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I got a lot of questions regarding how I did on the exam, request for pointers, and what material I used to review. So here is my tell all on how I passed. For reference, I did decent with a passing score in the low 600s.
Material I used to study for the 2018 Spring BCPS exam:
Practice exams I used and my scores AFTER I studied thoroughly (I took them about 1 week prior to my exam date):
Material I used to study for the 2018 Spring BCPS exam:
- 2018 ACCP Updates in Therapeutics (disease state, study design, and biostats sections only)
- All of volume 1
- Volume 2 excluding "Policy, Practice, and Regulatory Issues" and the "ADDITIONAL RESOURCES"
- 2016 ACCP Updates in Therapeutics (Misc Chapters Only)
- "Drug Information Resources and Literature Retrieval," "Managing a Clinical Practice," "Principles and Methods of Educating Health Care Professionals," "Communication Strategies in Pharmacy," "Practices and Processes of Care/ Organizational Agreements/ Special Issues in Pharmacy Practice," and "Policy, Practice, and Regulatory Issues"
- Skimmed 2018 ADA guidelines for DM and most recent CV guidelines
Practice exams I used and my scores AFTER I studied thoroughly (I took them about 1 week prior to my exam date):
- ASHP Pharmacotherapy Specialty Review Course PRACTICE EXAM - 53.98%
- This free question bank at pharmacyquestionbank - didn't record my initial score (SDN wouldn't let me post the link)
- ACCP Pharmacotherapy Mock Exam - 63.43%
- Meded101 BCPS Practice Exam - high 70% range I believe
- ASHP flip cards - some information is outdated, but I found it useful only to get used to test taking again
- created my own cheat sheet of random drugs facts and laws
- CYP chart @ the Indiana University School of Medicine (can't post the link)
- Don't underestimate the value of "having a feel" for answering exam questions under time constraints, especially if you've been out of school for a while. Figure out how long it typically takes you to answer questions. If you take too long (more than 1.5 minutes), then figure out why. I learned that I test quickly (I finished the exam under half the allowed time), but I was often getting questions wrong on the mock exams for not answering the question being asked.
- You need to be proficient in biostats (particularly the math), study design, and policy (both regulatory and health system policy). This is 45% of the exam. If you think you'll be able to just fly by with clinical knowledge alone, you're wrong.
- The clinical questions are potpourri. Study as much clinical as you like, but I felt I only knew half of the clinical questions' answers 100%. Don't let the comments about particular questions on these forum steer your studying. Personally, I did not agree with other people's assessments of the question breakdown. Pick and choose your battles here.
- Anticoagulation is not sufficiently covered in the ACCP Updates in Therapeutics material in my opinion.
- I gave myself 2 months to study with the bulk of my studying done in the 2nd month. I am a bit of a procrastinator.
- I would say that I'm an above average test taker.
- I do not have kids, but I am married.
- I work in insurance, but I did not really have time to study for the exam during work. I mostly put in hours on the weekends.
- I did not do a residency. My background is in retail, management, and insurance. I also do part time work in academia.
- I took a couple days off from work just before my exam day to study and relax.
- I reviewed most of the ACCP packets only once. I remember going through cardiology, critical care, and fluids more than once. After the exam, I didn't think that helped much. I went over the biostats and study design chapters multiple times.
- I didn't have audio for the 2018 ACCP Updates in Therapeutics, but I did for the 2016 edition. I would listen to those on my commute to and from work.
- Mull over questions they remembered and research, then consequently realize they got wrong. You can't change it, and you'll go crazy focusing only on the few questions you probably got incorrect.
- Don't offer people guidance about specifics on your exam. You'll for one, ruin the curving, and two, create bias in the head of the test taker. It's a disservice to everyone. This exam isn't like the NAPLEX, where we are tested on minimum competency. This is a test for competency at a higher level. This should mean something to you if you're taking this exam.
- Burn all of your study material. Wait until you get your score, then burn it smithereens (if you passed).