PCAT 2017: Chemical Processes Section

This is part 2 of our series breaking down the 2017 Pharmacy Admission Test.

Note: This is an updated version of a series we’ve done before on the blog

 

Before we dive in just a quick reminder that the registration and schedule deadline for the September 7th-8th PCAT 2017 test dates is July 10th! If you were planning on that testing window… get on it like yesterday! Also registration for the October and November test dates open on September 5th. More info on important dates here.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program!

 

The third section of the PCAT 2017 you’ll face is… Chemical Processes! 

It’s scheduled right before the official test break meaning you might be feeling a little drained by this point but with the right preparation you will be able to power through! FYI questions presented will be both freestanding and passage-based.

 

The Chemistry Processes section consists of 48 questions

and you will have 40 minutes.

 

Below are detailed outlines of each the objectives tested in the chemistry section:

General Chemistry, 50% of questions

PCAT Gen Chem

 

Organic Chemistry, 30% of questions

PCAT Org Chem

 

Basic Biochemistry Processes, 20% of questions

PCAT Biochem

 

Again, with the freestanding questions the knowledge tested may be more straightforward but the passage-based questions require reading comprehension before you even get the Critical Reading section of the PCAT 2017! With the passages you have to be able to (quickly) break down the information presented and be able to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate the text.

 

Here’s a sample of a freestanding question on Biochemistry Processes of Proteins:

Remember with PCAT Cracker you can take full practice test plus even focus on the sections and objectives you need to hone in on to ace the exam!

 

Happy Practicing! 🙂

PCAT 2017: Introduction Guide to the Pharmacy College Admission Test!

This is Part 1 of a series of breakdown posts that will outline the PCAT 2017!

We’ve actually done a series like this before but the test has gone through some changes and here at PCAT Cracker we like to keep you updated to make sure test day is the best day! First of all we’ll focus on the specifics of the PCAT itself and then in upcoming posts we will discuss each of the sections in detail individually.

The Pharmacy College Admission Test is designed by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) to assess your readiness for pharm school and is the official admission exam for U.S. (& Canada) pharmacy programs in the application process as a factor in their decision.

The PCAT 2017 is a monstrous marathon of an exam with a wide scope of testing topics and clocking in at nearly 4 hours!

 

The PCAT Registration Two Step:

Registering for the PCAT

While registration is not currently open for the majority of 2017 (exception with the few January dates that it’s too late fore) let’s talk about what you need to know…

Keep in mind when registering you need to know the schools you want your scores to be sent to, therefore figure it out beforehand. Step one: go to the PCAT website and create an account here; that’s your PCAT CID. With that log in you’re in the system and can do stuff like send official score transcripts, etc. Only after you a receive registration confirmation email saying that your payment was received can you then schedule to take the test…

 

Scheduling a test date

Got that registration confirmation email? Now schedule ASAP! The PCAT is a computer-based test conducted at Pearson VUE Test Centers and dates and test centers can fill up fast. If this is your first time taking the PCAT you’ll need to create a log in with Pearson VUE and keep your PCAT CID (your PCAT registration log in) handy, you’ll need it. If you have a log in with Pearson VUE already, sign in and schedule away!

 

$ Cost of Taking the PCAT $

When you register to take the PCAT the fee is $210 and this includes sending official scores to up to three schools. If you want to send scores to any more schools it’s $20 each. If you haven’t realized it yet, deadlines are a big deal and the late registration fee is an additional $49.

 

What’s on the PCAT?

What will test day look like? Here’s the breakdown:

Screen Shot 2016-04-25 at 11.21.20 PM

FYI: there is a scheduled 15-minute break after section three Chemical Processes and that is the only scheduled rest break! If you really need an additional break the timer on your test will not stop therefore try your best not! With proper practice practice practice and a goodnight’s sleep you can handle no extra breaks in your PCAT 2017 test day no problem.

 

PCAT Scores

You will receive an unofficial score as soon as you finish the test and official scores are available within 5 weeks of your testing window. Your Official Score Report will be available online for one year from the date of your test administration and Official Transcripts will be sent to the institutions you designated to receive your scores. PCAT scores are on a scale so there’s no passing or failing per se.

