Live Online Revision vs Self-Study for the GPhC Exam
Live online revision or self-study for the GPhC exam? Most trainees working full time do best with both. We compare them fairly, look at who suits which, and give you a weekly plan that combines the two.
By Umar Majid ·
Neither live online revision nor self-study is better for everyone. Self-study is flexible and fits any rota, but it depends on your own discipline. Live sessions add structure, accountability and the chance to ask questions, but they run at fixed times. For most foundation trainee pharmacists working full time, a mix works best: self-study as the base, with live sessions for difficult topics and for staying on track.
How do they compare?
| Self-study | Live online revision | |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Study whenever suits your shifts | Fixed times, which can clash with late shifts |
| Structure | You build your own plan | A set programme of topics |
| Accountability | Easy to drift for weeks | A regular slot keeps you moving |
| Asking questions | You look things up yourself | You can ask a tutor there and then |
| Pace | Your own, fast or slow | The group's pace |
| Cost | Can be low or free | Usually part of a paid course, though some sessions are free |
| Best for | Practising questions, reviewing mistakes, revising known topics | Hard topics, exam technique, calculations methods, staying on track |
| Main risk | Avoiding weak topics and running out of time | Watching passively without practising afterwards |
That last row matters most. Both approaches can fail for the same reason: not enough active practice. Sitting through a session or reading notes feels productive, but the marks come from doing questions and learning from your mistakes.
When does self-study work well?
Self-study tends to suit you if you already have protected study time at your training site and you're good at sticking to a plan without anyone checking on you. It also works if you know where your weak areas are and you're willing to tackle them first, or if your rota changes so often that fixed session times are hard to keep.
If that sounds like you, free and low-cost resources can take you a long way. See our list of free pharmacy revision resources.
When does live revision help more?
Live sessions are worth it if:
- you find it hard to start on your own after a long shift
- you get little structured teaching at work. In June 2024, trainees training only in community pharmacy passed at 68%, compared with 89% in hospital, and the difference is often about time and structure, not ability
- calculations or certain clinical topics aren't clicking from reading alone
- you learn better by hearing something explained and asking questions
- you're resitting and need a different approach from last time
Combining the two while working full time
Aim for a steady routine you can keep up for months, not a perfect timetable you abandon in week three.
A sample week
| Day | What to do | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Calculations: one type, 5 to 10 questions | 30 minutes |
| Tuesday | Live session in the evening, if one is running | 60 to 90 minutes |
| Wednesday | Follow-up questions on Tuesday's topic, then review | 45 minutes |
| Thursday | Calculations, mixed set | 30 minutes |
| Friday | Rest, or e-portfolio write-up | Optional |
| Saturday or Sunday | Longer block: topic revision, a question set and error log review | 2 hours |
| One day | Fully off |
Move the days around your shifts. If you work weekends, swap the longer block to a weekday off.
Getting more from a live session
Before it starts, spend 10 minutes on the topic so you know what you don't understand, and write down one or two questions to ask. During the session, take short notes, join in with any questions set and ask your own. If you're confused, others usually are too.
Afterwards, do a set of questions on the same topic within two days. That's what turns a good session into marks.
Keeping self-study active
Spend most of your self-study time doing and reviewing questions, not rereading notes. Keep an error log of every mistake and re-test it a week later. Our guide to how many practice questions to do explains how. And do a few calculations most days rather than one long session a week.
Bring your designated supervisor in
Your foundation year is your best preparation. The GPhC says experience gained during training is the best way to prepare, with example questions there to complement it. Agree with your designated supervisor (DS) when you can study at work, and link your revision to what you see in practice. Our guides to protected learning time and building a foundation training plan can help with that conversation.
Common questions
Is live online revision better than self-study for the GPhC exam? Not for everyone. Live sessions help with structure, accountability and difficult topics, while self-study is more flexible. Most trainees do best with both.
Can I pass the GPhC exam with self-study alone? Yes, many trainees do, especially with good support at their training site and plenty of practice questions.
How much time should I spend on live sessions? One session a week is plenty for most people, as long as you follow it up with practice questions.
What if sessions clash with my shifts? Prioritise the topics you find hardest, and keep your self-study going in the weeks you can't attend.
What's the biggest mistake with either approach? Passive learning. Watching or reading without doing questions afterwards rarely improves your score.
Learn it live, then practise on your own
Our live webinars run through the year as part of the Foundation Pharmacist Training Programme, alongside video lessons, workbooks and a question bank, so you can learn a topic live and practise it in your own time. New to your foundation year? Join one of our free public evening webinars for new trainees to see how we teach before you commit.
See our live online study sessions or create a free account to try the first lesson of every chapter.