The assessment period can be a very stressful time. This is especially true of the final days leading up to results day. So, no matter what your results, we’ve gathered some useful info on your options.

Passed the assessment

Congratulations to those who passed the June assessment. If you will be joining the register for the first time take a look at our Registering as a pharmacist fact sheet. This contains information about registration and looking for work.

If you are looking for work as a pharmacist we have plenty of available resources, including our Looking for work: job vacancy sites fact sheet which provides information on where you can find advertised jobs online. A lot of newly registered pharmacists will take on the role of a locum. If you are unsure if this is right for you, or want some further information about working as a locum you can find this information here in our Locum fact sheet.

Failed the assessment

If you fail the assessment it is only natural that you will feel disappointed. Feelings of anger and disappointment are common; take some time out to relax with friends and family, and don’t be embarrassed about feeling upset. If you would like to talk to somebody, give us a call and we can arrange for you to speak to one of our Listening Friends.

Preparing for a re-sit

You may have felt that your pre-registration training left you with little time to study. If this is the case then once your pre-registration placement is complete, you will have more time to organise a sensible revision timetable.

Our pre-registration assessment fact sheet has more information about preparing for the exam.

Revision sites

There are a number of revision sites that can help trainees to prepare. Many of these sites offer free trials which can help you to decide which best fits your revision needs. Here are some suggestions to get you started:-

• ONtrack
• ResourcePharm
• passPharm
• Pre-registration Pharmacist
• The Pre-reg Manual
• PDA Revision Programme (available until June 2022 assessment to PDA members. Membership free to students and trainees).

Exam nerves

Exam stress can affect pre-registration trainees in varying ways. If you think that exam stress may negatively impact your performance, you could consider learning a coping technique, for example, mindfulness.

According to the NHS, studies have found that mindfulness programmes, can bring about reductions in stress and improvements in mood. For further information on mindfulness, see our Mindfulness fact sheet.

For further information on coping with stress, see our Help with Stress fact sheet.

For further information on coping with anxiety, see our Help with Anxiety fact sheet.

Appeals

You can submit an appeal if you believe that you have sufficient grounds to do so. The GPhC stresses that an appeal can only be made on the basis of new information/circumstances coming to light that you could not have been aware of on the day.

The deadline for submitting an appeal is the 16th August.  Even if you are waiting for the outcome of an appeal, it is advisable that you register for your next attempt at the exam by the deadline date.

For further information, see section 6.4 of the GPhC pre-registration manual.

Requesting adjustments for a re-sit

If you have failed your first attempt at the assessment, and are planning to register to sit the September 2019 assessment and you need adjustments, such as extra time, you will have to put in a fresh application to the GPhC. You cannot carry over any adjustments agreed for the previous exam.

The deadline for requesting a reasonable adjustment for the autumn assessment is 2nd August 2019.

For further information about applying to sit the registration assessment, see the GPhC website.

Registering for a third attempt

In order to undertake a third attempt at the assessment, a trainee will normally be required by the GPhC to undertake a further six month placement. The purpose of the six month period is to provide more pharmacy practice experience to prepare the trainee for the final assessment attempt.

For further guidance regarding the six month placement, see the GPhC website.

If you have failed three times

If you have failed your pre-registration assessment three times, rest assured that there are a number of alternative career options available to you. Remember that you do have a good science degree as well as your own skills, knowledge and experience and many graduate vacancies do not specify particular degree disciplines.

Pharmacist Support’s Careers advice and options for pharmacy graduates fact sheet has information on getting careers advice and on career options, including alternative career suggestions such as teaching, further research and medical/scientific proof-reading.

You can also still submit an appeal. See above under appeals for further information.

All trainees should note that the deadline for registering for the September 2019 assessment is 9th August.