How Long Do I Have To Wait To Schedule Pcat Exam After Registering?

Students taking the Pharmacy College Access Test (PCAT), the entrance examination for chemist's school, tin can cull from an array of study methods: review books and prep courses, personal tutors and report groups.

While choosing a method that fits your learning style is important, it is all too easy for students to spend too much time spinning their wheels rather than engaging in focused preparation.

"If that volume is going to practice zero more than hold your laptop calculator 3 inches higher, don't buy information technology," said David McCaffrey 3, Ph.D., assistant dean for student affairs at the St. John Fisher College Wegmans School of Pharmacy. "You take touse the resource."

Below, St. John Fisher College's online Pharm.D. program offers PCAT study schedules and communication on fully engaging with the content for students interested in pursuing chemist's school and, ultimately, careers in chemist's shop.

PCAT Prep: Before Registering

Develop deep learning strategies early on.

In pre-chemist's shop courses, exist sure to master the topics that volition appear on the PCAT. "The learn-and-purge strategy is not going to equate into a strong PCAT performance, considering you won't be able to draw on anything that you lot've been exposed to before," McCaffrey said. Deeply learning the material from freshman year onward will not only give you a heave in PCAT studying but too strengthen your knowledge base for pharmacy school.

Complete PCAT registrationafter starting to study.

Past registering after commencement preparations, yous can approach the test with greater conviction, which McCaffrey believes results in the best performance.

Don't let the last test be your first attempt.

Pearson, the arrangement that creates the PCAT, administers the test at specific times of the year:(PDF, 268KB) July, September, October/November, Dec, January, and February. Scheduling your commencement endeavour earlier in the cycle gives you a cushion in example you want to take the PCAT again. "Plan for two [attempts] and hope for one," McCaffrey said.

PCAT Prep: While Studying

Customize your study program to your feel.

The amount of fourth dimension a student should devote to studying varies by learning style and academic background. McCaffrey recommends students approach PCAT prep like whatever another class, or a three-credit grade lasting one semester. This translates to nine hours of studying each week.

For students on a shorter time frame: Dr. Jeff Koetje, Physician, PCAT adviser and director of pre-health programs at Kaplan Test Prep, recommends studying 10 to 15 hours per calendar week and a total of 100 to 200 hours.

Choose one to ii study tools.

There are multiple tools for PCAT prep, including books, tutors, online courses, and undergraduate report groups. No single method guarantees a strong score. "In that location'due south no pre-professional person curriculum in the country that matches the PCAT identically," McCaffrey said. Focusing on just a couple study methods allows for a diversity of perspectives without condign overwhelming.

Shift your thinking.

The PCAT requires more than strategy than a typical examination. "The trap that students fall into is that they approach something like the PCAT in the same manner that they would approach a midterm or last in one of their university classes," Koetje said. Instead, prioritize developing critical thinking and reading skills, specially by practicing passage-based questions.

Study the official test blueprint.

Pearson publishes an online guide to the PCAT that indicates how extensively each content surface area will be covered. Understanding the blueprint can help y'all strategize your studying for larger point gains. Focus where your weakest topics overlap with the highest potential gains.

Starting time with a diagnostic test.

Before reviewing any content, take a diagnostic examination to effigy out your strengths and place areas to improve. This noesis will aid yous customize your study plan to focus on less familiar topics.

Do practice issues.

Koetje recommends building practice issues into your content review over time. Beginning with detached, stand-alone questions; next, move on to questions virtually a passage. Work up to completing a series of passages and questions, then to completing whole sections of the exam under timed atmospheric condition. Eventually you volition be ready to take a full practice test.

Take practice tests as y'all are fix — not too shortly.

Your get-go practice test scores may be lower than your diagnostic test. "[This] happens ofttimes with students because that first total-length test is really the kickoff fourth dimension that they're trying to put everything into do, and they're not masters of information technology even so," Koetje said. Try not to panic and comport on with your PCAT study schedule.

How to Study for the PCAT

The PCAT is a comprehensive examination that requires more time and strategy than a typical exam. For most students, a twelvemonth of training would exist excessive. Directorate suggest studying 2 to six months. Fisher Pharm.D. Online offers the post-obit report plans as a general PCAT study timeline. They should be adjusted based on your academic background, areas of strength and opportunity.

The two-month schedule is a more concentrated, fast-paced choice, ideal for students on a semester break or summer vacation. For test-takers who are currently taking higher courses or working, the four-calendar month plan may be the better fit.

Too, exist sure to factor residuum into your schedule. Koetje advises students to study in 2-hr chunks with a curt break in between and to have one or two days off each calendar week.

