Sitting the registration assessment in November 2023

All you need to know to apply for and to sit the registration assessment in November 2023

Sitting dates

Sitting details

Eligibility to sit

Applying to sit the assessment

Sitting locations

Requesting a reasonable adjustment

Are you fit to sit?

Preparing to sit the assessment

on the day

Results and registration 

 

Sitting dates

The registration assessment will take place on Thursday 2 November 2023. 

Sitting details

The registration assessment regulations [PDF 245 KB] set out key information and rules that cover this sitting of the assessment. We have also confirmed the list of permitted items[PDF 156 KB] you may have access to during the assessment. The allegations of misconduct regulations set out the procedure we follow when it’s alleged that a candidate has not kept to the regulations 

The registration assessment specification [PDF 258 KB] sets out how the assessment will be run, and will help you decide if you need to request a reasonable adjustment.

The registration assessment framework [PDF 265 KB] sets out the outcomes that will be tested and gives an idea of some of the topics this sitting of the assessment may cover.

Eligibility to sit

To sit the Autumn 2023 assessment, we must have received a record of you having completed 39 weeks of training on or before 6 September 2023, with a week 39 progress report completed as satisfactory.

Applying to sit the assessment 

Before you begin
  1. Make sure that you have created your myGPhC account and that you can log in. 
  2. Check that the details showing on your myGPhC account, including your training details and your email address are correct. If your training details have changed since the start of your training, you should have notified us of the changes and will have received an updated training record. If any of the information is not right, complete and send us a change of foundation training details form.

You and your designated supervisor must have completed your 39-week progress report online via myGPhC before you can complete your assessment application.

Important: when using myGPhC, please ensure you and your designated supervisor use an up to date version of an internet browser such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Do not use Internet Explorer as you may experience compatibility issues which prevent you from submitting your progress report.

We will provide more infromation in due course.

Sitting locations 

You will sit the assessment at a test centre, using the Surpass online system. There are test centres throughout the UK.

We will reserve seats in centres for all candidates approved to sit. You will then have the opportunity to view and change your place through the Surpass system, subject to availability.

If you would like to change your test centre location, you will be able to do this using the Scheduler system.

See our guide to how to manage your test centre place  [PDF 493 KB] 

See a list of test centres  [PDF 173 KB] 

Changing location is subject to availability, and this may be limited in many test centres. If you can’t find another test centre you want to move to, your place will remain at the test centre that we have booked for you.

Requesting a reasonable adjustment

If you have a specific need which you feel could disadvantage you when sitting the registration assessment, please take a look at our dedicated reasonable adjustment page.

If you have previously been granted an adjustment that was approved for all sittings in 2023, or for all sittings up until you reach your registration date limit, you do not need to submit a new application to receive this adjustment at this sitting.

If you want to request an additional or a different adjustment, you will need to submit a new request.

If you haven’t submitted or been granted a reasonable adjustment before and would like to request one for this sitting, you must read the guidance and submit an application form.

You must complete and submit your form by 5.00 PM on 9 August 2023. There is no process for submitting late adjustments so you must make sure you submit your application by this deadline.

Are you fit to sit?

It is very important that you only sit the registration assessment if you are fit to do so. Being ‘fit to sit’ means that you do not know of any reason why your performance would be adversely affected on the day of the assessment.

If you are aware of anything that might affect your performance on the day, you should not sit the assessment – even if it is a difficult decision to make. You are eligible to withdraw from a sitting at any time up until the assessment begins.

Withdrawing from the assessment sitting

If you submit an application to sit the registration assessment through myGPhC and then decide that you do not want to sit, you must officially withdraw from the sitting by submitting a Notification of withdrawal form. If you do not, the sitting will count as one of your assessment attempts, and you may not receive a refund of your assessment fee.

See our guide withdrawal, nullifications and appeals [PDF 134 KB]

Download a withdrawal form [Word 1.21 MB]

Preparing to sit the assessment

Assessment structure

Part one paper

Part one of the assessment is made up of 40 calculation questions. You will have two hours to complete these, and you will be able to use a calculator.

Part two paper

Part two of the assessment is made up of 120 questions, split into three sections:

  • Section 1: 45 'single-best-answer' questions
  • Section 2: 45 'single-best-answer' questions
  • Section 3: 30 'extended-matching' questions

You will have 2.5 hours to complete these, and you will not be able to use a calculator.

The registration assessment framework [PDF 265 KB]  sets out the outcomes that will be tested and gives an idea of some of the topics this sitting of the assessment may cover.

Example questions

We have prepared a set of example questions for both parts of the assessment. These questions are presented in the Surpass system, which you will use to sit the assessment- so you can familiarise yourself with the system functionality. Use the example questions guide [PDF 986 KB] to find out how the system works, and to mark your answers.

See the part one example questions

See the part two example questions

For these example questions, no information about you or your answers will be recorded.

The example questions will time out after one hour, but you can access them again by refreshing your browser or clicking the links above again. You can work through the questions as many times as you like. 

Watch the webinar recording of the Surpass test system walkthrough

Feedback from previous sittings

After each assessment sitting, the Board of Assessors - who are responsible for setting and assuring the registration assessment - produce feedback about the topics that candidates found difficult. Use these feedback documents below to help you prepare for your attempt:

Calculators

You will be able to use calculators in part one of the registration assessment. You can use the on screen calculator, or you can bring your own calculator to the assessment.

On the day

See the guide to sitting the assessment in November 2023  [PDF 427 KB]

This guidance document tells you what to prepare before the assessment, what to expect on the day, and next steps after the assessment. 

The permitted items list sets out what you will be allowed to keep with you during the assessment.

Check the list [PDF 156 KB]

Results and registration

You will receive your results via your myGPhC. You will receive a notification to check your myGPhC account via the communication preference you selected when you signed up to myGPhC.

We will provide further details closer to the time.