Home » Education » Online Examinations FAQs

Online Examinations FAQs

These FAQs explain how to prepare for and take the Certificate and Diploma in Pharmaceutical Medicine examinations online using TestReach.

Before your examination, please read the relevant published guidance for the CPM examination / DPM examination — Available materials include handbooks, the syllabus, past papers, tips and the FPM Exam Protocols which specify technical requirements for online examination setup.

Please refer to the Examination dates and booking deadlines for the upcoming calendar year.Candidates outside the UK should check the equivalent local time for each examination date.

Technical problems and support

Who should I contact for technical problems?

Contact TestReach for login, system check, connection or examination platform issues. During the examination, alert your invigilator if possible.

Email: support@testreach.com
UK: +44 (0)20 34758685
International: +353 1 699 1385

If the examination is due to start within one hour, call rather than email.

You can check status.testreach.com for updates and instructions during a major or critical TestReach incident. If there are no reported wider incidents, please contact TestReach’s support team.

After contacting TestReach, report the issue to exams@fpm.org.uk on the same day so that a record can be made and the issue investigated if necessary.

If the problem cannot be resolved and you are unable to start or complete your examination, FPM will review the circumstances in accordance with its Technical Issues and Contingency Policy. Individual replacement examinations cannot be arranged outside the published examination sittings.

Select a question below to see the answer, or choose Expand all to read all the FAQs. If your question is not answered here, email exams@fpm.org.uk.

Examination Booking and Preparation

FPM uses TestReach to deliver online examinations with live remote invigilation. An invigilator will verify your identity and examination environment before the examination and monitor your screen, webcam and microphone throughout.

The entire examination session is recorded, alongside live remote supervision. Recordings are retained for six weeks and then securely destroyed, unless they are needed for a suspected misconduct investigation or a candidate appeal.

If the time difference means your examination would take place overnight, email exams@fpm.org.uk before the application closing date, stating your location and the paper you intend to take.

FPM will consider whether an alternative start time is possible. Changes are exceptional, depend on invigilator availability and cannot be guaranteed. You must follow your confirmed start time.

Candidates prepare for the examination through self-study, training courses and other learning resources. Use the current syllabus and examination specification to plan your study. Preparation resources, sample questions, past papers and examination tips are available on the DPM page. FPM also runs the DPM Training Programme, which covers six topic areas relevant to the examinations.

Yes, once you download TestReach app you can use the Test Tutorial to practise navigating questions, entering and formatting answers, and using article annotation tools. You can repeat it as often as you wish; tutorial answers are not recorded.

The tutorial teaches software use. For examples of examination questions, you can find sample MCQs and past SAQ and CAP papers linked on the DPM page.

You can highlight and annotate the critical appraisal article, move between questions, review and change answers before submission, and use the available formatting tools in written-answer boxes, including tables.

For SAQ and CAP papers, note or bullet-point answers are recommended where appropriate.

We recommend completing the Test Tutorial before the examination to familiarise yourself with these features.

Click here to see what the critical exam article, question and answer box looks like online.

Click here to see how to highlight and add notes to the Critical Appraisal article.

Click here to see an example of the answer box from the short answer question paper. The same formatting options are available for the critical appraisal exam.

Technical Setup and Examination Environment

You need a compatible Windows or Mac desktop computer or laptop, the TestReach desktop application, a webcam, microphone and speakers, and stable internet. Your movable laptop or detachable webcam must allow you to show the room and desk. Phones, tablets, Chromebooks and Surface Pro devices cannot be used to take FPM exams.

Please check the operating-system requirements in the FPM Exam Protocols pdf and your TestReach instructions. We highly recommend you complete the system check early and ask TestReach about compatibility if unsure.

You can sit at home or another suitable private location. The room must be quiet, well-lit and free from interruptions and unauthorised materials. You must not be disturbed during the exam.

Workplace firewalls or security settings may prevent TestReach from connecting or using your webcam, microphone or screen sharing. Ask your IT team to check this before the system check.

Complete the system check using the computer, monitor, webcam, audio equipment, internet connection and location you will use for the examination. Repeat the check if any part of this setup changes

TestReach login details are normally sent at least two weeks before the examination, with the subject line “TestReach New Account”. Once you receive your instructions, download the TestReach application, complete the system check, schedule your examination session at least 72 hours before the exam, and log in to the Test Tutorial to familiarise yourself with the platform.

If you have not received your login details by two weeks before the examination, please check your junk or spam folder and contact exams@fpm.org.uk promptly, allowing time to resolve this before the 72-hour exam scheduling deadline.

For TestReach account or application problems, contact TestReach support. Keep your user ID and password available on exam day; your FPM website account and TestReach login are separate.

Examination Day

Aim to be ready 20-30 minutes before your scheduled invigilation time, with your computer connected to mains power, any unnecessary applications closed and with your login details and photo ID ready.

The “Connect to Supervisor” option will become available shortly before your scheduled invigilation time. Select it as soon as it appears to join the queue. You may need to wait for an invigilator to become available. Follow the on-screen instructions and contact TestReach immediately if you experience any connection issues.

Candidates are allocated different invigilator connection times to help manage the online examination check-in process. It is therefore normal for your individual confirmed connection time to differ from the published examination start time.

The exam timer will only begin once you have completed the check-in process and selected ‘Start Exam’.

If a technical problem prevents you from connecting, contact TestReach immediately.

Candidates may commence up to 30 minutes after their scheduled start time and still receive the full examination duration.

If you have not connected within 30 minutes of your scheduled start time, you will not be able to sit the examination and will not receive a refund.

If TestReach have been unable to connect you, please email exams@fpm.org.uk as soon as possible.

The invigilator will check your photo ID and ask you to show your room, desk and any permitted examination materials. You may be asked to remove unauthorised items before the examination can begin.

Once the checks are complete, you will be able to start your examination. The invigilator can see your screen and live webcam feed and communicate with you by audio or chat.

You may have water or another drink, one or two blank sheets of paper no larger than A4, and a pen. Show the blank paper and pen to the invigilator before the examination. You may use the paper to make notes during the examination, but you must not record, retain or share examination content.

Remove all other notes, books, study aids and unauthorised materials from your workspace before the examination begins.

If you require medication, equipment or another item because of a medical condition, please arrange approval with FPM in advance.

You may take one bathroom break of no more than five minutes during the examination. You must tell the invigilator before leaving and return within the permitted time. Apart from this authorised break, you must always remain in the webcam viewing area and must not cover the camera. If you require more than one comfort break for medical reasons, please email exams@fpm.org.uk with supporting medical evidence at least two weeks before the examination so that arrangements can be made with the invigilator.

If your internet connection drops during the examination, TestReach will automatically attempt to reconnect. When the connection is restored, the examination will reopen where you left off. Any answers already saved will remain available, and any lost time will be added to your examination time.

If you are unable to reconnect, contact TestReach Support immediately.