GPAT 2026 Exam Preparation, Subject-wise Tips, Books, Mock Papers, Weekly Plan
Shruti Kumari9 Oct, 2025
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GPAT 2026 Exam Preparation is important for pharmacy graduates who want to join the Master of Pharmacy (M.Pharm) courses in India. The Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) is organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and checks students on subjects from the B.Pharm syllabus.
GPAT 2026 Exam Preparation helps students understand important topics, manage their time well, and solve questions correctly. With proper planning, regular study, and practice, candidates can improve their scores and feel confident while taking the exam.
GPAT 2026 Exam Overview
GPAT 2026 exam is a national-level computer-based test for admission to M.Pharm programs. The exam is conducted in English and has a duration of three hours. Check the table below for more information on the GPAT 2026 exam overview:
| GPAT 2026 Exam Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Level | National |
| Mode | Computer-based Test (CBT) |
| Total Questions | 125 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 500 |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Negative Marking | 25% for incorrect answers |
| Subjects Covered | Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Analysis, and other B.Pharm topics |
| Medium | English |
GPAT 2026 Exam Preparation: 5 Effective Tips
Listed here are 5 of the most effective tips for GPAT 2026 Exam preparation. All of these five tips will help and assist candidates in organizing their studies and strengthen the core concepts. Check out the information provided below:
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Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus: Candidates must first focus on the high-weightage topics and chapters. And this can be achieved only with a proper understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern aspirants can cut their time and focus on more relevant and important topics.
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Create a Personalized Study Plan: Allocate time according to strengths and weaknesses. Also, while planning not forget to include breaks and revision sessions.
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Focus on Conceptual Understanding: Build a strong foundation in each subject to solve complex problems easily. Hence, it will boost the conceptual understanding, helping in scoring better.
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Practice with GPAT Mock Tests: Simulate exam conditions, improve speed, and identify weak areas.
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Use Quality Study Materials: Refer to standard textbooks, online resources, and previous years’ GPAT papers. Below, we have discussed some books and PhysicsWallah batches that can be of use.
GPAT 2026 Study Plan for 6 Months
A six-month study plan divides preparation into manageable phases. Where each month focuses on specific subjects, allowing candidates to pay equal attention. Below is the table for the 6-month GPAT 2026 Exam Preparation:
| GPAT 2026 Study Plan for 6 Months | ||
| Month | Focus Area | Weekly Breakdown / Details |
| Month 1-2 | Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Week 1-2: Organic Chemistry fundamentals – nomenclature, reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry. Week 3-4: Inorganic Chemistry – drug-related inorganic compounds, medicinal applications. Week 5-6: Physical Chemistry – chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, reaction energetics. Week 7-8: Problem-solving practice + mini quizzes for all three branches. |
| Month 3 | Pharmacology & Pharmacognosy | Week 1-2: Pharmacology – mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, side effects of major drug classes. Week 3-4: Pharmacognosy – natural products, herbal drugs, extraction methods, standardization. Week 5: Practice MCQs and previous year questions for both subjects. Week 6: Quick revision of high-weightage topics. |
| Month 4 | Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Analysis | Week 1-2: Pharmaceutics – dosage forms, controlled release, formulation principles. Week 3-4: Pharmaceutical Analysis – titration, spectroscopy, quality control, validation methods. Week 5: Practice calculations and analytical problems. Week 6: Mini GPAT mock tests on both subjects to track accuracy and speed. |
| Month 5 | Revision + Mock Tests | Week 1-2: Complete revision of Pharmaceutical Chemistry + Pharmacology. Week 3-4: Revision of Pharmaceutics + Pharmacognosy + Pharmaceutical Analysis. Week 5: Full-length GPAT mock tests under exam conditions. Week 6: Analyze results, note weak areas, and practice problem sets. |
| Month 6 | Focused Revision + Last-Minute Practice | Week 1-2: Focused revision of weak topics identified from GPAT mock tests. Week 3: Attempt previous 3–5 years GPAT question papers. Week 4: Last-minute formula revision, key reactions, drug classes, and problem-solving shortcuts. Final Days: Relaxation, light revision, and strategy for exam day. |
GPAT 2026 Subject-Wise Preparation Tips
As an aspirant, one must be aware that each GPAT subject requires a targeted approach. Therefore, subject-wise preparation tips guide aspirants on which areas to prioritize. Check the table below to know subject-wise information:
| GPAT 2026 Subject-Wise Preparation Tips | |
| Subject | Preparation Focus |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Focus on reaction mechanisms for organic and medicinal chemistry. Study drug synthesis pathways, chemical structures, and SAR (structure-activity relationship). Revise important functional groups, rearrangements, and named reactions regularly. Practice solving reaction-based MCQs to strengthen conceptual clarity. |
| Pharmacology | Prioritize high-frequency drugs used in GPAT exams. Focus on mechanism of action, therapeutic uses, contraindications, and adverse effects. Revise drug classes like antibiotics, analgesics, antihypertensives, and CNS drugs. Create flashcards for quick recall and practice scenario-based questions. |
| Pharmaceutics | Understand formulations, dosage forms, and drug delivery systems including tablets, capsules, ointments, transdermal patches, and novel systems. Practice calculations related to molarity, dissolution, stability, and release kinetics. Revise biopharmaceutics concepts such as bioavailability and controlled release mechanisms. |
| Pharmacognosy | Study active constituents of medicinal plants, their pharmacological properties, and therapeutic applications. Learn extraction, isolation, and identification methods. Focus on quality control, standardization methods, and WHO guidelines for herbal drugs. Use diagrams and flowcharts for easy memorization. |
| Pharmaceutical Analysis | Practice quantitative analysis, titration methods, and instrumental techniques like UV, IR, HPLC, and GC. Revise calibration, validation, and analytical problem-solving. Focus on quality control protocols, purity testing, and interpretation of spectra. Solve previous years’ numerical questions for speed and accuracy. |
GPAT Chapter-wise Important Topics
Focusing on chapter-wise important topics helps candidates identify high-weightage areas. This ensures efficient preparation and improves chances of scoring higher in the exam.
