GPAT 2026 Highest Weightage Chapters and Important Topics

GPAT 2026 Highest Weightage Chapters: GPAT 2026 is a highly competitive national-level entrance exam for admission to MPharm programs in India, where success depends not on covering the entire syllabus but on mastering high-weightage, repeatedly tested concepts. This comprehensive guide on GPAT 2026 Highest Weightage Chapters by Supriya Mishra Ma’am, explains how aspirants can strategically prioritize subjects and topics that carry higher weightage in the exam. 

By focusing on core areas across Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Analysis, and Jurisprudence, this content helps students streamline preparation, strengthen conceptual clarity, and improve accuracy through smart revision and inter-subject correlation.

GPAT 2026 Highest Weightage Chapters

Here are the key chapters for GPAT 2026, which carry a higher weightage of marks. Students must focus on these chapters to maximize their score in the exam:

1. Pharmaceutics

Pharmaceutics is a highest-priority and very high-scoring subject in GPAT, encompassing several vital sub-disciplines.

1.1. Pharmaceutical Technology

This section covers core concepts and manufacturing processes.

• Tablets and Capsules: Fundamental concepts and manufacturing techniques.

• Coating: Principles and various coating techniques.

• Excipients: Understanding their types and functional roles in formulations.

• Microencapsulation and Controlled Release Systems: Advanced drug delivery concepts.

• Other Dosage Forms: Includes Emulsions, Suspensions, Topical Agents, and various miscellaneous formulations.

1.2. Sterile Products

This area is critically important for GPAT.

• Sterilization: Methods of sterilization and their validation processes.

• Parenterals: Formulation and administration considerations for injectable products.

• Ophthalmic Dosage Forms: Specific requirements and formulations for eye preparations.

1.3. Physical Pharmacy

A strong grasp of basic concepts here is essential. Key topics frequently appearing in previous years' question papers (PYQs) include:

• Rheology: Study of flow and deformation of matter.

• Micromeritics: Science of small particles.

• Diffusion and Dissolution: Processes of mass transfer and drug release.

• Buffers: Understanding their mechanism and calculations.

• Kinetics: Study of reaction rates, particularly in drug degradation.

1.4. Biopharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics

These are core concepts vital for drug action understanding.

• Core Concepts: ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion), Bioavailability, and Bioequivalence.

• Pedagogical Note: These concepts are foundational and also appear in Pharmacology, making their study here beneficial for both subjects.

1.5. Other Key Topics

• Pharmaceutical Calculations: Requires thorough practice.

• Preformulation, Packaging, and Stability Studies: Important aspects of drug development.

• High-Yield Numericals: Though few, these problems appear regularly and must be mastered for accurate scoring.

2. Pharmaceutical Chemistry

A strategic approach is recommended for this broad subject. Begin with Organic Chemistry before moving to Pharmaceutical Analysis.

2.1. Organic Chemistry

• Stereochemistry and Isomerism: Understanding 3D structures and their variations.

• Functional Group Reactions: Key reactions involving different functional groups.

• Substitution and Elimination Reactions: Core reaction mechanisms.

• Name Reactions and Reaction Mechanisms: These are very important for the exam.

2.2. Medicinal Chemistry

Focus on high-yield points rather than attempting to cover everything.

• Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR): Understanding how chemical structure relates to biological activity for various drug classes.

• Parental Moieties: Key structural components.

• Key Drug Classes:

• CNS Drugs: Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, Sedatives – focus on structural features.

• Cardiovascular (CVS) Drugs.

• NSAIDs, Opioids, Antidiabetics, Coagulants, Vitamins.

• Antimicrobials: Focus on structural components responsible for their function.

• Inter-Subject Correlation: Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology are closely related. Study them in a co-related manner, covering structural features when learning about drug classes in Pharmacology.

2.3. Inorganic Chemistry & Biochemistry

• Inorganic Chemistry Topics:

• Impurities and their limit tests.

• Dental Agents.

• Isotopes.

• Biochemistry Topics:

• Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Enzymes.

• Pedagogical Note: These three topics are also covered in Pharmacognosy. Create integrated notes, adding relevant drug examples and biological sources from Pharmacognosy to consolidate learning.

3. Pharmacology

Pharmacology is a standalone subject with the highest weightage, yielding approximately 25-30 questions.

• General Pharmacology:

• Concepts like ADME, Bioavailability, and Volume of Distribution.

• Pedagogical Note: Co-relate these pharmacokinetic principles with their coverage in Biopharmaceutics. Prepare calculation-based problems from both perspectives.

• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): The basics of ANS are fundamental.

• Autacoids: Histamine, Prostaglandins, and Leukotrienes.

• Central Nervous System (CNS): Antidepressants, Sedatives, Anticonvulsants, and Parkinsonism drugs.

• Inter-Subject Correlation: This overlaps significantly with Medicinal Chemistry. After learning classification and mechanism here, add specific structural features for Medicinal Chemistry.

• Cardiovascular System (CVS): RAAS system drugs, Antihypertensives, and Diuretics.

• Endocrine System: Insulin, Oral hypoglycemics, Thyroid, and Antithyroid drugs.

• Chemotherapy and Antimicrobials: This is an extremely important chapter, yielding 4-5 questions.

• Vitamins and Immunosuppressants

• Inter-Subject Correlation: Vitamins also appear in Biochemistry. Mastering it once covers both subjects.

4. Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry

Major Phytoconstituent Classes:

• Alkaloids

• Glycosides

• Tannins

• Volatile Oils (Terpenoids)

• Resins

• Lipids

• Carbohydrates

• Inter-Subject Correlation: Carbohydrates overlap with Biochemistry. Create a single, comprehensive set of notes covering concepts, chemical tests, and drug examples with biological sources for both subjects.

