GPAT 2021 Preparation: How To Crack Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test 2021 in 50 Days ?
Students who start their preparation early get a head start. The journey to GPAT 2021 preparation has begun. GPAT is one of the most competitive examinations and is held annually in the month of January. GPAT is the gateway for admission to elite Pharma such as NIPERs, ICT, DIPSAR and others. To achieve success in GPAT 2021, you need to start right away.
You have roughly 2 months for GPAT and that is more than enough time to qualify GPAT. GPAT preparation requires roughly around 300 to 500 hours of serious preparation time.
Here is a step by step approach to help you plan ahead.
Study for at least 8-9 hours everyday. Ideal would be 10-11 hours.
GPAT Preparation 2021
GPAT is a computer based test with a total time duration is 3 hours. Candidates must have a clear knowledge of the GPAT exam pattern before starting their preparation. GPAT is broadly divided into 5 areas:
1. Pharmaceutics
2. Pharmaceutical Chemistry
3. Pharmacology
4. Pharmacognosy
5. Others
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Pharmaceutics | 38 | 152 |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 38 | 152 |
| Pharmacology | 28 | 112 |
| Pharmacognosy | 10 | 40 |
| Others | 11 | 44 |
The total time duration was 180 minutes for GPAT 2021 and each right answer carried 4 marks. The exam has a negative marking scheme. 1 mark was deducted for every wrong answer in MCQs and no negative marking for unanswered MCQs.
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How To Prepare For GPAT 2021?
Some of the most well known GPAT 2021 preparation tips and strategies out there to clear the exam are:
- Create a GPAT 2021 study plan for the preparation of the exam. Spend more time on the tough topics and practice as much as you can on those specific topics specifically if the weightage is high for those topics.
- Study at least 8 to 9 hours a day regularly to crack the exam.
- Make a list of topics from which questions may be asked. Aspirants should start preparing the topics they find the toughest.
- Focus more on learning the shortcuts since it will help them to solve lengthy questions.
- While studying should prepare notes as it will help them to revise quickly during the last minute of preparation.
- Candidates are recommended to practice GPAT mock tests since it will help them to boost up their speed. They should solve at least one paper in a day. Solving mock tests will help candidates to identifying the areas which they are lagging behind and can work on them.
Table of Contents
Best Books for GPAT 2021 Preparation
- While there are plenty of great books that are available in the market when it comes to GPAT preparation, I think that the notes that is prepared on own is pretty good. You can probably get that from a senior or your neighborhood. Check Our GPAT PREP PACK – FREE SAMPLE
- If not, then Pearson has a really good set of books as well. They cover nearly everything that is required for GPAT preparation and a little bit extra as well. Here is a slightly more detailed analysis of Recommended Books for GPAT 2021.
Previous Question Papers
- While you are gearing up for GPAT 2021, it is important that you have a look at previous year papers to get an idea about the pattern and difficulty.
Time Management
- Time management is the topmost priority while preparing for any competitive exam. Candidates who are preparing for the competitive exam must have time management ability.
- Time management skill enables one to prepare the topic in a given duration without hassle. It helps in focusing on the important subjects. It helps in organizing the study schedule accordingly.
- Set a timetable and start studying accordingly as it will also help you find a balance in the subjects you want to give more focus.
It would be better if you can divide your preparation in three phases:
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Phase 1 – Concept Building (Funda’s)
If there are any specific areas that you are not comfortable in, you should focus your time and energy on those areas in the beginning of your GPAT preparation.
50 Days Plan to CRACK GPAT 2021
Lets start our journey to crack GPAT, which is further divided in to 3 phases.
