GPAT

The GPAT or the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test is an examination conducted by the or National Testing Agency (NTA) for admitting students to the M.Pharm courses in colleges in India. Candidates who are successful in this exam can secure admission to the M.Pharm courses in the NPT approved colleges that accept GPAT scores in India. Candidates who are successful in GPAT will also be considered for various other scholarships and fellowships for pursuing research.

The eligibility criteria for appearing in GPAT are as follows:

• The candidate must be an Indian citizen.
• The candidate must have a 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy after 10+2.
• There is no age restriction.
• Candidates who have passed lateral level B.Pharma courses can also appear in the exam.
• Students who are in the final year of their B.Pharm can also appear in the exam.

The GPAT is an online test of 180 minutes. The type of questions is objective. It carries a total of 125 questions and the maximum number of marks is 500. A correct answer carries 4 marks and 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.

The subjects included in the GPAT paper are as follows:

• General
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Pharmacognosy
• Pharmaceutics

The best method for preparation for this exam is to attempt the previous years’ question papers in an atmosphere simulating the actual exam. The candidates are expected to be thorough with the topics. In addition the negative marking makes it imperative to be accurate in answering the questions.

Every year the cut-off marks for qualifying in the exam varies. The cut-off mark for the exam is set by the total number of candidates who appear for the exam and the difficulty level of the exam. In addition to admission the NTA also provides scholarships to deserving students and also fellowships to pursue research. The GPAT is an extremely sought after exams for students of Pharmacy.