Your official score reports will contain a Scaled Scored and Percentile Rank side by side. Check out a sample score report here. Keep in mind that certain pharm programs have a desired PCAT score therefore it’s important to aim high always!

 

What’s Next?

As previously mentioned you can’t register the PCAT 2017 quite yet so for now focus on studying and PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE! While we work on the updated section breakdowns you can check out the PCAT Breakdown: Writing Section! post because that section has not drastically changed.

Also check out some other pertinent PCAT Cracker blog topics; for instance…

PCAT Study Tips

PCAT Test Day Tips

 

We will keep you updated and in the loop with any other future PCAT 2017 changes. That’s all for now! Remember we’ll have new and improved PCAT Section Breakdowns rolling in soon and until then stick with PCAT Cracker to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

PCAT 2016-2017 Testing Dates Now Open!

If you are planning on taking the Pharmacy College Admission Test within the year…

NEWS FLASH! Registration for the 2016 – 2017 PCAT Test Dates is OPEN!

 

Below are the important deadlines for the July and September testing dates.

Remember that seats are first come first serve so it’s best to act quickly and avoid the late fees!

Screen Shot 2016-04-26 at 12.02.24 AM

Note: Registration for the January 4-5th test window is also open but the deadline for it isn’t until Nov 4th. Registration for the October/November testing window opens Sept 9th.

 

The PCAT Registration Two Step:

Registering for the PCAT

Keep in mind when registering you need to know the schools you want your scores to be sent to, so figure it out beforehand. Step one: go to the PCAT website and create an account here; that’s your PCAT CID. With that log in you’re in the system and can do stuff like send official score transcripts, etc. Only after you a receive registration confirmation email saying that your payment was received can you then schedule to take the test…

 

Scheduling a test date

Got that registration confirmation email? Now schedule ASAP! The PCAT is a computer-based test conducted at Pearson VUE Test Centers and dates and test centers can fill up fast. If this is your first time taking the PCAT you’ll need to create a log in with Pearson VUE and keep your PCAT CID (your PCAT registration log in) handy, you’ll need it. If you have a log in with Pearson VUE already, sign in and schedule away!

 

$ Cost of Taking the PCAT $

When you register to take the PCAT the fee is $210 and this includes sending official scores to up to three schools. If you want to send scores to any more schools it’s $20 each. If you haven’t realized it yet, deadlines are a big deal and the late registration fee is an additional $49.

 

What’s on the PCAT?

Below is the NEW PCAT Blueprint laying out test day:

Screen Shot 2016-04-25 at 11.21.20 PM
Last year on the blog we did a PCAT Breakdown Series and since then the test has changed. While I work on updating each section breakdown you can refer older ones as a loose guidance to the new ones…

PCAT Breakdown: Writing Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Biology Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Chemistry Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Reading Comprehension Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Quantitative Ability Section!

 

What Next?

Here are other helpful past blog posts on tackling the PCAT:

PCAT Study Tips

PCAT Test Day Tips

 

That’s all for now! Remember we’ll have new and improved PCAT Section Breakdowns rolling in soon and until then stick with PCAT Cracker to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!

 

Benefits of Joining a Pre-Pharmacy Organization

Imagine that crowded and bustling organization fair at the beginning of each semester. There is likely a wide range of different pre-health professional organizations or even specifically a pre-pharmacy club table vying for your time and membership. There’s really a lot out there so how do you choose?

Or perhaps…

You may have strolled through that fair and thought something along the lines of…

“Hey I know all about applying for pharmacy school and I got a pretty good handle on the PCAT so I don’t need those meetings and membership fees, right?!”

…but let’s take a closer look, shall we?

 

logo-1goe611

 

Gaining Relevant Experience

Simply putting down on your resume that you were a part of some pre-pharmacy society isn’t much help but there are plenty of ways to get involved in events and programs put on by the organization. Pre-pharm clubs offer a wide range of opportunities to be proactive in bettering yourself through things such as mentoring programs or gaining experience volunteering in the pharmacy world.

