These two terms get mixed up constantly in online forums, group chats and revision threads. They sound similar but they measure completely different things — and confusing them can lead you to some bad conclusions about how to prepare.
What the pass mark is
The pass mark is the minimum score you need to achieve in order to pass a paper. It is a threshold, expressed as a number of correct answers.
For the Common Registration Assessment, the pass mark is set independently for each sitting by the Board of Assessors using a standard-setting process. It is not a fixed number that stays the same every time.
For example, in June 2025 the Part 1 pass mark was 24 out of 40 and the Part 2 pass mark was 79 out of 120. In November 2024, the Part 1 pass mark was 28 out of 40 and the Part 2 pass mark was 82 out of 120.
The pass mark reflects the difficulty of that specific paper. If the Board determines that a particular set of questions was slightly harder, the pass mark may be adjusted downward. If the paper was slightly easier, it may be set higher. This process ensures that the standard required to pass remains consistent even though the questions change between sittings.
What the pass rate is
The pass rate is the percentage of candidates who achieved the pass mark in a given sitting. It describes the performance of the whole cohort, not the standard of the paper.
In June 2025, 2,913 candidates sat and the overall pass rate was 77 percent. In November 2025, 1,174 candidates sat and the overall pass rate was 61.5 percent.
A low pass rate does not mean the paper was impossible. It means fewer candidates in that cohort met the required standard. A high pass rate does not mean the paper was easy. It means more of that cohort performed well enough.
Why the distinction matters
If you treat the pass rate as an indicator of paper difficulty, you will draw the wrong conclusions.
A candidate who sees that the last sitting had a 58 percent pass rate might assume the exam is getting harder and panic. But the pass mark may not have changed significantly. The cohort might simply have included more resit candidates or a group that was less well prepared.
Equally, a candidate who sees a 77 percent pass rate and relaxes is making the opposite error. That number describes the group, not the individual. You still need to hit the pass mark in both papers, and there is nothing about a high cohort pass rate that makes your personal preparation easier.
Autumn vs summer — the pattern
Summer sittings consistently produce higher pass rates than autumn ones. This is mainly because the summer sitting is the primary sitting for first-attempt candidates, who tend to be better prepared. The autumn cohort typically contains more resit candidates and those who deferred, which pushes the pass rate lower.
The difference is not about the paper being harder. It is about who is sitting it.
How to use this information
Check the published pass marks and pass rates once, to understand the landscape. Then stop paying attention to them.
Your personal preparation should be driven by your mock exam scores, your error log and your coverage of the assessment framework — not by guessing what the next pass rate might be.
If you can consistently score well above published pass marks in practice conditions, you are in a strong position regardless of what the cohort pass rate turns out to be. If your mock scores are borderline, that is the signal to change your approach, and no amount of pass-rate analysis will fix it.
Quick FAQs
- Does the pass mark change every sitting? Yes. The Board of Assessors sets the pass mark for each sitting through a standard-setting process. The numbers are published after results are released.
- Is a low pass rate a bad sign for my sitting? Not for you personally. It describes the cohort, not the paper difficulty or your chances. Focus on your own preparation data.
- Should I aim for the pass mark? Aim above it. You will not know the exact pass mark in advance, and borderline performance leaves no margin for error. Strong, consistent scores across both papers are the target.
- Where are pass marks and pass rates published? The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) website publishes this data after each sitting. It is the only reliable source.