GPhC Exam 2026: 10 November, Results 16 December

The next GPhC registration assessment is on Tuesday 10 November 2026; results are released on Wednesday 16 December. Whether you have been revising for months or are only just getting started, having a clear picture of the dates, format and logistics will help you focus on what matters most — your preparation.

This guide pulls together everything you need to know about the GPhC exam in 2026, from the format and the calculator rules to what you should bring on the day and how to manage your time across both parts. Everything here is taken from the GPhC's own documents for sittings in 2026, linked as we go.

GPhC Exam Dates: November 2026 Sitting

• Assessment day: Tuesday 10 November 2026
• Part 1 starts: 10:00
• Part 2 starts: 14:15
• Results day: Wednesday 16 December 2026

Both parts are sat on the same day, with a scheduled break between them. The GPhC publishes the dates of every sitting, and its application windows, on its assessment sitting page, so check there for future sittings. For the first sitting of 2027, see GPhC exam 2027: dates, format and pass marks, which we update as the GPhC publishes each detail.

GPhC Exam Format Recap

The Common Registration Assessment is a computer-based exam sat at test centres across the UK; there is no paper version. It has two parts, and you must reach the pass mark in both parts in the same sitting. Marks are never carried forward, so there is no option to bank a pass in one part for a later attempt.

Part 1: Calculations

• 40 questions
• 2 hours
• Numerical answers typed into a box, with the required units shown beside it
• Calculator allowed — the on-screen one, or up to two of your own from the GPhC's approved list

Part 1 tests your ability to perform pharmaceutical calculations accurately. Every paper includes at least one question of each of nine types: concentrations, dilutions, displacement volumes, dose and dosage regimens, infusion rates, medical statistics, pharmacoeconomics, pharmacokinetics and quantities to supply.

You cannot bring any reference material. Where a question needs information from a source — a product's strength, say — an extract is supplied inside the question. The methods and formulae, though, have to come from you, which is why consistent calculation practice in the months before the exam matters so much.

Part 2: Clinical and Pharmaceutical Practice

• 120 questions: 90 Single Best Answer, then 15 sets of two Extended Matching Questions
• 2.5 hours
• No references of your own — where a question needs one, an extract is supplied inside it

Part 2 covers the safe and effective pharmacy care of the public: therapeutics, law and ethics, and clinical decision-making. Each Single Best Answer question presents a scenario with five options, and you choose the single best answer. Each Extended Matching set gives you eight options shared by two short scenarios, testing your ability to tell apart similar presentations, drug choices or legal requirements.

The extracts can come from the BNF or BNF for Children, a summary of product characteristics, a MAR chart, a prescription, a register, a dispensing label or a guideline. Normal reference ranges for laboratory results are provided too. Common guidelines are not supplied, so you need a working knowledge of them. The extracts only save you time if you can read them quickly: knowing how a BNF monograph is laid out — where the cautions, interactions and dose adjustments sit — is far more valuable than reading every line on screen.

What Has Changed for 2026?

The question most trainees ask concerns independent prescribing. The GPhC's 2026 framework is clear on two points:

All trainees sit the same assessment. Whatever route you took through your MPharm and foundation year, the format and content of the assessment are the same for everyone in 2026.

The act of prescribing is not assessed. The learning outcome on prescribing effectively "cannot be assessed" in the registration assessment, and is overseen during the foundation year instead. Your revision should focus on the GPhC's assessment framework for 2026, which sets out what can be examined. It lists the clinical areas in the order they are most often assessed, but gives no percentage for each.

Fees

Exam fees are set by the GPhC and can change from year to year. Rather than publishing a figure here that may become outdated, we recommend checking the GPhC's assessment sitting page for the current fee. The fee is payable when you apply.

It is worth noting that some employers and training providers will cover the cost of your first sitting. Check with your training site or employer — it is always worth asking.