Make the most of your time and membership fees frankly and get involved!

 

Leadership Opportunities

Within the ranks of the organization you can lead peers and drive the organization to success.

Taking on a leadership role can be challenging but you gain the very valuable skills for a future in pharmacy like communication, negotiating, and problem solving just name a few. Besides leadership positions always look great on a resume. Taking the lead and the subsequent skills gained are extremely beneficial for a future pharm professional.

 

Access to Resources

These organizations have resources you may not even be aware exist and in order to take advantage of them you have to be in the know!

One of the perks of a pre-pharmacy organization is that school representatives from the different pharmacy programs will schedule more visits should they anticipate an audience of pre-pharm students. That means clubs will host these representatives to come and talk to the group and answer any specific questions or even host a whole panel of representatives to speak!

 

Figure Out Exactly What You’re Doing

Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacoepidemiology, and Pharmacoeconomics, OH MY!

So what exactly are all the specializations and what is it exactly you want to do? Student orgs may bring in a wide range of people in the pharmacy profession to talk on what they do and offer advice and help you discover exactly what you’d like to do someday!

 

Misery Loves Company

You’ll meet other pre-pharm hopefuls to share the woes of preparing for pharmacy school. With everything from the PharmCAS, the PCAT, letters of recommendation, etc. making connections with fellow students that know exactly what you’re going through can be both comforting and helpful! You can even share your wisdom about how great PCAT Cracker is! 🙂

 

In review, pre-pharmacy clubs can offer many benefits helping members stay on the track with things like career panels and mentoring programs just to name a few!

So why would you want to join? The better question is why not?

 

PCAT Breakdown: Quantitative Ability!

This is finally the final part aka part 7 of our series breaking down the Pharmacy Admission Test. Check out the complete series for our lowdown on the PCAT!

 

For our last trick we’re breaking down the Quantitative Ability section,

which coincidentally is also the last section you will face come test day!

You will have 45 minutes to answer 45 questions.

 

Here’s an overview of the content objectives tested below:

Basic Math, 15%

Functions, Percentages, & Decimals

Unit Conversions

Log Base 10

 

Algebra, 20%

Expressions, Equations, & Inequalities (e.g. solving problems using linear equations &                                                         equalities, solving quadratic equations, solving equations with radicals, etc.)

Functions (e.g. determining the inverses of functions, using max & min points, etc.)

 

Statistics and Probability, 20%

Measures of Central Tendency

Variation

Graphical

Probability

Statistical Concepts

 

Pre-Calculus, 22%

Functions (e.g. graphing and identifying domains, ranges, and intercepts, logarithms, graphing                                          inverses of circular functions, etc.)

Complex Numbers

Vectors (e.g. adding vectors graphically and algebraically, perform scalar multiplications, etc.)

 

Calculus, 22%

Limits (e.g. finding limits of functions, infinite limits, etc.)

Continuity (e.g. interpret graphs of continuous and discontinuous functions)

Derivatives (e.g. finding derivatives by means of the sum & product, power rule, applying the                                   Mean Value Theorem, using implicit differentiation, etc.)

Integrals (e.g. finding antiderivatives and interpreting C, approximating areas bounded by                                                   curves, etc.)

Integration
 

Here’s a sample derivative question to give you an idea of what to expect…

Screen Shot 2015-10-30 at 10.24.08 PM

 

So there you have it Pre-Pharmers, our finally complete breakdown series on all things PCAT! Check out the blog for the rest of PCAT Cracker‘s section breakdowns and stay tuned for more things Pre-Pharm!

 

P.S. PRACTICE!

PCAT Updates: Dates and Fees!

*** NOTE: This post with the 2015 testing dates is now outdated. For an updated version check out this… PCAT 2016 – 2017 Test Dates Now Open! ***

 
A long long time ago (last September) we began a series breaking down the PCAT and we’ve had some good times but since the start a few things have changed that we should cover now. In the original PCAT Breakdown: Introduction Guide to the Pharmacy Admission Test the dates and registration fees are now outdated.

