PCAT for Pre-PharmsPCAT for Pre-PharmsPharmacy College Admission Test

Crack the Crack the PCATPCAT

www.crackPCAT.cowww.crackPCAT.comm

What is the PCAT?What is the PCAT?

“ The PCAT is a specialized test that helps identify qualified applicants to pharmacy colleges. It measures general academic ability and scientific knowledge necessary for the commencement of pharmaceutical education. The PCAT is constructed specifically for colleges of pharmacy.”

The test is administered by Pearson and is required upon admission to Pharmacy School.

http://http://www.pcatweb.infowww.pcatweb.info

Can I take the PCAT multiple Can I take the PCAT multiple times?times?

Yes, most pharmacy schools accept the best score (similar to the SAT).

How do I register for the How do I register for the PCAT?PCAT?

Register for and schedule your test at the Pearson website:

https://tpc-etesting.com/pcat/login.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

How much does it How much does it cost?cost?

$199 to register

-covers 3 schools and automatically sends scores to PharmCas

-additional schools cost $20 each

Be careful about late registration fees!

Important PCAT Test Important PCAT Test DatesDates

* Register with PCAT and schedule with Pearson VUE, as seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.** Last day for registering with PCAT and scheduling with Pearson VUE (late fees apply). We strongly suggest candidates register and schedule by the “Register and Schedule By” date to receive their preferred testing date, time, and location.

Testing Dates for 2013-2014 *Register and Schedule By:

**Late Registration and Schedule By:

Cancel By:

July 17 and 18; 2013May 17, 2013

After this date, late fees apply

July 10, 2013Late fees apply

July 12, 2013

September 3,4,16,17,18; 2013July 5, 2013

After this date, late fees apply

August 27, 2013Late fees apply

August 29, 2013

October 28,29,30,31; 2013November 1,4,5,6,7,8; 2013

October 21, 2013After this date, late

fees apply

October 23, 2013Late fees apply

October 25, 2013

January 7,8 ; 2013November 7, 2013After this date, late

fees apply

January 2, 2014Late fees apply

January 4, 2014

What to expect on What to expect on PCAT Test Day?PCAT Test Day?

1. Arrive at Test Center 30 minutes early2. Bring 2 forms of ID with your full name (one photo with signature)

Computer based test- skip questions, mark them, come back- very similar look and feel of Crack the PCAT Test at: (www.crackPCAT.com)

Don't leave anything blank!!! No points off for guessing.

What is on the PCAT?What is on the PCAT?Writing (2 Prompts)

Verbal Ability- analogies- sentence completion

Biology- general biology- microbiology- human anatomy and physiology

Chemistry- general chemistry- organic chemical- basic biochemical processes (DNA, RNA, lipids, proteins)

http://www.pcatweb.info/downloads/about/PCATTestBlueprintandSampleItems.pdf

Reading Comprehension -Comprehension, Analysis, Evaluation

Quantitative Ability- basic math- algebra- probability and statistics- pre-calc and calculus

PCAT SubtestNumber of Operational

ItemsNumber of Experimental

Items

Time Allowed (in minutes)

Part 1: Writing (1 prompt) 30

Part 2: Verbal Ability 40 8 30

Part 3: Biology 40 8 30

Part 4: Chemistry 40 8 30

BREAK BREAK BREAK

Part 5: Writing (1 prompt) 40 (5 passages) 8 (1 passage) 30

Part 6: Reading Comprehension

40 8 50

Part 7: Quantitative Ability 40 8 40

Total Test200 multiple-choice items

and 1 writing prompt40 multiple-choice items

and 1 writing prompt

240 (4 hrs. and a Rest

Break)

WritingWritingA. Health Issues (issues related to public health, medicine, nutrition, fitness, prevention, treatments, therapies, medications, drugs, attitudes) B. Science Issues (issues related to research, theories, findings, applications, controversies, education, attitudes)C. Social, Cultural, or Political Issues (issues related to beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, trends, laws, policies)

Helps to read the news to incorporate and support your response

You should have a general approach to writing the essay and have practiced. To prepare, Crack the PCAT provides a lot of writing prompts to be ready on test day.

Verbal AbilityVerbal Ability

Analogy and Sentence Completions

Try to fill in the missing term before you read the answer choices

Eliminate answer choices to improve chances of getting question correct

Use Crack the PCAT to simulate the Verbal Ability section

ChemistryChemistryMatter Atomic StructurePeriodic PropertiesNomenclature and writing formulasAcid and bases SolutionsBondingGas LawsStoichiometryThermodynamicsKineticsEquilibriumElectrochemistry Nuclear Chemistry

Reading Reading ComprehensionComprehension

48 questions, 50 minutes

6 short passages on scientific and medical topics

Strategy: skim, go to questions, go back

Quantitative AbilityQuantitative Ability

Short for timeRounding helpsLook at answers before to see if order of magnitude is way offexponent rules/log rules (high school math)

statistics (mean, median, mode)basic probability rules (flipping a coin, rolling 2 dice)

What PCAT Prep Resources to What PCAT Prep Resources to use?use?

Crack the PCAT (www.crackPCAT.com)-10 Full Length PCAT Practice Tests and Questions-Same look and feel of the PCAT-Improves your scores by identifying your weaknesses-Learn from Video Explanations for each question-Trusted and Used by Pre-Pharms

More PCAT Practice Tests (http://tpc-etesting.com/pcatopt)

Dr. Collins PCAT Prep Class (pcatprepclass.com)