PCAT Preparation

The Pharmacy College Admission Test, also known as the PCAT, is exactly 1 month away for everyone who plans to take the test in June. Your dreams of becoming a pharmacist rely heavily on your performance on the PCAT (with the exception of those applying to pharmacy schools in California). You have 4 hours to answer 240 multiple-choice questions and 2 writing topics. The multiple-choice questions are taken from the following courses: Biology (Human Anatomy and Physiology, Introduction to Biology, and Microbiology), Chemistry (General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry), English (Reading and Vocabulary) and Mathematics (Algebra, Calculus, and Statistics). I have researched what the topics are for the 2 writing topics, but haven’t found an answer. If anyone has any information about this section please contact me.

I have asked several other students, who have received a 90+ composite score on the PCAT, what books they used in preparation for the PCAT. I have compiled the following list of books that were most used by those students: KAPLAN 2008-2009: Pharmacy College Admission Test (2010-2011 edition will be released on June 2nd), Cliff’s Quick Review Biology, Cliff’s Quick Review Chemistry, Baron’s Essential Words for the GRE, and The Wall Street Journal (newspaper). Using your original textbooks, notes, and previous exams from the courses was also highly recommended as studying material.

I wanted to start studying for the PCAT today, but still haven’t had the time. I am still in the middle of taking Human Anatomy and Physiology 2, Introduction to Biology 2, and Microbiology. I plan on starting to study on the 5th or 6th of June for a few hours a day. I have a few textbooks and notes piled up on my desk already in preparation to begin studying for the June 20th test date. It is a lot of material. I still have yet to purchase Cliff’s Quick Review Biology and Cliff’s Quick Review Chemistry, but I plan on purchasing them this weekend.



Good luck to everyone in their last month of studying.