So considering these adjustments, let’s dive in and cover changes for the remaining testing windows, shall we?

 

First off, here are the remaining testing windows and registration and cancellation deadlines for 2015. As you’ll notice, if you want to sign up for the July testing window the initial deadline has passed and you have until June 30th to register with a late fee.

 

New PCAT Upcoming Dates

 

Note that registration for the October 26-30 and November 2-6 testing dates opens September 18th! Remember that seats are first come first serve so it’s best to act quickly!

 

Registering for the PCAT

Keep in mind when registering you need to know the schools you want your scores to be sent to, so figure it out beforehand. Step one: go to the PCAT website and create an account here; that’s your PCAT CID. With that log in you’re in the system and can do stuff like send official score transcripts, etc. Only after you a receive registration confirmation email saying that your payment was received can you then schedule to take the test…

 

Scheduling a test date

Got that registration confirmation email? Now schedule ASAP! The PCAT is a computer-based test conducted at Pearson VUE Test Centers and dates and test centers can fill up fast. If this is your first time taking the PCAT you’ll need to create a log in with Pearson VUE and keep your PCAT CID (your PCAT registration log in) handy, you’ll need it. If you have a log in with Pearson VUE already, sign in and schedule away!

 

$ Cost of Taking the PCAT $

When you register to take the PCAT the updated new fee is $210 and this includes sending official scores to up to three schools. If you want to send scores to any more schools it’s $20 each. If you haven’t realized it yet, deadlines are a big deal and the late registration fee is an additional $49.

 

What’s on the PCAT?

Here is the rest of the PCAT Breakdown Series you can refer to for guidance on each section:
PCAT Breakdown: Verbal Ability Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Reading Comprehension Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Chemistry Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Writing Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Biology Section!

PCAT Breakdown: Quantitative Ability Section! COMING SOON.

 

That’s it! Changes in dates and an updated registration cost! The rest of the information from the original breakdown introduction guide can be referred to here. With test day just around the riverbend it’s crunch time so stick with PCAT Cracker to ace it!

 

Applying to Pharmacy School: The Interview

The admissions process is long, stressful, and at times it feels like a lot of waiting and uncertainty. During this trying time there’s one clear sign in the process before a rejection and congratulations letter that your doing well… getting the call or email about setting up an

INTERVIEW!

Reaching this point in the admissions process is exciting and promising but don’t blow it now!

You’re not in yet!

 

You look good enough on paper to make it this far but are you really what pharmacy schools want?… prove it

So let’s talk about the interview and how to ace it!

 

Professional Basics

You know these things but they are important enough to drill into your head some more now…

BE ON TIME. DRESS PROFESSIONALLY. BE POLITE. Easy enough, right? DO IT!

 

Projecting “FOMO”

FOMO = Fear Of Missing Out and you basically need to instill in a admissions committee the fear of missing out on what an awesome prospect you are! The interview is a two-way conversation and you not only what to be prepared to answer their questions, you want to be engaging and have questions of your own. You are interviewing them as a potential school as much as they are interviewing you as a potential student and you gotta make them want you. This may be your top choice school… but hey, you’re a catch and half and got other options too so you want them to win YOU over too. Note that this kind of confidence isn’t cocky but reflects a genuine and avid interest in what the program has to offer. You are evaluating the school as much as they are evaluating you.

 

Be Honest

Besides your Personal Statement, the interview is the only place to speak of yourself in your own words. The school is trying to further get to know YOU and understand your motivations towards pharmacy. Be prepared to talk about pitfalls and flaws in your application, like a less than stellar GPA or PCAT score, to come up in the interview. This is your chance to shine and reassure them of any doubts and reservations they may have about you as a candidate. Speaking openly and honestly in the interview is always to way to go.

 

Be “On” At All Times

Each pharm program’s admission interview is unique. Some schools do one-on-one interview while others opt for a committee-style set up. Most include all day visits with tours of the school, meeting professors, etc. and it’s important to understand that the entire you’re there is essentially your interview. While you’re on campus act as if you’re always being watched and examined by the admissions committee because you basically are. Making a good impression all day can lead to another professor mentioning something to the committee for instance like, “hey that candidate seemed great and asked really interesting questions on the tour earlier”; keep in mind that this works vise-versa too! So you gotta be on at all times!