CONCEPTUAL PHASE (21 DAYS)
We recommend to spend 21 days on building your concepts.
| SUBJECTS | No. of Days | Hours* |
| Pharmaceutics | 7 | 63.5 |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 5 | 45 |
| Pharmacology | 5.5 | 50 |
| Pharmacognosy | 1.5 | 13.5 |
| Others | 1.8 | 9 |
| Total | 21 | 189 |
*Considering 9hrs per day
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Pharmaceutics
| TOPIC | EXPECTED QUESTIONS | MARKS |
| Micromeritics | 1 | 4 |
| Rheology | 1 | 4 |
| Complexation | 1 | 4 |
| Calculations | 2 | 8 |
| Solids – Tablets & Capsules | 2 | 8 |
| Aerosols | 1 | 4 |
| Parenterals | 1 | 4 |
| Cosmetics | 1 | 4 |
| Unit Operation | 2 | 8 |
| Total | 12 | 48 |
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Chemistry is one of the easy scoring subject. It has 3 sub divisions.
- Organic Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
Important Topics:
Organic Chemistry
| TOPIC | EXPECTED QUESTIONS | MARKS |
| IUPAC Nomenclature | 2 | 8 |
| Stereochemistry | 2 | 8 |
| Named Reactions | 3 | 12 |
| Heterocyclic Chemistry | 2 | 8 |
| Total | 9 | 36 |
Medicinal Chemistry
| TOPIC | EXPECTED QUESTIONS | MARKS |
| Synthesis | 1 | 4 |
| SAR | 1 | 4 |
| Basic Nucleus | 1 | 4 |
| Mechanisms | 2 | 8 |
| Total | 5 | 20 |
Inorganic Chemistry
| TOPIC | EXPECTED QUESTIONS | MARKS |
| Limit Tests | 1 | 4 |
| Miscellaneous | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 2 | 8 |
Pharmacognosy
| TOPIC | EXPECTED QUESTIONS | MARKS |
| Alkaloids | 2 | 8 |
| Glycosides | 2 | 8 |
| Tannins | 1 | 4 |
| Volatile Oils | 1 | 4 |
| Analytical Pharmacognosy | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 7 | 28 |
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Pharmacology
| TOPIC | EXPECTED QUESTIONS | MARKS |
| General Pharmacology | 2 | 8 |
| ANS | 2 | 8 |
| CVS | 2 | 8 |
| Respiratory | 1 | 4 |
| GIT | 1 | 4 |
| Chemotherapy – Non Specific | 2 | 8 |
| Total | 10 | 40 |
Pharmaceutical Analysis
| TOPIC | EXPECTED QUESTIONS | MARKS |
| UV-Visible | 1 | 4 |
| IR | 1 | 4 |
| HPLC | 1 | 4 |
| Electrochemical Techniques | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 4 | 16 |
Miscellaneous
| TOPIC | EXPECTED QUESTIONS | MARKS |
| Forensic Pharmacy | 1 | 4 |
| Biochemical Pathways | 1 | 4 |
| Enzymes, Vitamins – Source and Deficiency diseases, Coenzyme and Cofactor | 1 | 4 |
| Qualitative Evaluation of Carbohydrates and Amino acids | 1 | 4 |
| , Sources, Causative Organisms, Incubation Period | 1 | 4 |
| Microbial Assay, Sterilization | 1 | 4 |
| Growth, Nutrition and Staining | 1 | 4 |
| Immunology/ Serology tests | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 8 | 32 |
Phase 2 – Smart Revision (Rapid)
REVISON is the important tool to crack any competitive exam, as it boosts the memory of the key scoring concepts those are highly probable to repeat in actual exam.
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RAPID REVISION can be completed in 9 days.
| SUBJECTS | No. of Days | Hours* |
| Pharmaceutics | 3 | 28 |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 1.5 | 16 |
| Pharmacology | 2 | 22 |
| Pharmacognosy | 0.65 | 7 |
| Others | 0.85 | 8.5 |
| Total | 9 | 108 |
*Considering 12hrs per day
Tips for Revision
Don’t study anything New.
Revise Revise Revise
Study CHARTS, TABLES and Numerical limits repeatedly.
Cology – Receptors, classifications, MOA, DOC, Uses, Adverse efects, Syndromes, Antidotes, Hypersensitivity, Drug Interactions.
