Finishing 40 Calculations in 2 Hours: Time Management for Part 1

Part 1 gives you 120 minutes for 40 calculations, so 3 minutes each. That feels generous until one infusion question eats 9 minutes. Trainees who finish comfortably aren't always faster at maths. They have a pacing plan and they stick to it.

By Umar Majid · 9 Nov 2026

To finish all 40 Part 1 calculations in 2 hours, work in two passes. Bank every question you can do in the first 100 minutes, flagging anything that stalls, then spend the last 20 minutes on the flagged ones. Practise that plan under timed conditions until it feels normal.

The numbers behind the plan

Fact	Why it matters
40 questions, 120 minutes	3 minutes per question on average
Free-entry numerical answers	No options to eliminate, so you cannot guess from a list
One mark per correct answer, no marks deducted	Never leave a box blank
Required units are stated in the question and next to the answer box	Check them before you type
You can flag questions	Skip and come back without losing your place
Pass mark set each sitting	24/40 in June 2025 and 25/40 in November 2025

The pass marks are a reminder that you don't need every question. What you can't afford is losing easy marks because you ran out of time.

The two-pass approach

Pass 1: bank the marks you can get (0 to 100 minutes)

Work through all 40 questions in order. If you know the method, do it, check it and move on. If you're still stuck after about 3 minutes, enter your best working answer, flag it and move on. If you don't recognise the method at all, enter a sensible estimate, flag it and move on straight away.

Aim to finish pass 1 at about 100 minutes, which is 2.5 minutes per question. Some will take 1 minute, others 4. It's the average that counts.

Pass 2: back to the flagged questions (100 to 120 minutes)

Go back to your flagged questions, easiest first. The method often comes to you once the pressure of an unfinished paper has gone.

Checkpoints

Time elapsed	Where you should be
25 minutes	Question 10
50 minutes	Question 20
75 minutes	Question 30
100 minutes	Question 40, start pass 2
120 minutes	Finished, every box filled

If you're behind at a checkpoint, be stricter about flagging. Don't try to catch up by rushing every question, because that's when errors creep in.

How do you flag without wasting time?

Flagging only helps if you're disciplined about it. Always enter an answer before you flag. If time runs out, a reasonable estimate can still score, and a blank box can't.

Don't flag too many, either. If you flag more than about 8 to 10, your pass 1 is too cautious.

And note what stopped you. Jot the question number and the sticking point on your notes, for example "Q17: which weight?". It saves time when you come back.

Check units and rounding every time

The Board of Assessors' feedback keeps coming back to the same Part 1 themes, and most of them are checks that take seconds:

Units. Read the units next to the answer box before you start, not after. Converting mg to micrograms at the end costs a mark if you forget.
Rounding stage. Round individual doses before you work out a total quantity to supply. Otherwise keep full figures and round at the end.
Rounding instructions. If the question asks for one decimal place or the nearest mL, follow it exactly.
Practical answers. The feedback gives the example that adding 100 mL of diluent to a 10 mL vial is not possible. Ask whether your answer could actually happen.

Build a 10-second check into every question: units, rounding, sense. It's faster than reworking a wrong answer in pass 2.

Which calculator should you use?

You can use the on-screen calculator or bring a GPhC-approved physical model, and a spare physical calculator is allowed too. The 2026 approved list includes models such as the Casio MX-8S-WE, Casio SL-300SV and Catiga CD-8185. Only listed models are permitted, so check the current list for your sitting.

Pick one and practise with it. If you'll use a physical calculator, use that exact model for all your practice from now on. If you plan to use the on-screen calculator, practise with an on-screen one so you're used to clicking rather than pressing keys, and use the GPhC's online example questions to get familiar with the test platform.

Learn the memory function, or write intermediate answers down. Re-entering long numbers is slow and error-prone.

A timed practice plan

Accuracy first, speed second. This plan works over 8 weeks, or you can stretch it over the year.

Weeks	Focus	Format
1 to 2	Learn each calculation type	Untimed, by topic
3 to 4	Build speed on each type	Sets of 10 in 30 minutes
5 to 6	Mixed questions	Sets of 20 in 60 minutes, using flagging
7 to 8	Exam simulation	Full 40 questions in 120 minutes, at least twice

After every timed set, record your score, where you were at each checkpoint, and every error with the reason it happened (method, units, rounding or misreading).

Most trainees find their errors fall into a few repeat patterns, and fixing those is the quickest way to gain marks. If you're not sure which calculation types to drill, start with our guide to the 9 GPhC calculation types. Renal dosing questions are often the slowest, so see Cockcroft-Gault and renal dosing for those. Our GPhC mock paper guide explains how to get the most from a full mock.

If you have extra time

With a reasonable adjustment for 25% extra time, Part 1 becomes 2 hours 30 minutes, or 3.75 minutes per question. Rework the checkpoints for your own time allowance and practise with it. If you think you may be eligible, see our guide to GPhC reasonable adjustments.

Common questions

How long do I have per question in Part 1? 3 minutes on average: 120 minutes for 40 questions.

Should I answer every question? Yes. No marks are deducted for wrong answers, so a best estimate always beats a blank.

Can I go back to a question? Yes. You can flag questions on the test platform and return to them later.

Can I bring my own calculator? Yes, if it's on the GPhC's approved list. You can also use the on-screen calculator.

How many full timed papers should I do? At least two full 40-question papers under exam timing before the day, once you've built accuracy by topic.

Practise against the clock

Timing is a skill, and it gets better with deliberate practice. Our Calculations Course teaches the method for each type, with 400+ worked questions and a 20-question mini mock worked through on video, including where marks get lost on timing.

Take the course on its own for focused revision, or get it as part of the Foundation Pharmacist Training Programme for full support: every Paper 1 and Paper 2 course, a 2,000+ question bank, a full timed mock paper, live study sessions, e-portfolio support and a 1:1 revision plan built around your rota. Every option includes 365 days of access from the day you join, so the earlier you start, the more of the year it covers.

See the Calculations Course, see what's included in the programme or try a free calculations quiz.