 

Bonus!

Here’s some interview preparation advice from PharmCAS,

“Those who have researched and gained direct exposure to the profession will be better prepared to respond to the interview questions.”

 

With these things in mind you can have a winning interview and be one step closer the congratulations acceptance letter! Until then you can work on getting a winning PCAT score to get you to the interview step with PCAT Cracker. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions or advice to add on interviews!

 

Happy Practicing!

PCAT Breakdown: Chemistry Section!

This is part 4 of a series breaking down the Pharmacy College Admission Test.

Go check out the rest of the series (with more to come) here on the blog to get the full lowdown!

 

On the menu today: Chemistry! This is the fourth section you’ll face come test day!

It’s scheduled right before the official test break meaning you might be feeling a little drained by this point but with the right preparation you will power through!

 

The Chemistry section consists of 48 questions

both freestanding and passage-based

and you will have 30 minutes.

 

Below are detailed outlines of each the objectives tested in the chemistry section:

General Chemistry, 50% of questions

PCAT Gen Chem

 

Organic Chemistry, 30% of questions

PCAT Org Chem

 

Basic Biochemistry Processes, 20% of questions

PCAT Biochem

 

As mentioned earlier there are two types of questions, freestanding and passage-based. The addition of the two short passages, each with 4 questions, to the PCAT came in 2014 and brings an added layer of complexity to the chemistry section.

With the freestanding questions the knowledge tested can be straightforward but the passage-based questions require reading comprehension before you even get the Reading Comprehension section of the PCAT! But then with the passages you have to be able to (quickly) break down the information presented and be able to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate the passage. The way to prepare for this is with practice. YES, basically like with all things PCAT Prep… PRACTICE is key!

 

Here’s a sample of a freestanding question:

PCAT Chem Sample

 

With PCAT Cracker you can practice practice practice and you can even take tests focusing in on objectives you need to hone in! So get to it…

Happy Practicing!

PCAT Breakdown: Verbal Ability Section!

This is part 2 of a series breaking down the Pharmacy College Admission Test.

The PCAT is a marathon of an exam with six sections and clocking in at nearly four hours so let’s take a closer look at each section, shall we?

On the menu today: the Verbal Ability section, which is the second section you will face come PCAT day! It contains 40questions and you’ll have 25minutes to answer them. Within the Verbal Ability section there are two kinds of questions: Analogies and Sentence Completion. Analogies with make 62% of the questions and Sentence Completion 38%.

 

Analogies

These questions are concerned with relationships between words and you are asked to complete the analogy by examining and picking/making the correct relationship. Here are the parameters straight from the PCAT makers:

PCAT Verbal Analogies

You can think of these types of questions as the classic “____ is to ____ as ____ is to____”, for example: “puppies are to dogs as kittens to ____” (absolute easiest example ever). In fact you should think of them as that! Making a sentence from the first two words is a good way to set you up to find the word that goes with the third. Make up your own sentence before looking at the answer choices so is not to fall into a trap…

The PCAT makers say, “Each incorrect answer may seem plausible and will relate in some conceptual way to the third item in the stem, but not in a way that correctly completes the analogy” that means these are meant to be tricky. The answer choices may have a relation with the word but is the same as the first two words? It’s a little tricky because if you’re not paying close attention you may pick one that is related but wrong. That’s why making a sentence is super helpful in helping create the right relationship.

