The PDA is advising those due to sit the March 2021 assessment to only sit the exam if they are fit to do so. For those not ‘Fit to Sit’ the exam due to ill-health or in the event that a serious incident occurs, it is really important to know what steps to take to withdraw from the sitting.
As part of our ongoing support for prov-regs and resitters, we have created an infographic to help you to make the decision about whether you are fit to sit your assessment in March. Please use this as a guide to help you make a decision about what you would like to do. It is important that you ensure you read the relevant section of the GPHC guidance once you have made a decision.
What does ‘Fit to Sit’ mean?
The regulator guidance for the March 2021 sitting states:
Being ‘fit to sit’ means that you do not know of any reason why your performance would be adversely affected on the day of the assessment. If, on or before the day of an assessment, a candidate knows of an illness or adverse circumstance that might affect their performance, they should not sit. An illness or adverse circumstance known to a candidate on or before the day of an assessment cannot be used as grounds for nullification of the sitting attempt, or as grounds for an appeal or as evidence in an appeal.
What to do if you are not ‘Fit to Sit’ the assessment
The PDA would like to stress to members that if for any reason you are aware of anything that may affect your performance on the day, it is crucial that you not sit the assessment. This may be a difficult decision to make, but if you are not working at full capacity, it is not worth risking one of your attempts at passing the registration assessment.
It is important to remember that you are eligible to withdraw from a sitting at any time up until the assessment begins.
If you do have to withdraw, you must use the relevant withdrawal form to notify the GPhC. If you do not, this could lead to you forfeiting one of your attempts at the registration assessment. You can send the GPhC your withdrawal form up until five days after the sitting. If your withdrawal is confirmed, you will receive a refund for your assessment application fee after the sitting has taken place.
Kate Kensington, PDA Head of Education stated that: “The PDA continues to support all members facing their assessment exam in these challenging times. We want to simplify the information provided and hope that this infographic will provide a starting point for the decision faced by many. I would also like to remind members that they are able to access free revision materials as part of our programme that begins on Monday 25 January. We have extended the registration for this programme until Monday 1 February”
Download the PDA ‘Making decisions about taking the assessment’ guide below
