GPAT: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Eligibility and Preparation

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GPAT (Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test) is a national entrance exam for admission to M.Pharm programs in India. It is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on behalf of the Pharmacy Council of India, and a valid GPAT score is accepted by AICTE-approved pharmacy institutes, university departments and affiliated colleges for M.Pharm admission and related scholarships.

This guide covers the GPAT exam pattern, eligibility, marking scheme, subject weightage and how to prepare. The tracker on this page shows live dates for the next cycle.

GPAT at a glance

Full name	Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test
Conducted by	National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)
Exam level	National
Held	Once a year; the month has varied between February and June in recent cycles
Mode	Computer-based test
Duration	3 hours
Subjects	Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and other B.Pharm subjects
Total marks	500 (125 questions)
Negative marking	Yes, minus 1 for each wrong answer
Languages	English
Leads to	M.Pharm admission and PG scholarships; score valid for three years
Official website	natboard.edu.in

GPAT important dates

These dates update automatically from Kosuki’s exam calendar. “Announced” dates come from the official notice; “Expected” months are based on past years.

!Dates can change. Always confirm on the official website. Report a wrong date · How we check dates

What is GPAT?

GPAT is the main national test for pharmacy graduates who want to study M.Pharm. It was earlier conducted by NTA and before that by AICTE, and is now run by NBEMS. The test measures your grasp of the full B.Pharm curriculum.

Many institutes and states use GPAT scores directly for M.Pharm admission, and a qualifying score can make you eligible for scholarships during M.Pharm. Some universities also run their own entrance tests, so check the admission rules of each college you are targeting.

GPAT eligibility

Always check the NBEMS information bulletin for your year before applying. Individual colleges may also set their own minimum B.Pharm marks for M.Pharm admission, so read their admission notices as well.

• A bachelor’s degree in pharmacy (B.Pharm, four years after 10+2), including students who joined through lateral entry.
• Final-year B.Pharm students can apply, provided they complete the degree as required by the bulletin.
• There is no upper age limit.
• Candidates with other degrees, such as B.Tech in Pharmaceutical and Fine Chemical Technology, are not eligible according to recent bulletins.

GPAT exam pattern

GPAT is a 3-hour computer-based test with 125 multiple-choice questions, each worth 4 marks. There are no separate sections or sectional time limits, so you can move freely across the paper. Subject weightage in recent papers has been roughly as follows.

Subject	Questions	Marks
Pharmaceutical Chemistry	38	152
Pharmaceutics	38	152
Pharmacology	28	112
Pharmacognosy	10	40
Other subjects	11	44
Total	125	500

GPAT marking scheme

A wrong answer costs a quarter of what a right answer earns. On a 500-mark paper, ten careless guesses can cost you ten marks and a noticeable drop in rank.

• Correct answer: plus 4 marks
• Wrong answer: minus 1 mark
• Unanswered: 0
• There is one correct option per question

GPAT syllabus

The GPAT syllabus is the full B.Pharm curriculum. NBEMS publishes a subject list with the bulletin. Chemistry and pharmaceutics together make up well over half the paper.

• Pharmaceutical Chemistry: medicinal chemistry, organic and inorganic pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, biochemistry
• Pharmaceutics: physical pharmacy, dosage form design, pharmaceutical technology, biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, microbiology, pharmaceutical engineering, dispensing and hospital pharmacy
• Pharmacology: general pharmacology, autonomic, CNS, cardiovascular and chemotherapy topics, toxicology
• Pharmacognosy: crude drugs, phytochemistry, herbal drug technology
• Other subjects: pharmacy practice, jurisprudence, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, social and preventive pharmacy

GPAT result, score validity and admissions

NBEMS declares the GPAT result as a score and All India Rank, usually about a month after the exam. Scorecards are then available for download from the NBEMS website. A GPAT score is valid for three years from the date the result is declared, so you can use it across more than one admission season.

Colleges accepting the GPAT score include AICTE-approved institutes, university departments and their affiliated colleges. Admission is through each state’s or university’s counseling or merit process, and qualifying candidates may be eligible for M.Pharm scholarships and other financial help in pharmacy as per current rules.

How to prepare for GPAT

GPAT covers four years of study in one paper, so the key is broad revision with extra depth in the two heaviest subjects. You have about 86 seconds per question, which leaves room to think, but not to work through long derivations.

If you are in final year, start revising the first and second year subjects early, because they fade fastest while you focus on current coursework. A realistic plan is one full pass of all subjects over four to five months, followed by two quicker revision rounds built around your own short notes and previous papers.

• Give the most time to Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics, which together carry about 60 percent of the marks.
• Pharmacology is the next biggest area. Learn drug classes, mechanisms, key adverse effects and interactions.
• Use standard B.Pharm textbooks for concepts and a good GPAT review book for rapid revision.
• Solve previous GPAT papers to learn which topics repeat, such as structure-activity relationships, pharmacokinetic calculations and dosage form defects.
• Take full 125-question mock tests on a computer in a 3-hour window.
• With minus 1 per wrong answer, attempt when you can eliminate two options, and skip pure guesses.
• Track subject-wise mock scores, for example in Kosuki, to decide where your last month of revision should go.

How to apply for GPAT

1. Check natboard.edu.in for the GPAT information bulletin.
2. Register online and fill in personal and B.Pharm details.
3. Upload your photograph, signature and any required certificates.
4. Pay the fee online and submit the form.
5. Download the admit card from the NBEMS website a few days before the exam.

GPAT FAQs

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Sources

• natboard.edu.in
• admission.aglasem.com/gpat
• www.careers360.com/pharmacy/articles/gpat-exam-pattern

Last reviewed September 2026 against the official National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) notice and information brochure. Exam rules can change from year to year, so always confirm details on the official website before you apply. Kosuki is independent and is not connected with any exam body. Spotted something out of date? Write to contact@kosuki.com.