Two-Month PCAT Study Schedule

Calendar week 1

Goals

Make a game plan.
Compile an equations list.
Written report test-taking strategies.
Critical reading prep.

Game Program

Choose your study method(s): a PCAT prep course, review books, video tutorials. A PCAT-specific selection is more efficient than reviewing course notes, which include far more textile than the test will cover.
Read through thetest strategies section included in your review materials. Performing well on the examination requires not only knowing the content merely also knowing the test.
Go through thecritical reading section and consummate a exercise prompt.
Brand a list of the equations y'all volition need to know for the test. Identify which ones you lot know and which are less familiar.

Week 2

Goals

StudyBiological Processes I (BP I) andGeneral Chemistry I (GC I).

Game Plan

Review topics fromBiological Processes I andFull general Chemistry I.
BP I: cellular biological science, metabolism and enzymes, evolution and genetics
GC I: periodic table, electrons, atomic theory and bonding, chemical reactions
While reading, make a list of the concepts you're unfamiliar with. Review them throughout the calendar week, challenging yourself with practice problems. Remove topics from the list as you master them. Your goal is to cease the list.
Report equations on your list related to these content areas. Seek related practice problems.

Week 3

Goals

Written reportQuantitative Reasoning I (QR I) andOrganic Chemistry and Biochemistry I (OCB I).

Game Plan

Review topics fromQuantitative Reasoning I andOrganic Chemistry andBiochemistry I.
QR I: arithmetic, algebra, functions
OCB I: isomerism, substitution and elimination, substitution and addition
Make a listing of unfamiliar concepts, review throughout the week, and remove them as you gain mastery. Study relevant equations and seek exercise problems.

Week 4

Goals

Have offset practice examination.
Written reportBiological Processes II (BP II) andGeneral Chemistry II (GC Two).

Game Plan

Complete your first practise test, found in nearly PCAT review books or courses. Review the questions you lot missed. Resist the temptation to stay within the review books and seek out problems like these questions.
Review topics fromBiological Processes Ii andGeneral Chemistry II.
BP II: microbiology, digestive system, circulatory organization, respiratory, skeletal and muscular systems
GC 2: equilibrium, solutions, acids and bases, kinetic theory
Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review and remove. Study relevant equations and seek practice problems.

Calendar week 5

Goals

StudyQuantitative Reasoning II (QR II) andOrganic Chemistry andBiochemistry 2 (OCB 2).

Game Plan

Review topics fromQuantitative Reasoning II andOrganic Chemistry andBiochemistry II.
QR II: probability and statistics, precalculus, calculus
OCB Two: isomerism, commutation and elimination, substitution and improver
Brand a list of unfamiliar concepts, review, remove. Report relevant equations and seek do problems.

Week 6

Goals

Take 2nd practise test.
Review topics fromBiological Processes Iii (BP Iii).

Game Program

Complete your second do test. Focus on the questions missed — specifically those that overlap with the start exercise test — and seek related practice problems.
Review topics fromBiological Processes Iii, including endocrine system, nervous organisation, immune system, excretory system
Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review, remove. Study relevant equations and seek practice bug.

Week 7

Goals

Take third practice test.
Review topics fromOrganic Chemistry andBiochemistry III.

Game Programme

Complete your 3rd practice test and review results. Focus on missed questions, particularly those that overlap with previous tests.
Review topics fromOrganic Chemical science andBiochemistry Iii, including spectroscopy and lipids, amino acids, proteins, Deoxyribonucleic acid and RNA.
Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review, remove. Report relevant equations and practice issues.

Week 8

Goals

Begin final preparations.
Take last exercise test (optional).
Remainder.

Game Plan

Finalize studying forcritical reading and review PCATexamination strategies. The calendar week earlier your PCAT test, accept time to rest.

Dorsum to Pinnacle Back to acme

Four-Month PCAT Written report Schedule

Week i

Goals

Brand a game program.
Compile equations list.

Game Plan

Choose your study method(s): a PCAT prep grade, review books, video tutorials. A PCAT-specific choice is more than efficient than reviewing form notes, which include far more textile than the test will cover.
Brand a list of equations you volition need to know for the test. Identify which ones you know and which are less familiar.

Calendar week ii

Goals

Study examination-taking strategies.
Critical reading prep.

Game Plan

Read through thetest strategies section in your review materials. Performing well on the test requires not simply knowing the content but also knowing the test.
Go through thecritical reading department and consummate a exercise prompt.

Week three

Goals

StudyBiological Processes I (BP I).

