It’s been a couple of weeks since I sat the General Pharmaceutical Council’s (GPhC) registration exam for the first time – a feeling that I can only liken to a finale, in that the ending could be great, or really bad. For now, I’m staying optimistic; enjoying the freedom I have and the feeling of being angst-free.

In the run-up to the exam, I was terrified and my pre-exam anxiety was sky-high. It was definitely a tumultuous ride, and there were even moments when I considered withdrawing. I did not feel prepared at all.

I think many pre-regs can identify with me on this. Trying to retain information and re-learning things I had forgotten was a struggle. But one thing I did realise was that it’s impossible to know everything, and becoming comfortable with that helped.

I know that I gave it my all and I studied hard. So for me, going through with the exam was my way of showing resilience and, I guess, a little stubbornness – a feeling of, 'I’m going to do it anyway'.

For me, the night before the exam was the scariest time, and actually taking the exam paled in comparison to my fear. Sometimes it is really the fear of the unknown that paralyses you.

Controversial reaction to exam

This year’s reception to the registration exam has been controversial. With a new format, a new style of question and a new framework, there was already some anxiety. Many of us felt lost, and revision sometimes felt like a stab in the dark.

However, what greatly helped during my revision was the GPhC framework which, like myself, many pre-regs focused on as a key guide to indicate the topics we would be assessed on.

Perhaps this is why I was slightly taken aback during the exam. The majority of questions were not difficult or complicated per se. But it didn't reflect the framework and or high-weighting topics such as the central nervous system for example, but had a greater distribution of questions on low-weighting topics such as the eye.

Other pre-regs I spoke to said that this was what they felt most disadvantaged by, in addition to being thrown off by random content not covered in the framework. On a positive note, the morning calculations paper was better than I had expected. It was straightforward, and this was the general consensus amongst students I spoke to on the day.

Positive thinking

So what is my advice to the next cohort of exam-sitters? Firstly, mentality is key and it is something that is really overlooked. Positivity and having the resilience to continue and not give up is extremely important. 

At times I struggled identifying what I needed to know and in what detail, because the exam was closed book. What helped me from going too overboard was the key advice “do I know enough to practice safely as a day one pharmacist?"

Secondly, doing as many mocks and questions with the new exam style as you can really does help cement your knowledge. The GPhC released sample questions this year, and while it was a good taster, perhaps having a full specimen paper would have been greatly beneficial to us pre-regs.

Lastly, you don’t have to do this alone. One of the best ways to succeed is by having a great group of pre-regs to share resources, papers and notes, because after all, helping each other to learn and acquire knowledge helps us to reach our end-goal – patient safety and well-being. That is what truly matters.

This year's pre-reg trainees can pick up tips on working as a newly-qualified pharmacist in C+D's podcast, below.

How did you find the registration exam?

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