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General

Can I cancel or amend an exam booking?

Cancellation of an exam booking only leads to a refund if the exam is cancelled within 14 days of the original booking. Beyond this date you can, however, amend your booking (for example change the booking to a later date or change the papers you plan to sit) up to the cut off date for the exam you are booked to sit. After the cut off date no changes can be made by you or by ABPI. To amend your booking, click on 'Manage exams' on the home page.

Can I sit the morning and afternoon papers/units on separate days?

Yes.

You may sit the morning and afternoon sittings on different days, unless your employer requires you to sit the entire exam in one day.

How do I appeal my score?

Exam papers are marked using an optical mark reader. The likelihood of an error in marking is very low and all marginal scores are checked prior to uploading the results to individual profiles.

If you want to appeal your score based on any other factors that you feel may be relevant you have 14 days from the date of the exam to do so in writing to ABPI Head of Education and Exam. Please see the Exam regulations page for more information.

How do I request more time to sit the exam?

If you are approaching the end of the two years that you are allowed in which to pass the exam you must contact the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority to request more time. The PMCPA will decide whether or not to grant you extra time.

If you are successful in being given extra time you must inform ABPI so that we can update your profile.

You can contact the PMCPA here.

How long after an exam will I get my results?

An e-mail alert advising that your results are available will be sent when your results are available. This is usually within a week of the exam. If there is any delay you will be informed by email. You will need your log in details to access your results, which can be found at the bottom of your profile page.

Certificates will be sent within a few weeks of you passing the exam. These will be sent to the home address on your profile - please make sure this is correct. You do not have to order or pay for your first certificate.

How long do I have to pass the exam?

The ABPI Code of Practice Clause 16.3 states that representatives must take an appropriate examination within their first year of employment as a representative, and must pass it within two years. This time limit does not apply to candidates not currently employed in the promotion of medicines to prescribers. If you have any queries about your individual circumstances, contact the PMCPA.

How many optional disease units should I select?

If you are sitting optional disease units (afternoon session), you must select units from one of the following two combinations:

3 units: all from units 5 and 7-16
2 units: Unit 6 (10 credits) and one unit from units 5 and 7-16

For more information on each unit, please visit About the exam

How much does the exam cost?

This information relates to the accredited ABPI exam.

In order to sit the ABPI Exam, you must purchase learning manuals. These colour, illustrated books are published by the ABPI and available for purchase at a cost of £120 plus £15.10 P&P. These learning manuals cover all the material for both the Certificate and Diploma.

E-learning is also available at a cost of £100 + VAT

The cost to sit each unit is normally £90 + VAT, however when booking sittings for the first time a discount is applied for booking all units in a sitting (mandatory or optional) therefore the costs are as follows:

Mandatory units sitting: £300 + VAT

Optional disease area units sitting: £225 + VAT

The total cost of ordering both types of learning materials and both mandatory and optional units is therefore £885.10.

I have changed my name since creating a profile, what should I do?

You must bring photo ID in the form of a passport or driving licence to your exam. If you have changed your name from the one on your exam website profile you must bring proof of this change, for example a marriage certificate. You will not be allowed to sit the exam unless you produce valid photo ID. If you have any queries about your ID, please contact the ABPI as soon as possible.

What happens if I fail an exam?

Provided that you are still within your time limit to pass the exam, you can resit the paper/unit you have failed. This is booked in the same way and at the same cost as your original booking.

You do not need to resit any papers/units you have previously passed.

What happens on the day of the exam?

You need to arrive at the exam room at least 20 minutes before the exam begins. Morning exams begin at 10:00 and afternoon exams begin at 14:00.

The exam questions consist of multiple choice questions with one correct answer. Answers are filled in by hand onto an optical mark reader form that will be read by a machine.

You may not remove any exam papers from the examination venue.

The ABPI doesn't provide lunch, however all venues have a cafe where you can purchase refreshments.

Full instructions will be given by the invigilator on the day of the exam, however if you have any questions in advance please contact the ABPI.

What is a generic sales representative?

Representatives who promote medicines on the basis of price only may take the ABPI Level 3 Certificate rather than the full Diploma.

If you have registered for the Certificate you will only be able to book units related to your qualification.

What is the pass mark for the exam, and how do I achieve Distinction?

The pass mark for all ABPI exams is 60%.

To achieve Distinction, you must achieve 80% or more on all units at the first attempt. You do not need to sit the mandatory units on the same day as the optional disease area units to achieve a Distinction.

If you are sitting the accredited Level 3 Diploma and achieve a Distinction, you will receive a certificate from the ABPI rather than from our external awarding body.

What should I bring to my exam?

You must bring photo ID (driving license or passport) in the name that you are registered on the ABPI Exams website. If your name has changed and you have not contacted the ABPI, please bring proof of your change of name. You will not be allowed to sit your exam without photo ID.

If you are sitting the Certificate or Diploma in the promotion of medicines (accredited qualification), you will need to bring a basic calculator. The calculator should not be able to store data and may be inspected by the invigilator.

The invigilator will provide you with a pencil and eraser; you must not use your own stationery.

There will be space in the exam room for your belongings however ABPI does not take responsibility for their security.

What should I do if I have a concern about the ABPI exam?

The ABPI is committed to managing the ABPI examination to the highest standards of transparency and ethics. We expect all candidates and ABPI staff and contractors to be honourable in all aspects concerning the attempting and management of the exam process.

However all institutions face the risk of things going wrong from time to time or of unknowingly harbouring illegal or unethical conduct. ABPI is committed to highest standards of openness, probity and accountability to prevent such situations occurring or to address them when they do occur.

Whistleblowing is the reporting of a suspected wrongdoing in relation to the ABPI examination. The ABPI has a policy for whistleblowing with regards to the ABPI exam, please click here to read it.

What should I do if I have special needs?

From the exam regulations:

10.1 A variation to the regular examination arrangements is made for candidates with medically certified special needs such as dyslexia, poor eye sight or other disability affecting ability to take multiple choice examinations at the usually appointed exam centres or sittings. This variation includes (but is not limited to) an ability for ABPI to provide such candidates an added time of up to 25% extra time for completion of the examination paper, or to use a large print copy of the exam questions.

When creating your profile on the Exams site you should complete the appropriate field to indicate that you have special needs. Please then contact the ABPI via the Contact us page or by phoning +44 (0)870 890 4333 to discuss your requirements further.

What type of questions will I be asked in the exam?

The following information applies to the accredited Certificate and Diploma.

You will be asked a mixture of questions across all areas of the unit. Please click here for further information.

Where and when are exams held?

We hold one exam a month at venues around the UK. Please see this link for more information about venues. Once you have registered for the website a full list of relevant sittings will be displayed. If you would like to view a list of provisional sittings, please click here.

Will I be tested on the use of statistics in medicine in other units?

Yes, the content in section 4.2.4 of Volume 1 of the learning materials (accredited Certificate and Diploma) may be examined in all other units. You should bring a calculator to all exams.

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