1. The exam- and what the examiners expect
PGCPM Revision Module July 2018
With thanks to FPM Exam Board

3. Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine
Syllabus: PharmaTrain 2018
1. SECTION Discovery of Medicines
2. SECTION Development of Medicines: Planning
3. SECTION Non-Clinical Testing
4. SECTION Pharmaceutical Development
5. SECTION Exploratory Development (Molecule to Proof of Concept)
6. SECTION Confirmatory Development
7. SECTION Clinical Trials
8. SECTION Ethics and Legal Issues
9. SECTION Data Management and Statistics
10. SECTION Regulatory Affairs
11. SECTION Drug Safety, Pharmacovigilance and Pharmacoepidemiology
12. SECTION Information, Promotion and Education
13. SECTION Economics of Healthcare, Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics

4. DPM- structure of exam
This is a postgraduate medical exam, like any other, and strictly assured.
Part 1 : MCQ
If successful , advance to
Part 2 about 4 weeks later:
Short answer questions and critical appraisal

5. Structure of exam, (2) Must pass Part 1 before eligible for Part 2.
Candidates may sit both parts same year
DPM is awarded on passing Part 2
Pass Part 1 but fail Part 2 means exempt from Part 1 for the next 4 eligible attempts (but you apparently get a certificate...)

6. Eligibility for examination
Assumed that you have all checked this!

7. MCQ 75 questions x 5 responses = 375 items of information
Time allowed: 2.5 hours
No negative marking
Each correct answer scores 1 mark
Incorrect or no answer scores 0 marks
Random answers score 50%
Pass mark typically ≈ 72-73%. (Mean in last 9 years 72.2%, range %)

8. MCQ: Observations Each stem tests only one piece of knowledge so
You have to revise
Do not leave a question out as 50/50 chance of getting it right

9. Short answer questions (SAQs)
Tests factual actual knowledge / ability to interpret data
All questions to be answered
Candidates must gain marks on at least 8 questions
Time allowed 2½ hours (15 mins/question)
Answer in bullet form style- NOT essays

10. SAQs (2)
Pass mark for each question set by experienced examiners prior to the exam
2 examiners (same pair) mark all scripts for 1 question
Average score taken
If >2 marks difference then goes for adjudication (third marker blinded to other scores). Median then taken.
Pass or Fail - pass mark typically ≈ 51-52% (mean in the last 11 years 51.04%, range 48-54%)

11. SAQ: Observations Test of knowledge: you HAVE to revise
READ the question
ANSWER the question
Bulleted responses NOT essays
Ensure you answer all the questions (score of zero ≥ 3 questions = FAIL
Work through past papers…

12. PRACTISE WRITING OUT
SHORT ANSWERS
BY HAND!

14. Critical appraisal paper
Tests ability to read and critique a paper
Not specified in PharmaTrain syllabus but is fundamental to our work regardless of discipline
~ 13 questions (40% factual, 60% critique)
No requirement for all questions to be answered – but you won’t get any marks for something you don’t answer.
2½ hour paper (plenty)
Question paper and article given at same time
Answer succinctly (bullets)
Marking similar to SAQ
Pass/fail: Pass mark typically ≈ 57% (mean in the last few years 56.36%, range 54-59%)

15. CAP: Observations Test of technique : practice makes perfect
READ the question
ANSWER the question
Bulleted responses NOT essays
Ensure you answer all the questions, particularly the critique/discussion and last one which is usually a ‘what next’
Work through publications regularly- you should be doing this in the day job anyway….

16. PRACTISE WRITING
BY HAND!

17. “Top tips” 2016 (current version) from the Board of Examiners- see FPM website and copy in your packs

18. “Top tips” - General
The pass mark is set each year according to the content of each paper. There is no set quota for how many candidates pass or fail.
We recommend you form study groups to help revise and prepare for the exam. Helping your colleagues will also help you pass the exam!
Look at past papers, available for the last 3 years on the FPM website* as a guide to the type and format of questions asked.
Read the question carefully and answer it!
o Marks will not be awarded for information that does not address the question (even if the information is factually correct).
o As an example of the above point, in the 2015 SAQ paper there were 2 questions where candidates commonly did not answer the question asked and consequently scored poorly. Please see the Board of Examiners Winter Newsletter 2015 (on the FPM website*) for more information.
In the questions you may see the following terms:
List”, “Give” or “State” meaning give a few words or a short sentence for each item - the “what”.
“Describe” meaning give a few sentences for each, addressing key features - the “what, where, why, when & how”.
“Define” meaning explain what the terms mean or the concept in no more than a few sentences.
“Compare” meaning give a few words or a short sentence giving the similarities and differences of one thing versus another. You can give a table for clarity.
“Comment” meaning give your opinion. This is a common term we use in the Critical Appraisal Paper, where we want your opinion (critique on the paper). Often there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers but you should be able to support your opinion with reasoned discussion and/or evidence.

19. ‘Top tips’- general Read the question carefully and answer it!
o Marks will not be awarded for information that does not address the question (even if the information is factually correct).
o As an example of the above point, in the 2015 SAQ paper there were 2 questions where candidates commonly did not answer the question asked and consequently scored poorly. Please see the Board of Examiners Winter Newsletter 2015 (on the FPM website*) for more information.
In the questions you may see the following terms:
“List”, “Give” or “State” meaning give a few words or a short sentence for each item - the “what”.
“Describe” meaning give a few sentences for each, addressing key features - the “what, where, why, when & how”.
“Define” meaning explain what the terms mean or the concept in no more than a few sentences.
“Compare” meaning give a few words or a short sentence giving the similarities and differences of one thing versus another. You can give a table for clarity.
“Comment” meaning give your opinion. This is a common term we use in the Critical Appraisal Paper, where we want your opinion (critique on the paper). Often there are no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answers but you should be able to support your opinion with reasoned discussion and/or evidence.
(*link provided later)

20. Top tips- General cont’d
For both the SAQ and CAP papers, we advise candidates to write in bullet point format and give a few words or a short sentence for each bullet. Writing a lot of words will not score more and will waste your valuable time.
Focus on quality not quantity.
Write as clearly as possible.
Be guided by the number of marks available for a question. Do not write a page for an answer worth 1 mark.
If asked [for example] to give a list of 8 features, and you give more than 8, we will mark all your responses, although you cannot score more than the maximum marks available.
If asked for a number of points, avoid repeating the same information in a slightly different way as it will only score once.
If asked for advantages and disadvantages, do not give the same information both as an advantage and the converse as a disadvantage, as you will only score once!

21. FPM ‘Top tips’: SAQ Make sure you plan your time sufficiently.
You have 2½ hours to answer 10 questions, that is ~15 minutes per question.
You can answer the SAQs in any order you like.
You must score >0 on at least 8 questions, so make sure you make an attempt at all 10 questions.

22. FPM ‘Top tips’: CAP
No detailed therapy area knowledge is required to answer the questions. We are looking for general principles and will not require you to have in depth knowledge of the disease area the article relates to.
We suggest you do a timed practice on reviewing a paper and answering questions.
In the CAP, the critique can be positive points about the paper, not always negative ones. So don't automatically look for deficiencies, look for what’s good about it as well.
Remember, when asked to comment, the “so-what”. Don't just give the facts, give the implications too.
You need to be able to write in lay-language when the question asks for it - that is language suitable for a non-medical/scientific person to understand. (Pinker handout)
For further information on the DPM exam and the CAP paper, you can refer to a presentation made at the FPM Education Day slides on these topics available on the FPM website *.
* link provided in later slide

23. FPM website:

24. Check FPM website!