GPhC publishes pass rate data annually — and the numbers provide a clear picture of what separates candidates who pass from those who do not.
Historical Data
Pass rates have varied between approximately 60-80% for first-time candidates, depending on the sitting. Some sittings produce higher pass rates than others — this reflects cohort variation and potentially question difficulty, not meaningful changes in the exam's passability. The November 2024 sitting saw a 42% failure rate; the June 2025 sitting saw a 23% failure rate. These fluctuations are real and mean that individual sitting difficulty varies.
First Attempt vs Resit
Resit pass rates are consistently lower than first-attempt rates. Candidates who failed once are statistically more likely to fail again — unless they fundamentally change their preparation approach. Repeating the same study strategy expects a different result. With only three attempts allowed, a failed first attempt demands genuine diagnostic analysis and strategic change.
What Correlates with Passing
Early start to revision — candidates who begin 3-4+ months before the exam pass at higher rates than those who start in the final month. Active recall-based study methods — practice questions rather than passive textbook reading. Consistent daily revision rather than intermittent cramming — the forgetting curve ensures that weekend-only study loses most of its value by the following weekend. Quality of foundation training site — hospital sites with strong educational supervision tend to produce better-prepared candidates, though community sites with engaged tutors can be equally effective.
What This Means for Your Preparation
The exam is not impossibly difficult. The majority of well-prepared candidates pass. But "well-prepared" means: active recall (Q-bank practice), spaced repetition (maintaining knowledge across months), systematic topic coverage (not just the topics you find interesting), and calculation practice (daily, not crammed).
iatroX's adaptive GPhC Q-bank provides structured, evidence-based preparation — active recall through practice questions, spaced repetition scheduling at optimal intervals, and adaptive targeting of your weakest CRA topic areas.