Tag Archives: Exam

Pharmacy School Application – PCAT Examination Preparation Tips and Guide

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Although most pharmacy schools require the PCAT examination, some school of pharmacies may not. Also, if you are an international student, you may need to take the TOEFL exam.

Pharmacy schools that don’t require the PCAT:

California Northstate
California – San Diego
California – San Francisco
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Boston MA
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Manchester NH
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences – Worcester MA
Oregon State University
University of the Pacific
Purdue University
University of Southern California
Touro University – California
Washington State University
Western

The subjects tested on the PCAT exam include:

Verbal Ability
Biology
Reading Comprehension
Quantitative Ability
Chemistry
Problem Solving (Writing)
Conventions of Language (Writing)

First, do some research on PCAT books. Amazon lists user reviews on PCAT books that are worth looking at. For example for the 2010-2011 KAPLAN PCAT, the chemistry and biology are strong. It is highly recommended that you pick and choose several PCAT books as each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Other options include an AUDIOLEARN PCAT CD set which lets you listen to the material while driving, lying down in your home, or from your computer.

After reading the ‘lecture’ parts of the books, do as many practice exams as you can. Many questions may repeat on the PCAT, and setting time limits on your practice exams will prepare you for the time constraints during the real PCAT exam.

Planning your prerequisite courses for pharmacy school in a way where your harder science courses are completed near the time of your PCAT examination date would be helpful to keep the information fresh in your mind. But, I would not want to be halfway through a semester of Organic Chemistry lecture prior to taking the PCAT.

For many students, it could have been a long time since sitting in lecutre, so other resources exist which can prepare you for the PCAT. There are several online resources such as encyclopedias, videos, and other articles to refresh your mind on relevant topics. For example, I can search for a video on YouTube to remind me how covalent bonding occurs in Chemistry. You can also purchase slightly older edition textbooks for a huge discount on sites like Half (an old Biology book will cost under $5 with shipping).

For the writing sections, it would be in your best interest to practice writing a well-organized, complete essay. Essay topics from old PCATs can be found online or you can practice from completely random prompts to practice writing. Having a clearly defined Introduction, Thesis, 3 Supporting Body Paragraphs, and a Conclusion will allow you to do well on the writing sections.

Course studies for the PCAT are pricey ($1000-$1500), so it is only recommended if you are struggling to learn the material on your own. For some people, these courses have been very beneficial, but make sure to do research before cutting these companies a check.

PCAT Examination Tips:

* Practice, Practice, Practice!
* You can retake the PCAT exam if you don’t do well the first time around. From what others have said on forums, it seems like you should only look to take the exam 2-3 times max.
* A solid GPA with a great PCAT score (ex: >70% percentile) will usually get you accepted at most school of pharmacies in the U.S. A lackluster GPA along with a great PCAT score (ex: >80% percentile) could offset the GPA aspect of your application. Check and search user profiles on PharmApplicants.com to see who got accepted where with what stats.
* Get plenty of rest, eat a well-portioned meal, and arrive early on the PCAT examination date.

Before Entering the Exam Room – Comptia A+ Certification Practice Tests

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The Computing Technology Industry Association is the sponsor of the CompTia A+ Certification program. This is considered one of the benchmark certifications in the field of Information Technology (IT). It covers the basic knowledge and skills needed for a successful IT and is recognized by employers the world over as a basic educational standard for this career field. It is only natural that the successful completion of this examination is of utmost importance to an aspiring IT. There are several things that a candidate can do to increase their chances in the examination.

There are study materials available from organizations that are members of the CAQC, the CompTia Approved Quality Curriculum. The CLA, CompTia Learning Alliance, also has training centers where students can have instructor guided training to prepare them for the examinations. There is still one last and important thing that can be done once training is complete, and the candidate feels ready to attempt the examination. This is to take one of the A+ certification practice exams.

Although the Computing Technology Industry Association’s website gives some sample questions, there are sites that offer complete a+ certification practice tests. These sites offer tests that challenge the student to such a degree that they feel that when they successfully past the a+ practice exam, the real exam should be no problem at all. The a+ certification actually consists of two different exams. The first is the 220-601 essentials examination, and the second is a choice between three different exams. The choice of the optional exam depends on the applicant’s personal area of concentration or interest. The 220-601 practice exam will prepare you for the essentials parts of the test.

The a+ practice test is not the only way to prepare for the certification exams. The practice tests will not help a student who has not properly prepared themselves. The basic knowledge has to be there. There is no easy way to the certification. However, there is always a gap between true understanding and knowledge, and the ability to pass an examination. An understanding of the format and the focus of an examination is necessary to insure success. This understanding can best be obtained by the successful completion of a good practice examination. When this has been done prior to entering the examination room, the student will be much more confident.