Cognosy – Synonyms, BS, Chemical Constituents, Microscopy, Identification tests, Pharmacological Use, Adulterants, (Alkaloids, Glycosides, Tannins and Terpenoids) Pathways, Analytical Constants, Growth Regulators
Forensic – Schedules, Forms, Acts and Years, Administrative Bodies
Calculations – All formulas and Examples
Chemistry – Stereo Chemistry (CIP), Named Reactions, IUPAC Nomenclature (Aliphatic & Heterocyclic), Hybridization, Bond Effects, Reactions of Compounds, SN1, SN2, E1 and E2 Reaction
Medicinal Chemistry – IUPAC names, Starting Materials, Basic Nucleus, SAR, Mechanisms
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Analysis – Chromatography (Detectors, Columns, Principle) Mechanism, Indicators, Ranges for organic compounds, Numericals, Indicators, Woodward Fischer Rule, Transitions, Shifts, IR Ranges, Vibrations, NMR Effects, Mass Fragmentation, Mass Ionization Techniques, Principle, instrumentation in polalography, potentiometry, Neplo turbidimetry, Conductometry, Karl Fischer Techniques. Indicators, Principles in Titrimetry.
Ceutics – Charts and Tables, Numerical values, Pharmacopieal limits, Specific tests, Evaluation Tests, Trade Names, Excipients Function, Calculations, Unit Operations Principle & Equipment.
MUST – Solubility, Colligative property, Kinetics, Rheology, Micromeritics, Aerosols, Oral Solids, Coarse dispersion, Parenterals.
Biochemistry – Pathways, Membrane Transport, Enzymes, Vitamins – Source and Deficiency diseases, Coenzyme and Cofactor, Qualitative Evaluation of Carbohydrates and Amino acids
Microbiology – Microscopy, Assay, Sterilization, Growth, Nutrition and Staining, Sources, Causative Organisms, Incubation Period
Biotech – Immunology, R-DNA technology, Specific Serology tests
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Phase 3 – Practice & Testing
This is where a lot of students, lose track of their preparation. They do not practice enough. The do a few questions / run through couple of chapters in a book and they think they are done – it is a huge mistake that you should avoid. You should try to practice as much as you can, specially in the areas that you are weak in. By the time you start the testing phase, you should be confident of solving easy questions on all topics. And the only way to get that confidence is to practice more and more questions. Try to identify your weak areas and work upon them.
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There is a proverb (Practice, Practice, Practice) that believes that all you need to do well in GPAT is mocks, mocks, and more mocks. The goal of a mocks is to figure out your strong and weak areas. The goal of a mock is to fine tune the time distribution during the exam. The goal of a mock is to set realistic expectations for a score. To practice more and more questions is not the goal of a mock. You have books for that. Anywhere from 05 to 10 mocks is more than enough for most GPAT aspirants. You should use the 15 days of your preparation taking around 1 mock in 2-3 days. Make sure that you analyze your mocks properly (this might consume more time that giving the actual mock), but you will identify your strengths and weaknesses and use the rest of the week to improve your test taking skills.
| TESTS | No. of Days |
| SUBJECT TEST | 6 |
| MOCK TEST | 10 |
| SELF PREP | 3 |
| GPAT 2021 | 1 |
| Total | 20 |
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| TESTS | Number |
| TOPIC TESTS | 25 |
| REVISION TESTS | 05 |
| SUBJECT TESTS | 05 |
| MOCK TESTS | 05 |
| TOTAL | 40 |
Final Thoughts on Preparation
Upon Stringent analysis of previous year question papers and cut off particulars it is evident that scoring 140-150 marks will be sufficient to crack the exam. Conversion of marks in to No. of questions, attempting 35-38 with 100% accuracy lead to a successful GPAT score. Considering Human errors it is recommended to attempts +5 question in addition to nullify the human errors. Hence the final number will be 40-45 attempts.
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| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Attempts | Scored |
| Pharmaceutics | 38 | 152 | 12 | 48 |
| Pharmaceutical Chemistry | 38 | 152 | 16 | 64 |
| Pharmacology | 28 | 112 | 10 | 40 |
| Pharmacognosy | 10 | 40 | 7 | 28 |
| Others | 11 | 44 | 8 | 32 |
Thus, you can plan 50 days to focus on hard work to crack GPAT 2021.
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