What to Bring on Assessment Day

Preparation for exam day is not just about revision. Knowing exactly what to bring — and what not to bring — will save you unnecessary stress on the morning itself. The rules below come from the GPhC's specification and permitted items for 2026 and its guide to the November 2026 sitting.

Required Items

• Photo identification — a valid passport, or a UK or European photocard driving licence (full or provisional). The first and last names on it must match the names the GPhC holds for you. If there are any discrepancies, sort them out well before the day.

Calculators

You can use the on-screen calculator, or bring up to two calculators of a model on the GPhC's approved list. No other models are allowed, and it is your responsibility to bring one that works. The approved models are simple ones, so practise with the one you will take in.

Also Permitted

• A single highlighter pen
• A ruler
• Water or a non-fizzy drink in a clear bottle
• Glasses (no case), tissues, cough sweets and any medication you need

The test centre provides the computer, desk, earplugs, and paper and pen.

What Not to Bring

• A BNF or any other reference source — only the resources provided on screen may be used.
• Phones, smart watches or other electronic devices — these are stored away with your belongings.
• Notes, revision materials or textbooks — nothing beyond the permitted items is allowed at your desk.

Arrive early. If you arrive more than 15 minutes after the start time you will not be allowed to sit, so give yourself time to check in, have your ID checked and settle before Part 1 begins.

Time Management Tips

Time pressure is one of the biggest challenges of the GPhC Registration Assessment. Both parts demand efficiency, and many candidates report running short on time — particularly in Part 2. Here is how to think about pacing.

Part 1: Calculations — 3 Minutes per Question

With 40 questions in 2 hours, you have an average of 3 minutes per question. That sounds generous, but calculations require checking. A single misplaced decimal point can turn a correct method into a wrong answer.

Our recommended approach:

1. First pass (90 minutes): Work through every question in order, spending no more than 3 minutes on each. If a question is not clicking, flag it and move on immediately.
2. Second pass (20 minutes): Return to flagged questions with fresh eyes. Sometimes a different approach or a moment of clarity is all you need.
3. Final check (10 minutes): Review your answers, paying particular attention to units. A dose expressed in milligrams when the answer requires grams is an avoidable error.

The flag-and-return strategy is critical. Getting stuck on question 12 and spending 8 minutes on it means you are borrowing time from later questions — questions that might be straightforward.

Part 2: Clinical Practice — Roughly 1.25 Minutes per Question

With 120 questions in 2.5 hours, you have approximately 1 minute and 15 seconds per question. That is tight. You cannot afford to deliberate over every option.

Our recommended approach:

1. Read the stem carefully, but quickly. Identify the key clinical details — the drug, the condition, the patient group, the question being asked.
2. Answer from knowledge first. If you know the answer, select it and move on. Do not second-guess yourself.
3. Use supplied extracts strategically. Go into a resource with a specific lookup in mind — a dose, an interaction, a contraindication — rather than reading it top to bottom.
4. Flag uncertain questions. If you are torn between two options, pick the one that feels strongest, flag the question, and revisit it if time allows.
5. Never leave a question blank. An educated guess is always better than no answer at all.

The biggest time trap in Part 2 is reading every resource in full. Trust your revision, and use an extract to confirm what you already suspect.

Last-Minute Preparation Tips

The final week before the exam is not the time for learning new material. It is about consolidation, confidence, and practical readiness.

Revision Strategy for the Final Week

• Focus on weak areas, but do not overhaul your knowledge. If you have consistently struggled with renal dosing adjustments or controlled drug legislation, spend time on those areas. But do not try to learn an entirely new topic from scratch — it will only increase your anxiety.
• Practise under timed conditions. Sit a full mock paper, both parts, strictly timed. This is the single best thing you can do in the final week. It calibrates your sense of pacing and highlights any remaining weak spots.
• Review your calculation methods. Run through each of the nine calculation types until the process feels automatic. Speed and accuracy come from repetition.
• Practise reading monographs quickly. Spend 20 minutes in the BNF reminding yourself how a monograph is laid out, so that an extract on screen feels familiar.