| GPAT Chapter-wise Important Topics | |
| Subject | Important Topics |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Organic Chemistry: Nomenclature, stereochemistry, reaction mechanisms, rearrangements, substitutions, eliminations, addition reactions. Drug Chemistry: Synthesis of drugs, structure-activity relationships (SAR), medicinally important compounds. Pharmacokinetics: Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), bioavailability, drug interactions. |
| Pharmacology | Mechanism of Action: Receptor types, agonists, antagonists, dose-response relationships. Therapeutic Uses: Drugs used in cardiovascular, CNS, respiratory, GI, endocrine disorders. Side Effects & Toxicology: Adverse drug reactions, drug-drug interactions, contraindications, toxicity profiles. |
| Pharmaceutics | Dosage Forms: Tablets, capsules, liquids, ointments, suppositories. Controlled Release Systems: Sustained release, delayed release, transdermal patches, novel drug delivery. Formulation Techniques: Granulation, compression, lyophilization, excipients selection, stability studies. |
| Pharmacognosy | Herbal Drugs: Plant sources, active constituents, uses. Phytochemistry: Alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, terpenes, tannins, saponins. Standardization Methods: Physicochemical parameters, chromatographic methods, WHO guidelines for herbal medicines. |
| Pharmaceutical Analysis | Analytical Techniques: Spectrophotometry (UV, IR), chromatography (TLC, HPLC, GC), electrophoresis. Quality Control: Purity testing, assay methods, validation of analytical methods. Titration & Spectroscopy: Acid-base, redox, complexometric titrations, instrumental analysis, calibration methods, interpretation of spectra. |
Books for GPAT Preparations 2026
Selecting the right study materials is crucial for effective preparation. This section lists textbooks, reference books, and online resources.
| Books for GPAT Preparations 2026 | |
| Subject | Books / Resources |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Organic Chemistry by Morrison & Boyd Medicinal Chemistry by Ashutosh Kar PW Lecture Notes & Videos (GPAT Online Course) |
| Pharmacology | Pharmacology by Rang & Dale Essentials of Pharmacology by Tripathi PW Lecture Notes & Videos (GPAT Online Course) |
| Pharmaceutics | Remington: The Science and Practice of PharmacyIntroduction to Pharmaceutics by Lachman PW Lecture Notes & Videos (GPAT Online Course) |
| Pharmacognosy | Trease and Evans Pharmacognosy Pharmacognosy by K. Kokate PW Lecture Notes & Videos (GPAT Online Course) |
| Pharmaceutical Analysis | Quantitative Analysis of Drugs by A. H. Beckett Pharmaceutical Analysis by R. S. K. Khar PW Lecture Notes & Videos (GPAT Online Course) |
Last Minute Tips for GPAT 2026
The final days before GPAT require strategic revision and focused practice. These last-minute tips help aspirants boost confidence, manage stress effectively:
| Last Minute Tips for GPAT 2026 | |
| Tip | Explanation |
| Focus on High-Weightage Topics | Concentrate on chapters that carry more marks, like Pharmaceutical Chemistry (drug synthesis, organic reactions), Pharmacology (mechanisms, high-frequency drugs), and Pharmaceutics (formulations, dosage calculations). This ensures maximum scoring potential in limited time. |
| Revise Notes and Flashcards | Review self-made notes, formula sheets, and flashcards for quick recall of key reactions, drug classes, and definitions. Helps retain information without studying new content. |
| Practice Previous Year Questions | Solve past GPAT questions and mock tests to understand exam patterns, frequently asked concepts, and time management. Improves accuracy and confidence under exam conditions. |
| Time Management During Exam | Allocate time wisely per section and question. Avoid spending too much time on one question; mark difficult questions for review and move on to complete all questions. |
| Stay Calm and Rested | Maintain a healthy routine, eat light meals, and get enough sleep. Stress and fatigue affect memory and problem-solving. Short breaks and relaxation techniques keep your mind fresh. |
GPAT 2026 Exam Preparations FAQs
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