GPhC Exam: Complete Guide for 2025–2026

Here's what nobody tells you: 58% of candidates passed in November 2024. That means 42% walked out without their registration. The difference? Not talent—preparation method.

You're about to discover exactly what the GPhC registration assessment tests, when it happens, how it's marked, and the preparation tactics that separate passers from repeaters.

Bookmark this page. You'll need it during your foundation training year.

What You're About to Learn (15-Minute Read)

• What the GPhC exam actually tests (it's not just knowledge)
• Who can sit it and when (39-week rule explained)
• The two-part format (why you can't compensate between papers)
• 2025–2026 dates, deadlines, and fees
• Part 1: Calculations deep dive (40 questions, 2 hours, approved calculators only)
• Part 2: Clinical decisions under pressure (120 questions, 2.5 hours, no calculator)
• Pass marks and performance data (variable standard setting)
• How top-scorers prepare differently (spaced repetition + timed mocks)
• Exam day execution checklist

What Is the GPhC Exam?

The GPhC registration assessment is the gatekeeper between your MPharm degree and practicing as a qualified pharmacist in the UK.

It's not testing whether you know pharmacology.

It's testing whether you can make safe clinical decisions under time pressure with incomplete information.

Here's what that means in practice:

You'll calculate IV infusion rates when a prescription is ambiguous. You'll select antibiotics for patients with allergies and comorbidities. You'll apply MHRA guidance, BNF dose adjustments, and pharmacy law—all while the clock ticks.

Who Can Sit the GPhC Exam?

You're eligible if you meet all four requirements:

1. Qualification: GPhC-accredited MPharm or OSPAP completion
2. Training: 39 weeks of foundation training completed by application deadline
3. Sign-off: Your designated tutor confirms competence
4. Registration: You apply through the GPhC portal before the cut-off

But there's a catch...

Even if you're eligible, you can only attempt the exam three times maximum. After three failures, your foundation training ends without registration.

GPhC Exam Format: Two Papers, Same Day, No Compensation

The exam has two parts. Both are computer-based. Both are taken in one sitting. And here's the rule that catches people out:

You must pass both papers on the same day.

A 95% in Part 2 won't save you if you score 65% in Part 1 when the pass mark is 70%. No compensation. No averaging.

Part 1: Calculation Paper

• Full numeric answers (no multiple choice)
• Calculator required (approved models only—more on this below)
• Tests: doses, rates, dilutions, conversions, concentrations, pharmacokinetics

Part 2: Clinical and Professional Practice

• 90 Single Best Answer (SBA) questions
• 30 Extended Matching Questions (EMQ)
• No calculator permitted (mental arithmetic matters)
• Tests: clinical decision-making, therapeutics, pharmacy law, ethics, BNF/SmPC application, patient counselling, safety, guidelines

In 90 seconds, you'll see actual question examples that reveal the thinking pattern the GPhC wants.

2025–2026 Exam Dates, Deadlines & Fees

Fees (2024/25)

• Registration Fee: £262
• Paid when you apply via the GPhC portal
• Non-refundable after registration closes

Where You'll Take It

Pearson VUE test centres across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The exam is computer-based and will continue in this format until at least 2029.

Part 1: Calculations That Prevent Harm

Part 1 isn't about being good at maths. It's about not making the calculation errors that kill patients.

Here's the problem...

In November 2024, the pass mark was 28 out of 40. That's 70%. But only 71% of candidates passed Part 1. Nearly three in ten failed on calculations alone.

What Part 1 Tests

• Doses & dose regimens (weight-based, age-adjusted)
• Unit conversions (mg ↔ micrograms, mL ↔ L, g ↔ mg)
• Concentrations (% w/v, ratios, mg/mL)
• Dilutions (serial, simple)
• Infusion & IV rates (mL/hr, drops/min)
• Displacement volumes
• Pharmacokinetics (formulas provided—e.g., Cockcroft-Gault for CrCl)
• Quantities to supply (volume calculations for prescriptions)

Example Questions (Simplified)

The quick fix...

Prevent 70% of Calculation Errors with This 3-Step Setup

1. Write units on every line. Never work with naked numbers.
2. Check magnitude before calculating. Ask: "Is 3,400 mg a sensible gentamicin dose?" No. Recalculate.
3. Round only at the last step. Early rounding costs marks.

Approved Calculators for Part 1

Only these models are permitted:

• Aurora HC133
• Aurora DT210
• Casio MX-8S
• Casio MX-8B

Bring your own. The test centre won't provide one. No phone calculators. No smartwatches.

