NB TCN Numeracy study guide
NB TCN Numeracy · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The NB TCN Numeracy examination is a multiple-choice numeracy assessment used in New Brunswick's nursing and health-care education pathway, where TCN refers to the Test de compétences numériques. It is designed for candidates preparing to enter practical nursing, nursing, or allied health programs who need to demonstrate that their foundational mathematics is strong enough for safe medication calculation and clinical measurement. The NB TCN Numeracy study guide has 7 sections and about 1,912 words.
01Number Sense and Operations
Number sense is the ability to see how numbers relate before you calculate. Candidates should be fluent with place value, rounding, order of operations (BIDMAS/PEMDAS), integer arithmetic including negatives, factors, multiples, primes, and divisibility rules.
295 words, about 1 min02Measurement and Units
Measurement questions test conversion within and between metric units, reading scales accurately, and choosing sensible units. Know the metric prefixes (kilo, centi, milli) and their powers of ten, plus common time, length, mass, and capacity relationships.
286 words, about 1 min03Ratio, Proportion, and Percent
This domain covers simplifying and sharing in a ratio, direct and inverse proportion, percentage change, reverse percentages, and compound interest or repeated percentage change. You should be comfortable moving between fractions, decimals, and percentages, and using multipliers such as 1.15 for a 15% increase or 0.85 for a 15% decrease.
276 words, about 1 min04Data Interpretation and Statistics
Candidates must read tables, bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts accurately, and compute the mean, median, mode, and range. Know how to find a missing value given the mean, and how to interpret trends and comparisons.
280 words, about 1 min05Algebraic Reasoning and Patterns
This domain tests recognising and continuing sequences, writing and simplifying expressions, substituting values, solving linear equations, and using formulas. You should be able to find the nth term of a linear sequence, spot patterns in number and shape sequences, and rearrange simple formulas.
272 words, about 1 min06Geometry and Spatial Reasoning
Candidates should know angle facts (angles on a straight line, around a point, in triangles and quadrilaterals), properties of parallel lines, and the formulas for perimeter, area, and volume of common shapes. You should also handle coordinates, symmetry, transformations, and Pythagoras' theorem where appropriate.
251 words, about 1 min07Problem Solving and Quantitative Reasoning
This domain tests multi-step reasoning: translating a word problem into operations, identifying relevant information, working backwards, and checking answers. Candidates should be able to use unitary method, work-rate problems, and logical deduction, and to decide which operation a situation requires.
252 words, about 1 min