As part of the PDA’s ongoing support for trainees, the PDA wants to remind candidates of the two options that are available, should they have any difficulties prior to or during the assessment.
If candidates feel that their performance will be, or has been, significantly affected, they have two options.
1. Choosing to withdraw
Candidates can withdraw provided they did not attempt the assessment. This means that they can withdraw at any time from the date they apply to the start of the assessment, including on the day of the assessment itself.
To withdraw, candidates do not need to formally notify the GPhC of their decision to withdraw. After the assessment, Surpass will provide the GPhC with a list
of candidates who did not sit the assessment, which will be used to update the GPhC’s records
If candidates withdraw they will not receive a refund of the registration assessment fee if they do not sit. Candidates will not lose a sitting if they do not sit and decide to withdraw. Therefore, it will not count towards one of a trainees three attempts at completing the assessment.
2. Applying for nullification
If candidates experience something which significantly affects their performance during the sitting, they can apply for nullification.
To apply for nullification candidates must:
- Make their invigilator aware of the problem or incident during the assessment and/or prior to leaving the test centre.
- Formally apply to request a nullification within 5 working days of the assessment.
- Provide suitable evidence to support their request.
There is no official guidance on what evidence can be submitted, but if a candidate has a medical problem then evidence from their GP or the person who treats their problem should be submitted. If a candidate experienced technical problems, they should keep a time log of what happened when and the impact of those problems.
The invigilator will complete a report which will be sent to the GPhC. The Board of Assessors will consider whether to grant the result.
Note, the candidate will not be informed of their assessment result.
A candidates request to withdraw must be submitted with the evidence by emailng [email protected].
Kate Kensington, Head of Education at the PDA said, “The PDA would like to emphasise to members who are preparing to sit the assessment that if you are aware of anything that may adversely impact on your preparation or performance on the day, that you do not sit the assessment and you wait until the next sitting.”
Learn more
- Are you fit to sit the November 2025 assessment?
- Revision programme for those sitting the November 2025 assessment
- Advice for those taking the November 2025 assessment
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