NCCQ UK THEORY PAST PAPER 2026
PRACTICE EXAM SOLVED QUESTIONS
ANSWER KEY APLUS
◉ The circumstances surrounding reactions to drug/medication are
classified in two ways within ICD-10 Tabular List, Volume 1. Name
both ways. [2 Marks]
Answer: Poisoning (improper use)
Adverse effect (proper use)
◉ What must a coder do if a surgical eponym is used in the medical
record to describe a procedure? [3 Marks]
Answer: The coder must analyse the procedural information and
ensure that code assignment fully reflects the procedure performed.
Where the coder is unsure what procedure the eponym describes,
they must seek advice from the responsible consultant to ensure
that the correct codes are assigned.
◉ When should site codes from Chapter Z be assigned? [1 Mark]
Answer: They must always be assigned when this adds further
information about the site on which the procedure was performed
,◉ What two conditions must be coded if a diagnosis of 'severe
sepsis' alone is made by the clinician? No actual codes are required.
[2 Marks]
Answer: (A41.9) Sepsis (unspecified) (R65.1) Systemic
Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) of infectious origin with
organ failure
◉ What is the standard regarding the use of the OPCS-4.7 code X35.1
Intravenous induction of labour? [1 Mark]
Answer: It must never be used.
◉ On what occasion is it a mandatory requirement to assign an
OPCS-4.7 general anaesthetic code? [1 Mark]
Answer: When radiotherapy is delivered under general anaesthetic,
a code from category Y80 General anaesthetic must be assigned in
addition to the radiotherapy delivery.
◉ When should codes from ICD-10 category Z54.- Convalescence be
assigned and how should they be sequenced? No actual codes are
required. [2 Marks]
Answer: Never in primary. They must only be assigned in a
secondary position when a patient has received convalescence in a
dedicated convalescent unit.
,◉ How should an injury caused by a geriatric fall be coded? Describe
the possible sequencing of these codes. No actual codes are required.
[4 Marks]
Answer: Code classifying the injury sustained (from Chapter XIX).
External cause code to describe the fall (from categories W00-W19).
(R29.6) Tendency to fall, (not elsewhere classified).
In this sequence, unless the patient remains in hospital for
investigation of the falls and this becomes the primary focus of care,
then this code (R29.6) must be sequenced before the codes for the
injury
◉ What must be coded when an excision and biopsy (excision
biopsy) is performed on the same site during the same theatre visit,
and why? No actual codes are required. [2 Marks]
Answer: Only assign a code(s) for the excision as a biopsy is an
integral part of an excision.
◉ When must codes from ICD-10 category Z38.- Liveborn infants
according to place of birth be assigned in the primary coding field?
[1 Mark]
Answer: If the baby is a completely well baby and has no morbid
conditions that have been treated or investigated.
, ◉ During which procedure should OPCS-4.7 code X50.5 Evaluation
of a cardiodefibrillator not be assigned when carried out? No actual
codes are required. [1 Mark]
Answer: When testing is performed during the insertion of the
cardioverter defibrillator (K59 Cardioverter defibrillator introduced
through the vein or K72 Other cardioverter defibrillator).
◉ What precise wording, other than 'status asthmaticus', must be
present in the medical records to be able to assign J46.X Status
asthmaticus? [1 Mark]
Answer: Acute severe asthma
◉ How should a fracture fixation procedure be coded when the
description names more than one type of fixation device, e.g. pin and
plate? No actual codes are required. [2 Marks]
Answer: Only the main part of the device that is holding the fracture
together must be coded. When it is not clear which part of the
fixation device is the main part holding the fracture together, advice
must be sought from the responsible consultant.
◉ In accordance with national clinical coding standards, name the
two specific forms of chest pain categorised to ICD-10 category R07
Pain in throat and chest. [2 Marks]
Answer: Central chest pain
Musculoskeletal chest pain
PRACTICE EXAM SOLVED QUESTIONS
ANSWER KEY APLUS
◉ The circumstances surrounding reactions to drug/medication are
classified in two ways within ICD-10 Tabular List, Volume 1. Name
both ways. [2 Marks]
Answer: Poisoning (improper use)
Adverse effect (proper use)
◉ What must a coder do if a surgical eponym is used in the medical
record to describe a procedure? [3 Marks]
Answer: The coder must analyse the procedural information and
ensure that code assignment fully reflects the procedure performed.
Where the coder is unsure what procedure the eponym describes,
they must seek advice from the responsible consultant to ensure
that the correct codes are assigned.
◉ When should site codes from Chapter Z be assigned? [1 Mark]
Answer: They must always be assigned when this adds further
information about the site on which the procedure was performed
,◉ What two conditions must be coded if a diagnosis of 'severe
sepsis' alone is made by the clinician? No actual codes are required.
[2 Marks]
Answer: (A41.9) Sepsis (unspecified) (R65.1) Systemic
Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) of infectious origin with
organ failure
◉ What is the standard regarding the use of the OPCS-4.7 code X35.1
Intravenous induction of labour? [1 Mark]
Answer: It must never be used.
◉ On what occasion is it a mandatory requirement to assign an
OPCS-4.7 general anaesthetic code? [1 Mark]
Answer: When radiotherapy is delivered under general anaesthetic,
a code from category Y80 General anaesthetic must be assigned in
addition to the radiotherapy delivery.
◉ When should codes from ICD-10 category Z54.- Convalescence be
assigned and how should they be sequenced? No actual codes are
required. [2 Marks]
Answer: Never in primary. They must only be assigned in a
secondary position when a patient has received convalescence in a
dedicated convalescent unit.
,◉ How should an injury caused by a geriatric fall be coded? Describe
the possible sequencing of these codes. No actual codes are required.
[4 Marks]
Answer: Code classifying the injury sustained (from Chapter XIX).
External cause code to describe the fall (from categories W00-W19).
(R29.6) Tendency to fall, (not elsewhere classified).
In this sequence, unless the patient remains in hospital for
investigation of the falls and this becomes the primary focus of care,
then this code (R29.6) must be sequenced before the codes for the
injury
◉ What must be coded when an excision and biopsy (excision
biopsy) is performed on the same site during the same theatre visit,
and why? No actual codes are required. [2 Marks]
Answer: Only assign a code(s) for the excision as a biopsy is an
integral part of an excision.
◉ When must codes from ICD-10 category Z38.- Liveborn infants
according to place of birth be assigned in the primary coding field?
[1 Mark]
Answer: If the baby is a completely well baby and has no morbid
conditions that have been treated or investigated.
, ◉ During which procedure should OPCS-4.7 code X50.5 Evaluation
of a cardiodefibrillator not be assigned when carried out? No actual
codes are required. [1 Mark]
Answer: When testing is performed during the insertion of the
cardioverter defibrillator (K59 Cardioverter defibrillator introduced
through the vein or K72 Other cardioverter defibrillator).
◉ What precise wording, other than 'status asthmaticus', must be
present in the medical records to be able to assign J46.X Status
asthmaticus? [1 Mark]
Answer: Acute severe asthma
◉ How should a fracture fixation procedure be coded when the
description names more than one type of fixation device, e.g. pin and
plate? No actual codes are required. [2 Marks]
Answer: Only the main part of the device that is holding the fracture
together must be coded. When it is not clear which part of the
fixation device is the main part holding the fracture together, advice
must be sought from the responsible consultant.
◉ In accordance with national clinical coding standards, name the
two specific forms of chest pain categorised to ICD-10 category R07
Pain in throat and chest. [2 Marks]
Answer: Central chest pain
Musculoskeletal chest pain
