PCAT
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What is it?
Why should you take it?
Where and when to sign up
Anatomy of the PCAT
Scoring (What’s a good score?)
How to prepare/our personal experiences
Practice Problems (Prizes?)
Day of Test
Any questions?
PCAT?
• Known as the Pharmacy College Admission Test
(PCAT)
• Standardized test used by most pharmacy
colleges to help identify qualified applicants
• Basically is a combination of the SAT and ACT
that will measure your general scientific
knowledge
• Is now a computer-based test and multiplechoice!!!
Reasons For Taking the PCAT
• Though not required for all California schools, over
2/3 of pharmacy schools require it!
http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/Pa
ges/PCAT.aspx
• Provides an additional measurement of your
academic ability. A high PCAT score can help
cushion a lower GPA!
• You’re going to need to learn the science stuff
anyway!
• It will make any other related classes easier!
Schools That Do Not Require The PCAT
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Northstate
Loma Linda
Touro (CA, NY)
UCSD
UCSF
UOP
USC
Western
Florida A&M
Idaho State
Manchester
Purdue
Sullivan
• Massachusetts (Boston,
Worchester)
• Northeastern
• Rutgers
• St. Johns
• Ohio Northern
• Findlay
• Toledo
• Oregon State
• Pacific- Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Lebanese American
According to the schools recognized by the AACP (American Association of
Colleges of Pharmacy) (2013-2014), 26 schools vs. 99 schools (3 unreported)
How to Sign Up?
• Make an account at the Pearson PCAT website
https://tpc-etesting.com/pcat/login.aspx
Click registration tab, follow the steps!
- First registration step involves selecting preferred test
date and facility
- General Pearson website will direct you to
PearsonVue test center site to confirm your choices
and pay
*Note: These choices don’t become finalized until you fill
out the second registration form and pay the fee!!!
Registration Fee: $199.00
Dates/Locations for PCAT signup
• 2013-2014 Testing Dates
General Registration Opens (3/1/2013)
- July 17, 18; Sept. 3, 4, 16, 17, 18; Jan. 7, 8
Second Registration Opens (9/7/2013)
*Note: Limited Seating
- Oct. 28, 29, 30, 31; Nov. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Closest locations (Irvine): Anaheim (next to Angels
Stadium), Lake Forest (both are 15 mins away)
Anatomy of the PCAT
• Consists of 6 content area
- Verbal Ability (analogies, word choice,
sentences)
- Biology (general, microbiology, physiology,
anatomy)
- Reading Comprehension (exactly like SATs)
- Quantitative Ability (algebra, geometry,
stats/probability, trigonometry, calculus)
- Chemistry (Inorganic, organic, biochemistry)
- Essay (Two essay prompts (1 abstract, 1
Testing Breakdown
• Essay (30 mins)
• Verbal Ability (48 questions, 30 mins)
• Biology (48 questions, 30 mins)
• Chemistry (48 questions, 30 mins)
• (Rest break)
• Essay (30 mins)
• Reading Comprehension (48 questions, 50 mins)
• Quantitative (48 questions, 40 mins)
- Computer-based with module of questions per section
- Timer will be enforced electronically.
How is the PCAT scored?
• Every section except essay is out of a raw score of 600
• Generally, scores of 400 will result in 50th percentile, but
everything is normalized according to the testing range
of a particular year (2011 norms)
• A composite score (average of raw scores) is your overall
final score
• Raw scores don’t mean anything, based upon how well
you do among others
Ex. A score of 420 may mean 75th percentile in one year,
but 56th percentile in another
• Essays are scored from 1-6, scores of each essay prompt
will be averaged (essay scores not as important)
According to Kaplan,
PCAT Scores and Equivalent Percentiles
Percentile
Verbal
Ability
Biology
Reading
Comp.
Quant.
Ability
Chemistry
Composite
Score
< 49
< 394
< 392
< 394
< 392
< 393
< 394
50-64
395-409
393-409
395-409
393-409
394-409
395-409
65-79
410-412
410-412
410-412
410-412
410-412
410-412
80-94
413-443
413-444
413-441
413-443
413-442
413-443
> 95
> 444
> 445
> 442
> 444
> 443
> 444
What do colleges want?
• Depends upon the college; obviously higher
score improves your chances
• Traditionally, schools do not report the range
that they are looking for
• To be competitive, most schools are looking at
70-75th percentile and above or raw scores of
400 and above
UCI classes That Will Correlate to the
Specifics of the Science Tests
• Biology (Bio 93/97/98, E109/Pharm Sci 120,
D103, M121)
• Chemistry (Chem 1A-C, Chem 51A,B + labs)
• Quantitative (Up to Math 2B)
No plant biology or taxonomy anymore!!!!