Game Plan

Review topics fromBiological Processes I, including cellular biological science, metabolism and enzymes, evolution and genetics.
While reading, make a list of unfamiliar concepts. Review them throughout the week, challenging yourself with exercise problems. Remove topics from the list as yous master them. Your goal is to cease the list.
Study equations on your list related to these content areas. Seek related practise problems.

Calendar week 4

Goals

Take first practice test.
StudyBiological Processes II (BP Two) andGeneral Chemical science Ii (GC II).

Game Plan

Review topics fromFull general Chemical science I, including periodic table, electrons, atomic theory and bonding, chemical reactions.
Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review throughout the calendar week, and remove every bit y'all proceeds mastery. Report equations relevant to these content areas and seek practice problems.

Week v

Goals

StudyQuantitative Reasoning I (QR I).

Game Plan

Review topics fromQuantitative Reasoning I, including arithmetic, algebra, functions. Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review throughout the calendar week, and remove equally you gain mastery. Study relevant equations and seek practice issues.

Week half dozen

Goals

StudyOrganic Chemical science andBiochemistry I (OCB I).

Game Plan

Review topics related toOrganic Chemical science andBiochemistry I, including isomerism, commutation and elimination, substitution and add-on. Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review throughout the calendar week, and remove as y'all proceeds mastery. Study relevant equations and seek practice issues.

Week seven

Goals

Take first practise test.

Game Plan

Complete your commencement practice test, found in most PCAT review books or courses. Review the questions y'all missed. Resist the temptation to stay within the review books and seek problems similar these questions.

Week 8

Goals

ReportBiological Processes Two (BP II) andGeneral Chemical science Two (GC II).

Game Programme

Review topics fromBiological Processes II andFull general Chemical science II.

BP Two: microbiology, digestive organisation, circulatory system, respiratory, skeletal and muscular systems
GC Two: equilibrium, solutions, acids and bases, kinetic theory

Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review and remove. Study relevant equations and seek practise problems.

Week 9

Goals

StudyQuantitative Reasoning II (QR II).

Game Plan

Review topics fromQuantitative Reasoning II, including probability and statistics, precalculus, calculus. Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review and remove. Study relevant equations and seek practice problems.

Week 10

Goals

StudyOrganic Chemistry andBiochemistry Ii (OCB II).

Game Program

Review topics fromOrganic Chemical science andBiochemistry Ii, including isomerism, substitution and elimination, commutation and improver. Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review and remove. Report equations relevant to these content areas and seek out practise bug.

Week 11-12

Goals

Take second practice test.
Review topics fromBiological Processes III (BP III).

Game Plan

Complete your second practice test. Focus on the questions missed — specifically those that overlap with the first do exam — and seek related practice problems.
Review topics fromBiological Processes Iii, including the endocrine organization, nervous system, allowed system, excretory organisation. Make a listing of unfamiliar concepts, review and remove. Written report relevant equations and seek practice problems.

Week 13-fourteen

Goals

Have third practice test.
Review topics fromOrganic Chemical science andBiochemistry III.

Game Plan

Complete your third do test and review results. Focus on missed questions, particularly those that overlap with previous tests.
Review topics fromOrganic Chemistry andBiochemistry Iii, including spectroscopy and lipids, amino acids, proteins, DNA and RNA. Make a list of unfamiliar concepts, review and remove. Study equations relevant to these content areas and seek out exercise problems.

Week 15-16

Goals

Begin final preparations.
Take terminal practice examination (optional).
Rest.

Game Plan

Finalize studying forcritical reading and review PCATtest strategies. The week before your PCAT test, accept time to residuum.

Dorsum to Meridian Back to superlative

What to Expect on Your PCAT Test Date

McCaffrey advises exam-takers not to enter the examination center until they are ready to brainstorm; if there are open up seats, y'all will be started on the examination, fifty-fifty if it is before your offset time.

On your PCAT test date, keep in mind:

You volition get through security inbound the exam middle.
Other students with earlier start times may already be taking the PCAT when you arrive.
Every bit you enter, you may see students with earlier start times already taking the PCAT.
The examination is calculator-based.
At the stop, you volition receive a preliminary score report; students receive official PCAT scores once the writing samples have been graded.

Low-Cost PCAT Prep

Though some study methods can exist costly, preparing for the PCAT does not need to exist expensive to exist constructive. For instance, it is possible to compile a total PCAT curriculum of online video tutorials.

McCaffrey suggests looking into:

Pre-health clubs, which may offer informal PCAT study groups.
Free massive open online courses (MOOCs), such equally Coursera and Khan University.
YouTube tutorials.
Libraries, which may have review books to cheque out.
Upper division students and current PharmD students who have already taken the PCAT.

Citation for this content: St. John Fisher College's online Pharm.D. program from the Wegmans Schoolhouse of Pharmacy