The current official terminology is Common Registration Assessment (CRA). If you are revising for it, the format matters more than most people admit at the start. Plenty of candidates know the material reasonably well and still lose control because they have not prepared in a way that matches the paper in front of them.
The assessment is delivered jointly by the General Pharmaceutical Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. It is computer-based, time-limited, and split into two parts.
Part 1: calculations
Part 1 contains 40 pharmacy and healthcare calculations questions. Candidates have 2 hours, or 120 minutes, to complete it. Answers are entered as numerical free text.
This paper is less forgiving than it looks. The structure is simple, but accuracy matters throughout. Weak unit control, rushed setup, and untidy calculation method are the kinds of mistakes that cost marks here.
Part 2: selected-response questions
Part 2 contains 120 questions with a 2.5-hour, or 150-minute, time allowance. It is split into two sections. Section 1 contains 90 Single Best Answer questions, each with five options. Section 2 contains 15 Extended Matching Question sets, with each set made up of two questions sharing the same eight options.
This means Part 2 is not one continuous question style. Candidates need to be comfortable switching between Single Best Answer (SBA) judgement and Extended Matching Question (EMQ) pattern recognition without losing pace.
| Part | Question type | Number of questions | Time allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Calculations, numerical free-entry responses | 40 | 2 hours |
| Part 2 | 90 SBA questions and 15 EMQ sets, totalling 120 questions | 120 | 2.5 hours |
The pass rule
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) states that a trainee pharmacist must achieve the pass mark or above in both Part 1 and Part 2 in the same sitting. Strong performance in one part does not compensate for weakness in the other.
That is why revision plans built around only clinical questions or only calculations tend to be risky. The structure of the assessment itself tells you how the week should be built.
What the timing really means
Timing pressure works differently across the two parts.
In Part 1, time pressure usually shows up through method. Candidates who work cleanly tend to preserve time. Candidates who repeatedly restart steps, convert units too late, or fail to sense-check answers often lose time even when they know the principle.
In Part 2, the pressure is more about reading discipline and sustained judgement. The candidate must keep making safe decisions even after concentration starts to dip.
A realistic scenario
Imagine a candidate who performs well in untimed practice. The first timed session tells a different story. In Part 1, too long is spent rescuing one difficult calculation. In Part 2, the first half is controlled but the later questions become rushed. The issue is not knowledge alone. It is the interaction between knowledge and the clock.
That is why format practice matters. A candidate can be well taught and still be underprepared for the shape of the paper.
How revision should reflect the format
Calculations need repeated short practice across the week. SBA questions need careful review of why the wrong options were wrong. EMQ practice needs familiarity with reading all options calmly before choosing. Timed blocks should begin earlier than many candidates think, even if they start small.
The closer revision gets to the real exam format, the less surprising the real day becomes.
Quick FAQs
- How many parts are in the GPhC exam? The CRA has two parts: Part 1 for calculations and Part 2 for selected-response questions.
- What question types appear in Part 2? The GPhC states that Part 2 contains 90 Single Best Answer questions and 15 EMQ sets.
- Does one part make up for the other if the score is stronger? No. Both parts must be passed in the same sitting.
- Why does the format matter so much for revision? Because the exam tests not only knowledge but also control, pacing, and judgement under timed conditions.