(Photosynthesis, ecology, plant biochemistry)
Biology
• 93: DNA structure, replication, evolution,
transcription/translation, mitosis/meiosis, action
potentials
• 97: Hardy-Weinberg, punnett-squares, sex-linked,
pedigree charts
• 98: Kreb’s cycle, amino acids, glycolysis,
gluconeogenesis, fermentation
• E109, Pharmsci 120: Respiratory system, renal
system, homeostasis, heart system, hormones,
sex/fertilization, menstruation cycle, anatomy
• D103: Signaling (ligands, 2nd messengers), pathways
(G-coupled proteins), embryology/development
stages
• M121: bacterial life cycle, nitrogen-fixation,
characteristics of bacteria, classification of microbes,
sterilization practices
Chemistry
• Chem 1A: periodic table, element properties, bonds,
protons/electrons, electron binding clouds,
redox equations, nuclear decay
• Chem 1B: stoichiometry, calculations/percent
yields , electrochemistry, solubility rules
• Chem 1C: pH (equivlance pts), titrations, ICE
charts!
• Chem 51A/B/labs: SN1,2 & E1,2 reactions,
aprotic/protic solvents, arrow pushing mechanisms,
synthesis, spectroscopy, NMRs
Math
• Algebra (percent discount, money interest, averages,
sequences)
• Geometry (Pythagorean theorem)
• Trignometry (law of cosines/sines, trig laws)
• Calculus (differentiation (impartial), integration (by
parts) , limits
*Note: good to know L'Hôpital's rule
• Statistics (standard deviation, mean, graph
interpretations)
• Probability (permutations, percentages)
Practice Questions
• Biology
The chromosome number of offspring produced via parthenogenesis is
A. diploid
B. haploid
C. 2N
D. Both A and C
Which of the following developmental stages has the greatest nuclearto-cytoplasmic material ratio?
A. 4-celled zygote
B. 8-celled zygote
C. Morula
D. Blastula
Practice Questions
• Biology
The chromosome number of offspring produced via parthenogenesis is
A. diploid
B. haploid
C. 2N
D. Both A and C
Which of the following developmental stages has the greatest nuclearto-cytoplasmic material ratio?
A. 4-celled zygote
B. 8-celled zygote
C. Morula
D. Blastula
Practice Questions
• Biology
The chromosome number of offspring produced via parthenogenesis is
A. diploid
B. haploid
C. 2N
D. Both A and C
Which of the following developmental stages has the greatest nuclearto-cytoplasmic material ratio?
A. 4-celled zygote
B. 8-celled zygote
C. Morula
D. Blastula
Practice Questions
• Chemistry
π bonds are formed by which of the following orbitals?
A. Two s orbitals
B. Two p orbitals
C. One s and one p orbital
D. All of the above
The reaction of 1 mole of diethyl ether with hydrobromic acid results
in the production of:
A. 2 moles of ethyl bromide
B. 2 moles of ethanol
C. 1 mole of ethylbromide and 1 mole of ethanol
D. 1 mole of methylbromide and 1 mole of propanol
Practice Questions
• Chemistry
π bonds are formed by which of the following orbitals?
A. Two s orbitals
B. Two p orbitals
C. One s and one p orbital
D. All of the above
The reaction of 1 mole of diethyl ether with hydrobromic acid results
in the production of:
A. 2 moles of ethyl bromide
B. 2 moles of ethanol
C. 1 mole of ethylbromide and 1 mole of ethanol
D. 1 mole of methylbromide and 1 mole of propanol
Practice Questions
• Chemistry
π bonds are formed by which of the following orbitals?
A. Two s orbitals
B. Two p orbitals
C. One s and one p orbital
D. All of the above
The reaction of 1 mole of diethyl ether with hydrobromic acid results
in the production of:
A. 2 moles of ethyl bromide
B. 2 moles of ethanol
C. 1 mole of ethylbromide and 1 mole of ethanol
D. 1 mole of methylbromide and 1 mole of propanol
Preparation/Our Experiences
• Study (go back to old notes from classes)
• Buy PCAT study books (KAPLAN)
• KAPLAN course (choice of online modules or live inclass) (check booths for discounts!)
• PCAT Study Guide by Pearson ($25.00)
• Online practice-tests (sciences) directly from
Pearson
- Single test: $45.00
- Two: $65.00
- All three: $85.00
• Spend all summer studying?
Testing Day: Tips and Conditions
• Arrive 30 minutes early
• You need 2 forms of ID (one with photo, one with name:
license, credit card)
• Need your registration confirmation form
• Fingerprints taken
• Lockers, pencils, and earplugs provided
• Possible patdown?
• Escorts to and from your station (bathroom)
• A camera will observe everything you do!!!!!
• No calculators!
• Computer may or may not lag
After the Test,
• Before submission of your test, you have the
option to cancel your scores
• After submission, a print-out of your raw
scores/percentile rankings is given (you get to
know your scores right away!)
• 6 weeks later, official score report (writing
scores) is released through your account (scores
may or may not change)