GPAT Exam Pattern 2027: 125 MCQs, 500 Marks, Marking Scheme and Subject Wise Weightage

GPAT 2027 is a national-level computer-based test conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) for admission to M.Pharm programs across India. The exam includes 125 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) across five pharmacy subjects, lasting 180 minutes for a total of 500 marks. The official GPAT 2027 notification is expected in December 2026 on the NBEMS website, natboard.edu.in.

• GPAT 2027 is a 180-minute computer-based test with 125 MCQs for a total of 500 marks.
• The exam covers 5 subject areas: Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy, and Other B.Pharm Subjects.
• Correct answers earn +4 marks; a wrong answer deducts 1 mark; unattempted questions score 0.
• Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics carry the highest weightage — 38 questions each worth 152 marks each.
• Pharmacology is the third-largest section with 28 questions worth 112 marks.
• The GPAT 2027 notification is expected in December 2026 — check natboard.edu.in for official updates.

GPAT Exam Pattern 2027: Overview

GPAT 2027 is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted entirely in English. The exam lasts 3 hours and consists of 125 Multiple Choice Questions totalling 500 marks. The GPAT pattern has remained structurally unchanged since 2019, and the 2027 exam is expected to follow the same format.

GPAT 2027 is a 180-minute computer-based test with 125 MCQs for 500 marks — the pattern has been stable since NTA first conducted it in 2019.

GPAT Exam Pattern 2027: Important Dates

The GPAT 2027 schedule has not been officially announced as of August 2026. Based on the consistent two-year timeline pattern, the notification is expected in December 2026 and the exam in March 2027. The table below places all upcoming 2027 events first, followed by the confirmed 2026 dates as reference.

Note: GPAT 2027 dates are estimated based on previous year timelines. Students must verify at natboard.edu.in once the official notification is released.

GPAT 2027: Detailed Exam Pattern

The GPAT exam has 5 subject-based sections, all carrying equal marks per question (+4 each). Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics together account for 76 questions (60.8% of the paper) and 304 out of 500 marks. There is no section-wise time limit — you can allocate your 180 minutes freely across subjects.

All 125 questions in GPAT 2027 carry equal weightage of 4 marks each — focus your time on high-question-count sections first.

Note: GPAT has no section-wise time limit. You can attempt questions in any order and allocate time based on your subject strengths.

Source: National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)

GPAT Marking Scheme 2027

GPAT 2027 applies a +4 / –1 marking scheme uniformly across all 125 questions. Every correct MCQ earns +4 marks. Every wrong answer deducts 1 mark. Unattempted questions carry zero marks and no penalty. Since the paper contains only MCQs, the marking scheme applies to every question without exception.

Negative marking of 1 mark applies to every wrong MCQ answer in GPAT 2027 — avoid guessing on questions where you cannot eliminate at least two options.

A wrong attempt effectively costs you 5 marks in net terms — 4 marks not earned plus 1 mark deducted. Leave a question unattempted rather than guessing when you are unsure.

GPAT Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2027

GPAT 2027 tests knowledge across five subject areas of the B.Pharm curriculum. Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics together contribute 76 questions (60.8%) of the paper. Below is the subject-wise breakdown with key topic areas for each section.

1. Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Allied Subjects (38 Questions | 152 Marks)

This is the largest section, tied with Pharmaceutics at 38 questions and 152 marks. It covers organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry applied to drug design and pharmaceutical analysis.

2. Pharmaceutics & Allied Subjects (38 Questions | 152 Marks)

Pharmaceutics is the co-largest section, tied with Pharmaceutical Chemistry. It focuses on drug formulation, delivery systems, and pharmacokinetics — core areas of M.Pharm specialisation.

3. Pharmacology & Allied Subjects (28 Questions | 112 Marks)

Pharmacology is the third-largest section with 28 questions worth 112 marks. It tests your understanding of drug mechanisms, classifications, and therapeutic applications across body systems.

4. Pharmacognosy & Allied Subjects (10 Questions | 40 Marks)

Pharmacognosy covers natural products and plant-derived drugs. With 10 questions, this is a smaller section — but it rewards focused preparation and can be a high-scoring area.

5. Other Subjects of B.Pharm Course (11 Questions | 44 Marks)

This section covers foundational B.Pharm subjects including biochemistry, microbiology, and pharmacy law. With 11 questions, it rewards broad curriculum coverage and is often a differentiator for high scorers.

GPAT Question Types 2027

GPAT 2027 consists entirely of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). There are no descriptive, essay, numerical, or multiple-select questions. Each MCQ presents 4 response options with only one correct answer. This uniform format makes the exam predictable — all 125 questions follow the same structure.

GPAT 2027 is a pure MCQ exam — all 125 questions have 4 options and one correct answer, with no other question types.

Since GPAT uses only single-correct MCQs, the elimination method is highly effective. Eliminating two incorrect options raises your chance of guessing correctly from 25% to 50%. Weigh this against the -1 penalty before deciding to guess.

GPAT Exam Pattern: Changes in 2027 vs Previous Year

The GPAT exam pattern has remained completely stable since 2019, when the exam moved to computer-based format. The 2026 cycle showed no structural changes from 2025 in questions, marks, duration, or marking scheme. Based on this consistent track record, no significant structural changes are expected for GPAT 2027. Students should monitor natboard.edu.in once the official notification is out.

Note: The 2027 column reflects expected values based on prior year patterns. Once NBEMS releases the official GPAT 2027 information brochure, students must verify the pattern at natboard.edu.in.

How to Prepare Based on GPAT Exam Pattern

The GPAT exam pattern directly shapes the most effective preparation strategy. With 125 equal-weightage MCQs across 5 sections, time management and targeted section prioritisation are the key levers. Use the pattern data below to build a structured study plan.

1. Prioritise Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutics first. These two sections carry 76 questions (60.8% of the paper) and 304 of the 500 marks. Strong performance here can determine your overall rank.
2. Allocate practice time proportional to question count. With 180 minutes for 125 questions, you have about 1 minute 26 seconds per question. Build this pace through regular timed mock tests before the exam date.
3. Avoid random guessing due to the -1 penalty. A wrong answer effectively costs you 5 marks in net terms. Skip a question if you cannot confidently eliminate at least two of the four options.
4. Cover Pharmacology (28 questions) with systematic chapter-by-chapter revision. Focus on drug mechanisms, organ-system-wise drug classes, and pharmacokinetic parameters — these are the highest-frequency areas in GPAT Pharmacology questions.
5. Do not neglect Pharmacognosy (10 questions) and Other Subjects (11 questions). These 21 questions together are worth 84 marks. Focused preparation can yield full marks in these smaller sections.
6. Solve GPAT previous year papers from 2019 onwards. GPAT has been a stable CBT since 2019 — past papers reflect the exact question types, difficulty level, and topic frequency you will face.
7. Use the no-section-time-limit to your advantage in the CBT interface. Start with your strongest subject to build momentum, then move to weaker areas. This strategy saves time and reduces exam anxiety.