Q: What is the PCAT?
A: The PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) is a standardized multiple-choice test that is required for admission to half of the U.S. pharmacy schools as well as many international universitives. It's purpose is to ensure that individuals entering pharmacy school are qualified and to maintin the excellence of pharmaceutical education.
Q: How long is the PCAT Exam?
A: Canidates are given four hours to complete the test(plus administrative time for instructions and time for a short break about halfway through the test) The PCAT is made up of 240 multiple choice questions and 2 writing assignments.
Q: What what types of questions are on the PCAT?
A: The PCAT is divided into seven subtests, given in the following order: Writing part I, Verbal Ability, Biology, Chemistry, Writing part II, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Ability.
Q: So uh can you explain the types of questions in detail?
A: The Writing sections are judged based on problem-solving skills and the use of language and must be completed in 30 minutes. Each writing sections requires the canidate to discuss a topic. The canidate's response will be scored on a scale of 1 to 5 in terms of problem-solving skills and effective use of the conventions of language. A score of 5 would be given for work that avoids fallacious reaoning and developes a powerful and subtle argument.
The Verbal Ability section is composed of 60% Analogies and 40% Sentence Completion exercises. This section has 48 questions and must be completed in 30 minutes. This section will measure basic word knowlede and usage. The vocabulary used will not be specific to sciences, it will be at an undergraduate level and will not require specialized knowldege.
The Biology section covers the mastery of the basic concepts of Biology and is made up of 60% General Biology, 20% Microbiology, and 20% human anatomy and human physiology. This section has 48 questions and must be competed in 30 minutes. Some questions will be fill in the blank of a sentence while others will require brief scientific reasoning. Canidates will be required to evaluate scientific charts, graphs, tables, as well as describe laboratory phenomena.
The Chemisty section tests the basic concepts of elementary organic and inorganic chemistry. It is composed of 48 questions with 60% of the subtest is General Chemistry and 40% is Organic Chemistry. The section must be completed in 30 minutes. Some questions will only require basic knowledge of concepts in chemistry, while other will require scientific reasoning. Several questions will ask hypothetical situations and require the canidate to analyze it from a chemistry point of view.
The Reading Comprehension subtest assesses the individual's ability to understand and evaluate science-related reading passages. It has 48 multiple-choice questions covering six reading passages, and must be completed in 50 minutes. Approximatly 30% of the questions will test comprehension, 40% wil ltest analytical skills, and 30% will test the ability to evaluate passages. This subtest is to assess the canidate's ability to analyze and judge scientific documents. The passages are written at the level of a scientific journal article. Canidates aer advised to look over recent scientific journals before taking the PCAT. Comprehension questions will ask for factual information taken from the text, Analytical questions will requier the canidate to consider the ramifications of the information in the passage, and evaluation questions will require the canidate to consider the overall tone and possible implications of the passage.
THe Quantitative Ability section will test the mathematical skills and quantitiative reaoning in basic math, algebra, probability, statistics, precalculus, and calculus. This section consists of 48 questions and must be completed in 40 minutes. 15% of the subtest is basic math, 20% is Algebra, 20% is probability and statistics, 22% is precalculus and 22% is calculus. SOme questiosn may not have a definate right answer and will require an educated guess. The question difficutly will range from basic high school to college-level calculus. Some knowledge of geometry and trionomety will be helpful. The use of calculators is no permited.
Q: Do all the questions on the PCAT contribute to my final score?
A: No, some of the questions in the multiple choice sections are experiemental and do not contribute to your exam score. These experimental questions are used to develop future versions of the test and it is impossible to determine which questions are experimental.
Q: How is the PCAT scored?
A: You will receive scaled scores and percentiles for each of the 5 multiple choice subtests and a composite score for all five of the multiple choice subtests as a whole. Scaled scores range from 200 to 600. A seperate score is given for the Writing subtests and ranges from 1 to 5.
Q: When can I take the PCAT?
A: The PCAT is given four times a year.The deadline to apply for the PCAT is approximately five weeks before the test date.
Test dates are usually given in the same months each year and roughly the same date.
June 20, 2009
August 22, 2009
October 17, 2009
January 23, 2010
Q: How much is the PCAT registration fee?
A: The registration fee is now $150.00
Q: Where do I register for taking the PCAT?
A: http://pearsonassess.com/haiweb/Culture ... athome.htm
Q: What items do I neet to bring on test day?
A:
1) Admission Ticket
2) Two forms of appropriate valid, unexpired identification
3) Number 2 (HB) pencils with erasers (no mechanical pencils are allowed)
Q: What are acceptible forms of valid ID
A: Acceptable forms of primary valid, unexpired IDs with photograph and signature include:
- * Driver’s license
* Government-issued identification card
* Passport
- * Student ID
* Credit card (with or without photograph)
* Library card
* Utility bill (with your name and address appearing exactly the same as on your primary ID)
Q: What items are prohibited on test day?
A:
- * Calculators (including watch calculators)
* Books
* Papers
* Highlighters
* Rulers
* Notes
* Pagers
* PDA’s
* Cellular phones (must be turned OFF)
* Recording devices
* Cameras
* Headphones
* Any electronic devices
* Reference material
* Hats with a bill or brim
You may not access or use prohibited items, including cell phones, during a rest break.
You may not have access to any purses or backpacks during the exam. These items will be stored in a designated secure area.
Food, drinks, gum, candy, and all tobacco products are not allowed in the testing room. However you may access these items during your break.
You must request permission from the Test Center staff to access your purse or backpack during the break if you need to retrieve your snack, beverage, money, or personal hygiene items.
Q: When will I receive my PCAT scores?
A: About 6 weeks after your test date, you will be sent a personal score report by mail. If requested, your official trnascript will also be sent to the institutions stated on your PCAT application. Your most recent score as well as any PCAT scores that you have earned withing t he past five years will be reported on your official transcript.
Q: How many times can I take the PCAT?
A: You can take the PCAT up to 5 times
Q: If my designated school requires the PCAT, TOEFL and/or TSE score, how do I go about having the scores sent to PharmCAS?
A: You must request that the scores be sent to PharmCAS by contacting the appropriate testing service. Once contact is made with the appropriate testing service provide the appropriate code listed below.
PCAT Code 0104
TOEFL Code 8246
TSE CODE 8246
Q: Do I need to arrange for my PCAT scores to be sent to PharmCAS AND my designated PharmCAS schools?
A: For those pharmacy schools in PharmCAS, only send your PCAT scores to PharmCAS. If you only send your PCAT scores to the pharmacy schools, the schools may not be able to match your scores to your PharmCAS application and the school will consider your application file incomplete. (If you are applying to any NON-PharmCAS schools, you must arrange for your PCAT scores to be sent directly to the institution).
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Sources
http://www.pcatprofessor.com/What_Is_PCAT_Exam.asp
http://pcatprepinfo.com/newsite/index.htm
https://portal.pharmcas.org/applicants2 ... .shtml#one
http://pearsonassess.com/hai/images/dot ... B-Fees.pdf
http://www.petersons.com/testprep/test_ ... at#scoring
http://www.genius360.org/prep/pcat/scoring.php
http://www.pcatweb.info/
