The GPhC Registration Assessment has undergone a significant transformation to align with the modern role of the pharmacist. While core competencies in supply and accuracy remain vital, the assessment now reflects a profession-wide shift toward clinical decision-making and patient-centered care.
As pharmacy practice evolves—integrating more complex clinical services and independent prescribing—the GPhC has standardized the assessment to ensure all trainees meet a rigorous baseline of safety and professional judgment.
The Weighting System
To provide transparency and focus for trainees, the GPhC uses a formal Assessment Framework that weights therapeutic areas based on their clinical impact and frequency in practice. This system ensures that the most "high-stakes" clinical areas are prioritized in both Part 1 and Part 2 of the exam.
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"Weighting" indicates that the GPhC has determined certain parts of the syllabus to be more important than others, leading to a higher number of related questions in the GPhC exam. For example, recent years have seen a stronger emphasis on clinical content and patient scenarios, which carry greater weighting, making these areas essential for focused revision. In contrast, topics like the code of conduct and audit are considered lower priority and should be given less emphasis during your study. |
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Below, we have summarised the "high" priority aspects of the GPhC exam syllabus:
- Respond appropriately to medical emergencies, including the provision of first aid. Think of first aid, anaphylaxis and CPR.
- Understand high priority patients, 20% of questions will relate to paediatrics.
- Identify and employ appropriate diagnostic or physiological testing techniques in order to promote health.
- Identify inappropriate health behaviours and recommend suitable approaches to interventions.
- Clinically evaluate the appropriateness of prescribed medicines.
- Provide, monitor and modify prescribed treatment to maximise health outcomes.
- Instruct patients in the safe and effective use of their medicines and devices. including high risk drugs such as:
- Antibiotics
- Anticoagulants
- Insulins
- Lithium
- Methotrexate
- Warfarin/DOACs
- Valproate
- Clozapine.
- 12 specific calculation types including:
- Doses/Dose regimens
- Dilutions
- Concentrations (w/v, 1 in x, etc.)
- Displacement volumes
- Molecular weights
- Infusion rates
- Kidney function (CrCl).
GPhC Exam Trends
Over the years we have seen the GPhC move away from traditional fact-based questions toward more complex problem-solving scenarios. For this reason, the GPhC removed the requirement to take resources into the exam. Nevertheless, you should familiarise yourself with these resources as they will present excerpts in questions they present to you, these resources include:
- extracts from a British National Formulary (BNF)
- a Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)
- diagrams and photographs
- a medication chart
Although these references have been removed from the exam, there are still some items you are permitted to take with you into the examination hall, these include:
- Approved photographic ID
- Approved calculator(s) - PART ONE PAPER ONLY.
- Pencil
- Pencil eraser
- Pencil sharpener
- Ruler
- Highlighters (maximum of 2, and no packaging)
- Glasses/spectacles with no case
- Water and non-fizzy drinks
- Cough sweets or other medication/sustenance if you have a medical condition (unboxed and appropriate quantity for the duration of assessment)
- Tissues (unpackaged)
Want to know the best way to pass the GPhC Exam?
If you want to give yourself the best chance of passing the pre-reg exam have a look at our article on how to pass the exam and then head over to our top 10 tips for passing the GPhC exam.