Did not pass PTCE

[Perseverance]

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Hi all, I just recently took the PTCE and to be honest, i didn't do as well as i thought. Right after i immediately took the test, the results shows that i failed but didn't give me the score. I felt like crap after seeing that and i realized i should've studied a little more. I have had no experience nor any training so i just read one of the books and worked out some practice questions but i feel like it wasn't enough. Has anyone not done so well the first time but eventually passed the second or third time? I'm sorry if this topic has already been issued but i just don't want it to bother me and let it affect me in any kind of way. Also, are there any good books i can use to study again? (Btw, I did post this in the license and exams but i want to get a little more from my fellow pre-pharmers)

 

[Passion4Sci]

Hey,

Well, I'm shocked... but, I guess it does happen. Don't get too discouraged, since the good news is, for another 129 smackers, PearsonVUE will be more than happy to let you take it again.

Which "one of the books" did you work out of? And when you "worked out some practice questions", which ones? And how many of each?

Your score won't come until later in the mail. There should be something on your test ticket thing that you got there that says what date your full scores will be sent to you on.

I am more than confident now that you've seen the test, you'll nail it the next time around. After all, you've been in the driver's seat and you know exactly what is coming around the corner now, right? When you were taking the exam, were you careful to commit to memory questions that were particularly difficult or troublesome?

I really like the Mosby's book, by Mizner. It has a really awesome CD with 10 practice tests, a flash card thing, and 10 timed "real" exams. I found that, after going through each one a couple of times over a 3ish week period, I was really prepared for the PTCE.

The book I used is older now, there is a new version, which is:

http://www.amazon.com/Mosbys-Pharma...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251076313&sr=8-2

Doesn't really seem like much of a price jump if you just get the new one, lol.

Anyway, good luck and study harder for the next one. Don't be so... unguided.

Hi all, I just recently took the PTCE and to be honest, i didn't do as well as i thought. Right after i immediately took the test, the results shows that i failed but didn't give me the score. I felt like crap after seeing that and i realized i should've studied a little more. I have had no experience nor any training so i just read one of the books and worked out some practice questions but i feel like it wasn't enough. Has anyone not done so well the first time but eventually passed the second or third time? I'm sorry if this topic has already been issued but i just don't want it to bother me and let it affect me in any kind of way. Also, are there any good books i can use to study again? (Btw, I did post this in the license and exams but i want to get a little more from my fellow pre-pharmers)

 

[Perseverance]

I used the "The Pharmacy Technician" review book and i mainly just studied the law and math portion. However, i mostly worked on the practice questions for the math part (there were about 20 questions of them). What caught me off guard during the exam was that there were questions that I didn't really understand and had nothing to do with law (there was some that had to do with generic drugs and questions that pertained to chemical names for this/that drug). I know i did better on the math part but everything else was just confusing. And yes, i have heard that the mosby book has plenty of practice exams in the book and i guess i should've refer to that book instead. Thank you passion, i really appreciate it and i just hope that i'll do better the next time i take it. Btw, is getting certified really necessary to get a pharmacy technician job?

 

[Passion4Sci]

It depends, really... On the state, I think.

In California, you can get a job as a pharmacy clerk without the certification, but you can't be called a pharmacy technician without actually being licensed (another arduous process after you pass the PTCE).

Check with your state's BoP and you will be able to find out for certain.

I really, really recommend Mosby's. All those practice exams, if done diligently, will help you immensely. Some questions were almost verbatim on the PTCE!

 

[socalgirlie]

I used mosby's and thats all, and I passed with flying colors ^_^ Good luck!!

 

[Pharma Spia]

I used the "Comprehensive Exam Review for the Pharmacy Technician" by Jahangir Moini. I didnt study the whole book though because my cousin who took the test before me just told me certain chapters to focus on, and I did just that and did well on the test. I think the book has everything you need to do well on the test.

 

[JJVmom]

I second Mosby's book. I spent a couple wks, in my spare time, doing the practice tests and memorizing the answers, and I easily passed. I made note cards for the conversions I hadn't known, the DEA forms, and other random facts. I didn't memorize any of the generic/brand name drugs. I found the practice tests were just like the real test. I memorized the answers to all the questions I got wrong on the practice test.

Do this and you'll be fine next time.

 

[drjmariesegars]

Hi all, I just recently took the PTCE and to be honest, i didn't do as well as i thought. Right after i immediately took the test, the results shows that i failed but didn't give me the score. I felt like crap after seeing that and i realized i should've studied a little more. I have had no experience nor any training so i just read one of the books and worked out some practice questions but i feel like it wasn't enough. Has anyone not done so well the first time but eventually passed the second or third time? I'm sorry if this topic has already been issued but i just don't want it to bother me and let it affect me in any kind of way. Also, are there any good books i can use to study again? (Btw, I did post this in the license and exams but i want to get a little more from my fellow pre-pharmers)

Well, let me start off by saying "dont be discouraged and try again". Not all of us are brilliant test takers. However, I passed the first time but I felt like my test was REALLY Hard. A CPhT told me that the harder your test is the more likely you are to pass; moreover, it might behoove you to try to remember what type of problems held you up

I used Delmar's Complete Review for the Pharmacy Technician, borrowed from my schools library. It gives you feedback on how the problems are solved and why particular answers are wrong. I work as a tech now and I think i might actually BUY it to have it as a reference for the common drugs. 🙄

 

[abm1104]

I studied from Mosby's Second Edition. I bought it about a month ago and chose that book because I saw someone suggest it in one of the threads. I took my test yesterday and passed. To me it seemed like at least a quarter of the test consisted of mathematic problems. Mosbys was great because of all the study materials it comes with. Like 17 practice exams and over 600 digital flashcards. It is a great investment in my opinion.

 

[dreampharmacyj]

If you retake the exam, do you have to pay again?

 

[Passion4Sci]

If you retake the exam, do you have to pay again?

Yep, sure do. $129 again.

 

[Lo|a]

Don't be discourage. Now that you know what to expect you should be able to pass it the second time around. I studied a week before the test and passed the first time. I studied mostly the math problems, pharmacy law and memorized some names and class of drugs. Luckily I'm pretty decent at math and my test consisted of a lot of math problems which I browse through pretty easily. Study harder and I know you'll pass. Good Luck!

 

[InquiringMind]

I just recently took the exam 2 weeks ago and passed. I used Noah Reifman's Certification Review for Pharmacy Technicians. I studied off and on all weekend and took the test that Monday. I took one of the practice tests from the book and didn't think I would pass. However, the conversions on the actual test weren't as hard as the practice test. My suggestion would be to do a few practice tests before you take the next exam. Good Luck! and don't get discouraged 🙂