So based on the type of relationship of the first two words you need to pick the answer that gives that same relationship for the third word. There are 5 types of relationships that are tested:

PCAT Analogy Types

With practice you will become better at recognizing relationships and it definitely wouldn’t hurt to work on your vocabulary. Actually the most common tips I found on the Pre-Pharm forums were always along the lines of “study the top 200 GRE words” and “make flashcards” to expand your vocabulary. Here’s a sample similarity/contrast type of analogy question: PCAT Analogy Sample

Sentence Completion

Like the Analogy questions these Sentence Completions are meant to be tricky. But here you have context to work with and even though some answer choices may seem “plausible” only one is correct. Here are the official rules:

PCAT Verbal Sentnces

With practice you can learn how to efficiently and effectively select the correct responses because 25minutes will go fast and you need all the points you can get. Sentence Completion can be tricky since some answer choices are plausible and you might be tempted to quickly pick one that makes sense but you can’t make little mistakes like this! Read the sentence and fill the blanks with your own words before even considering the answer choices. This way going to the answer choices you already know exactly what words or synonyms to look for. Take a look at this sample:

PCAT Sentence Sample

The Verbal Ability section of the PCAT is not to be taken lightly. Here is where you can lose major points by falling for the tricky answer traps. Practice and learn to be stealthy and ready for their tricks. Don’t make silly little mistakes by picking plausible but not the correct answers or just not knowing a common vocab word or etc. etc. etc.

Happy Practicing.

PCAT Study Tips!

Studying for the Pharmacy College Admission Test can be extra stress inducing, we get that. So when you’re feeling especially frazzled, just picture a T-Rex trying to make a bed. After thinking about a bunch of other funny things that guy would have trouble doing and scouring the pre-pharm forums and, here is a carefully selected best of the best compilation of PCAT study tips to help with the stress!

When-youre-upset-just-imagine-a-T-Rex-making-a-bed

 

Give Yourself 3 months of Preparation

This is a big test to say the very least with an immense mountain of material to get through. This isn’t a test you will be cramming for. Brightside is you’ve already been preparing with all the hard work you’ve sure to have done in your classes. So now is the time to prove it. Now all you have to do is prepare for an extremely long exam that tests on all your classes ever in a highly integrated and all encompassing manner. Yeah, not easy so give yourself like 3 months!

 

Set Aside Time Everyday To Study

The tried and true saying of “treat it like a class” is not to be taken lightly you need to be setting out time everyday to study. With your real life (school/work/etc.) it’s understandable if you can’t marathon big block time of like 8-10 hours of study time everyday but you should be doing something each day. You must make the most of your time and focus, sticking strictly to the 50/10 rule! That’s 50 minutes study time and 10 minute break time.

 

Take Several Online Practice Exams

Practice, practice, practice. The endurance and stamina needed just to get through test day is going to take some getting used to. Practice tests like with PCAT Cracker are not only helpful with in content tested but also in getting used to computer testing and exposing you to the time needed for your brain to last through the whole exam. Just a reminder here’s what PCAT day looks like:

PCAT Blueprint

 

Make Your Own Study Guide

Through your college life thus far you know how you best work and study so why not create your own study guide. You do you. Stick to what works just do it on a grander PCAT sized scale. Whether it’s outlining your notes or whatever specific thing you may do it’ll be better take the opportunity to personalize it for you versus sticking to someone rando off the internet’s guide/schedule. So sit down, layout a plan and stick to it. When creating a study schedule make sure to have a review day perhaps once a week or plan a practice test after working on a particular section (with PCAT Cracker you can take practice section tests individually).

 

Try Studying in the Library

Gasp, that awful place? Yes. You want to make your study and practice environment to emulate the test centers. Try finding a place that will have just enough rustling of papers and typing of laptop keys from other students so it not to be too quiet, just like on PCAT day! If this tip sounds familiar that’s because we’ve talked about it before in the blog’s PCAT Study Motivation post a couple months back, check it out here.

 

Tutor Subjects Covered On The PCAT

Once you’ve figured out the subjects you need extra help on tackle them! With the PCAT Cracker diagnostic tests you can pin point specific areas in each section that you’re weakest in. Remember after the scheduled break you’ll have Reading Comp and Quant Ability back to back and if these sections aren’t your strong areas… PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

 

Well there they are now go forth and conquer! Be sure to stay tuned for more tips and the continuation of our breakdown series of each section. Got any other PCAT study tips to add to the list? Share with the class in the comments!

 

P.S. If you don’t already, go ‘Like’ PCAT Cracker on Facebook right here and now.