Part 2: Clinical Decisions Under Pressure

Part 2 separates candidates who memorise facts from candidates who apply guidelines under pressure.

You're not choosing answers based on what you "think" is right. You're mapping scenarios to BNF guidance, MHRA alerts, NICE recommendations, and pharmacy law—then selecting the safest option.

Here's the catch...

You have 2.5 hours for 120 questions. That's 75 seconds per question. No calculator. No BNF. Just your training and decision-making speed.

What Part 2 Tests

Questions are drawn from the GPhC's "Expectations of pharmacy professionals" and "Skills required in practice" frameworks. Topics are weighted:

• High-weight topics (60–70% of questions): Common clinical scenarios, dose adjustments, interactions, safety, patient counselling
• Medium-weight topics (25–35%): Less common conditions, pharmacy law, ethics
• Low-weight topics (up to 10%): Niche guidelines, rare scenarios

Many questions test multiple learning outcomes simultaneously—e.g., a renal patient with drug interactions who needs counselling.

Question Types Explained

Single Best Answer (SBA) — 90 Questions

Five options. One is most correct. The others are plausible but wrong.

Extended Matching Questions (EMQ) — 30 Questions

You're given an option bank (8–12 items) and 4–5 clinical scenarios. Match each scenario to the best option.

But there's a problem...

Under time pressure, candidates overthink. They second-guess BNF guidance. They choose "what sounds right" instead of "what the guideline says."

How to Avoid Overthinking in Part 2

1. Eliminate obviously wrong options first. Cross out answers that violate safety rules (e.g., contraindications, allergies).
2. Trust BNF patterns you've drilled. If you've practiced renal dosing 100 times, your instinct is trained. Use it.
3. Move on if stuck. You can flag questions and return. Don't burn 5 minutes on one SBA.

Pass Marks: Why They're Variable (And What That Means for You)

The GPhC doesn't use a fixed pass mark. Instead, they use standard setting via the Angoff Method.

Here's what that means:

After each exam, a panel of experts reviews every question and estimates: "What percentage of minimally competent candidates would answer this correctly?"

Those estimates are averaged to set the pass mark. Harder papers have lower pass marks. Easier papers have higher pass marks.

Critical Rules

• No compensation: High performance in Part 2 won't save you if you fail Part 1.
• Post-exam adjustments: If a question is found to be flawed, it may be removed and marks recalculated.
• Three attempts maximum: After three failures, your foundation training ends without registration.

November 2024 Performance Stats

• Part 1: 71% passed (pass mark: 28/40)
• Part 2: 70% passed (pass mark: 82/120)

Translation: If you're average, you have a 42% chance of failing. That's why preparation method matters more than study hours.

How Top-Scorers Prepare Differently

Most candidates study by re-reading notes. That's passive. It doesn't train recall under pressure.

Top-scorers use active retrieval + timed simulation.

Here's the difference...

The 4-Phase Preparation System

Phase 1: Spaced Repetition (Weeks 1–8)

Review topics using spaced intervals: Day 1, Day 3, Day 7, Day 14, Day 30.

This exploits the spacing effect—your brain remembers better when you review just before forgetting.

• Use flashcards for dose ranges, law, interactions
• Don't cram—spread reviews over weeks

Phase 2: Untimed Practice (Weeks 3–10)

Work through calculation and SBA/EMQ questions without time pressure. Focus on accuracy first.

• Write out full working for calculations
• Check BNF for every clinical question
• Build mental models for common patterns

Phase 3: Timed Mocks (Weeks 8–12)

Simulate real exam conditions:

• Part 1: 40 questions, 2 hours, calculator only
• Part 2: 120 questions, 2.5 hours, no calculator

Track both speed and accuracy. If you're fast but wrong, slow down. If you're accurate but slow, drill pattern recognition.

Phase 4: Weak-Area Drilling (Final 2 Weeks)

Review questions you got wrong. Focus on:

• Topics where you scored <70%
• Calculation types that took >3 minutes
• SBA/EMQ patterns you second-guessed

Don't practice what you're already good at. That's ego-driven study. Fix your gaps.

Study Resources

• BNF + BNFc: Your primary reference. Know how to navigate it fast.
• GPhC framework: Download the assessment blueprint. Know the learning outcomes.
• Question banks: Our 1,000+ question bank includes calculation drills, SBAs, and EMQs with full explanations.
• Past candidate reports: Search for GPhC exam experiences (reddit, forums)—patterns repeat.