Calculator Practice

This is often overlooked. The approved calculators are basic models, and they may not be the same as the one you use at home or at work. In the final weeks, do all your calculation practice on the approved model you will take in, or on a simple on-screen calculator if you plan to use that. Get used to performing multi-step calculations without a memory function or fraction display. Small adjustments like this can prevent unnecessary fumbling on the day.

Sleep and Wellbeing

This is not fluffy advice — it is practical. Sleep deprivation impairs concentration, slows mental arithmetic, and increases error rates. In the final three nights before the exam:

• Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night.
• Avoid late-night cramming sessions. They create a false sense of productivity while degrading your performance the next day.
• On the night before the exam, do something that relaxes you. Watch something, go for a walk, cook a meal. Your brain needs rest to perform at its best.

Eat a proper breakfast on the morning of the exam. You will be sitting for four and a half hours of assessment time, and low blood sugar will affect your concentration long before you notice it.

What Happens After the Exam

Results Day: 16 December 2026

Results for the November 2026 sitting are released on Wednesday 16 December 2026. Your results include your mark for each part, the pass mark for each part, and your overall outcome:

• Pass both parts — you are eligible to apply for registration.
• Fail one or both parts — you will need to sit both parts again at a future sitting. Marks from one sitting cannot be carried forward to another.

There is no fixed pass mark. The GPhC sets the passing standard with practising pharmacists, and the pass mark for each part moves with the difficulty of that sitting's questions so that the standard itself stays the same.

Registration Process

Once you have passed both parts, you can apply to join the GPhC register as a pharmacist. The registration process involves:

1. Submitting your registration application through the GPhC portal.
2. Paying the registration fee — this is separate from the exam fee.
3. Confirming your fitness to practise — including health and character declarations.
4. Receiving your registration number — once approved, you will be added to the register and can legally practise as a pharmacist in Great Britain.

Trainees in Northern Ireland sit the same assessment but receive their results from, and register with, the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

If You Do Not Pass

Failing the registration assessment is not the end of the road. Many successful pharmacists did not pass on their first attempt. You can sit the assessment again, but the GPhC allows a maximum of three attempts, within the time limit for applying to register, and every valid sitting counts towards that — so treat each attempt seriously.

If you do need to resit, take time to honestly assess what went wrong. Was it time management? A specific topic area? Calculation errors? Your results show your mark against the pass mark for each part, which tells you where to start; identifying the root cause will make your next round of revision far more targeted and effective. Appeals, attempts and planning for the next sitting are covered in your next steps after failing the GPhC assessment.

Resources to Help You Prepare

Preparing for the GPhC Registration Assessment requires a combination of question practice, content revision, and exam technique — and the right tools can make a meaningful difference.

Dose Up's GPhC mock exams are full-length papers, each a Part 1 and a Part 2 written to the GPhC's 2026 framework and timed to the real allowances, with a worked answer to every question and your results by area. You can try free GPhC practice questions from both parts first, with no account needed.

Beyond that, make sure you are also using:

• The BNF — not to take into the exam, but as a revision tool. Read the introductory guidance sections, learn the layout of a monograph, and practise finding things quickly, so the extracts you meet on the day feel familiar.
• The GPhC assessment framework for 2026 — this document tells you exactly what can be examined. Use it as a checklist to ensure your revision covers every area.
• The GPhC's example questions and full mock papers — the GPhC's own examples show you the question types and the on-screen platform; timed mock papers are the closest you can get to the real thing without sitting in the exam room.

Final Thoughts

The GPhC Registration Assessment is a challenging exam, but it is a fair one. It tests the knowledge and skills you have spent five years developing. The candidates who perform best are not necessarily the ones who know the most — they are the ones who prepare methodically, manage their time well, and walk into the exam room knowing exactly what to expect.

You now know the GPhC exam dates for November 2026, the format of both parts, what is and is not assessed this year, and how to approach the final stretch of your preparation. The rest is down to you.

Good luck on 10 November.