How to Pass the GPhC Registration Assessment in 2027: Format, Pass Rates and a Month-by-Month Plan
Most trainees who struggle with the GPhC exam don't lack ability. They start late or revise without a plan. How the exam works, and a simple month-by-month plan for June 2027.
By Umar Majid ·
"I'll start revising after Christmas."
We hear this every year. Then January turns into March, and calculations get left until May.
The GPhC registration assessment is very passable. In June 2026, 85% of first-time sitters passed (The Pharmaceutical Journal). The trainees who struggle usually aren't less capable. They start late, or they revise without a plan.
The exam at a glance
| Part 1 | Part 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Calculations | Clinical, law and ethics, OTC |
| Questions | 40 | 120 |
| Time | 2 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Calculator | Yes | No |
You must pass both parts in the same sitting, and you have three attempts in total. Sittings are in June and November, and your designated supervisor must complete your 39-week progress report before you can apply.
What the pass rates tell you
In June 2026, 83% of all candidates passed. That was 85% for first-time sitters, but only 59% for second-time sitters.
So your first attempt is your best chance. Prepare properly for June rather than treating it as a practice run.
There's no fixed pass rate either. The pass mark is set for each sitting (in June 2025 it was 24 out of 40 for Part 1 and 79 out of 120 for Part 2). You're measured against a standard, not against other trainees.
A simple plan for June 2027
| When | Focus |
|---|---|
| Oct to Nov | Read the GPhC framework. Little and often on calculations. |
| Dec to Jan | High-weight clinical: cardiovascular, CNS, infections, endocrine. |
| Feb to Mar | Remaining clinical, then law and ethics and OTC. Apply for the June sitting. |
| Apr | Mixed questions under timed conditions. |
| May | A full mock. Review every mistake. |
| June | Light review of weak areas, and plenty of sleep. |
If you're working full-time, aim for 30 to 45 minutes on work days and one longer session on a day off. Keep at least one calculations session a week, all year.
Where marks get lost
- Leaving calculations too late. Part 1 is pass or fail on its own.
- Re-reading notes instead of doing questions. It feels productive, but the exam tests application.
- Treating every topic as equal. Start with the high-weight chapters.
- Never practising against the clock. Part 2 gives you about 75 seconds a question.
- Misreading the question. Watch for "most appropriate", "first" and "not", and check your units.
Quick answers
When should I start revising? Now, but gently. A little from autumn beats a lot from March.
What's the GPhC exam pass mark? It changes every sitting. In June 2025 it was 24 out of 40 for Part 1 and 79 out of 120 for Part 2.
Can I use a calculator? Only in Part 1.
Get a plan built around your rota
On the Foundation Pharmacist Training Programme, you start with a 1-2-1 call with one of our pharmacists. Together you build a revision plan around your rota, rotations and e-portfolio deadlines.
You also get Paper 1 and Paper 2 lessons and workbooks, a question bank, a mock paper, live webinars and e-portfolio support. If you don't pass, you keep access until your next sitting.
Interest-free instalments start from £25 a month with full access straight away