code and how it must be extended as documented in DRule.2:
Category and code structure. [5 Marks]
Answer: Four.
Three character category codes must subdivided into four character
subcategories.
Where a three character category code is not subdivided into four
character subdivisions the 'X' filler must be assigned in the fourth
character field so the codes are of a standard length for data
processing and validation.
Where a three character code requires assignment of both the 'X'
filler and a fifth character subdivision, the 'X' filler must continue to
be recorded in the fourth field before the fifth character, for example
M45.X3 Ankylosing spondylitis, cervicothoracic region.
,◉ Where is the 'point dash (.-)' punctuation found in the ICD-10
classification and describe its purpose? [3 Marks]
Answer: A point-dash is found in both the Tabular List and the
Alphabetical Index to indicate there are fourth character
subdivisions.
◉ Unique identifiers (reference number) are applied to four areas of
the National Clinical Coding Standards ICD-10 4th Edition (2015)
reference book; flow charts are one of these, name the other three.
[3 Marks]
Answer: Rules
Conventions
Standards
◉ Name the three types of standard documented in the National
Clinical Coding Standards ICD-10 4th Edition (2015) reference book.
Briefly describe their locations within it and how they should be
applied. [9 Marks]
Answer: General coding standards are located at the beginning of
the reference book and are applicable throughout the classification.
Chapter standards are located at the beginning of an ICD-10 chapter
of the reference book and are applicable throughout that chapter.
Note that not all chapters will have chapter standards.
, Coding standards are located throughout each ICD-10 chapter of the
reference book and are applicable to a specific diagnosis, disorder,
disease or condition, or describe the correct usage of a code,
category or range of codes. Coding standards are, generally, listed in
code, category or range order.
◉ What must clinical coders take into account when coding a
'radical operation'? [3 Marks]
Answer: When coding radical operations:
Code assignment must fully reflect the procedure(s) performed
during the radical operation.
Instructional Notes must be applied in order to fully reflect all
procedures performed.
Any uncertainty as to what procedures were performed during the
radical operation must be clarified with the responsible consultant
in order to ensure correct code assignment.
◉ What sequencing rules must be applied when a resection and
reconstruction of an organ or site has been performed during the
same theatre visit? [2 Marks]
Answer: Where resection and reconstruction have been performed
the codes that classify the resection must be assigned before the
codes that classify the reconstruction.