Other Important Topics:

• Marine Drugs and plant constituents.

• Analytical Pharmacognosy: Focus on Adulteration and Evaluation parameters.

• Plant Tissue Culture and Standardization of Herbal Drugs: These are considered trending topics and important to review.

GPAT 2026 Pharmacognosy Chapter-Wise Weightage

5. Moderate Priority Subjects & Topics

These are the moderate priority subjects and topics for GPAT 2026:

5.1. Biochemistry

• Macromolecules: Amino acids, Proteins, Nucleic acids.

• Enzymes & Coenzymes.

• Metabolic Pathways: Krebs Cycle, Lipid metabolism, and Fatty acid synthesis.

• Inter-Subject Correlation: Study pathways here in conjunction with the Shikimic Acid Pathway and Acetate-Mevalonate Pathway in Pharmacognosy.

5.2. Pharmaceutical Analysis & Physical Chemistry

• Spectroscopy: UV, IR, NMR, Mass Spectrometry.

• Chromatography: Various techniques.

• Other Techniques: Flame Photometry, Atomic Absorption, Conductometry, Potentiometry.

• Volumetric Analysis.

• Physical Chemistry Concepts: Colligative Properties, Gas Laws, Kinetics.

Note: Questions often focus on instrumental ranges, numericals, and concepts like hybridization.

6. Miscellaneous & High-Scoring Quick Topics

These "minor" subjects can yield an expected 5-8 questions and are excellent for quick scoring.

• Microbiology:

• Sterilization methods.

• Vaccines.

• Pathogenic microbes.

• Pharmaceutical Jurisprudence: Questions are often direct and memory-based.

• Schedules: Memorize schedules A to Y. Schedule Y (Clinical Trials) is frequently asked.

• Acts: The D&C Act is especially important. Review the Pharmacy Act, its year, and council composition (ex-officio, elected, nominated members).

• Regulatory Bodies.

• Clinical Trial Phases and ICH Guidelines.

• Temperature Definitions: (e.g., Cool, Cold) – frequently asked.

• Minor Physical Pharmacy Topics: Surface Tension, Viscosity.

7. Summary of Confirmed High-Yield Topics

This section lists topics with a high probability of appearing in the exam, serving as a critical checklist.

Pharmaceutics

• Physical Pharmacy: Buffers, Rheology, Micromeritics, Dissolution, Drug Degradation, Kinetics (expect 2-3 questions annually).

• Dosage Forms: Tablets, Parenterals, Ophthalmics, Emulsions, Suspensions (expect 2-3 questions).

• Biopharmaceutics: Bioavailability, Bioequivalence, ADME, First-Pass Metabolism.

Pharmacology

• ANS: Adrenergic, Cholinergic systems, and their blockers.

• CNS: Antidepressants, Antipsychotics, Opioids, Antiepileptics. Master the classification of these drugs.

• CVS: Antihypertensives (e.g., Calcium Channel Blockers), Diuretics, Anti-arrhythmics.

• Memory Tip: Co-relate pharmacological classes with drugs from Pharmacognosy, e.g., Rauwolfia (an Indole alkaloid) for antihypertensives.

• General Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Half-life, Clearance, Receptors. These basic concepts are tested every year (1-2 questions).

Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry

• Medicinal Chemistry: SAR of key classes like NSAIDs, Antibiotics, CNS drugs, and Antidiabetics (expect 2-4 questions).

• Organic Chemistry: Stereo-isomerism and Name Reactions.

• Inorganic Chemistry: Impurities and Limit Tests.

Pharmacognosy

• Phytoconstituents: Alkaloids, Glycosides, Tannins, Volatile Oils. You must learn these along with their Chemical Tests (e.g., Mayer's, Dragendorff's reagents and resulting colors).

• Herbal Basics: Plant Tissue Culture and Standardization Techniques.

Analysis

• Instrumental: UV, IR, Chromatography (TLC, HPLC). Be aware of operational ranges.

• Volumetric Analysis: Acid-Base, Complexometric, and Non-aqueous titrations (expect 1-2 questions).

Biochemistry & Jurisprudence

• Biochemistry: Metabolism pathways (Glycolysis, Krebs cycle, HMP Shunt) and Enzymes.

• Jurisprudence: Schedules (A-Y), with special attention to Schedule Y.

GPAT 2026 Last 2 Month Preparation Tips

8. GPAT 2026 Core Strategy & Mindset

How you study is as important as what you study.

• Strategic Focus: You don't need to know everything. A clear strategy is more valuable than trying to cover 100% of the syllabus. Focus on concepts, not just rote memorization.

• Concept Repetition: GPAT does not repeat exact questions, but it repeats concepts. Master the basic concepts that appear every year: pH, buffers, half-life, SAR, and drug classification.

• Prioritize Basics: Never run after rare or obscure topics until your basics are crystal clear.

• Importance of Revision: Most students fail not because they didn't study, but because they did not revise. Revision is non-negotiable.

Golden Ratio for a 60-Day Study Plan

The 60-day study plan should be focused on revision,practice and new learning:

• 60% Revision: Focus on revision of all the important topics.
• 30% Practice (MCQs): Emphasize on practice of previous year questions.
• 10% New Learning: Focus on weaker areas and start new chapter which you not covered.

Additional Tips for GPAT 2026

• Practice Numericals: Pharmaceutics numericals are often less confusing than theory, have a high accuracy rate if practiced, and can help avoid negative marking.
• Use Visual Ads: Create and review charts for:
• Tablet manufacturing diagrams
• SAR charts
• Metabolic pathways
• Instrumentation principles