Does anybody know what I should focus on the Pcat?

[kitty84]

Hi, I want to take the Pcat sometime this year (2008) or 2009, but I don't know what I should really focus on it. Should I focus on Biol, chem and English only? How about Stats and other random stuff? Thanks

Ah, I plan to apply in a year (2010 admission), is that okay to take the Pcat this year (2008)?

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[Farcus]

you should be able to answer this question yourself based on your grades you're getting from the perquisite course. If you're getting C and Ds on gen chem i would say study on gen chem and not on BIO that you're getting A in.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

Here is the link to the Candidate Information Booklet put out by the people who make the test. http://harcourtassessment.com/hai/Images/dotCom/pcatweb.info/PCAT08_CIB_Final.pdf

That should answer the basic breakdown of what is on the test, plus a lot of other info. Search this forum for a lot of good info too.

 

[PharmApp2008]

I got a thick Kaplan study guide (It was like $45). I mostly just read, took notes, and did the practice problems. I scored in the 85th percentile and most of the prereq classes I took in the early 2000's. That book really helped! I studied for about 6 weeks but some of those weeks I didn't' have to work.

 

[kitty84]

Mostly I get As on the classes. However, after I take the exams and get the grades, I just forget about what I learned, which is a problem haha

PharmApp, I bought the Kaplan Pcat pharmacy college admission test (2008-2009 edition). Is it the one you used? Did you use any other quick review? I just don't know how and where I should start. I took a look at the book and it was just too much and then I felt bad.

 

[PharmApp2008]

I tried to find my book and see but didn't find it. I bought it last fall so it may be an edition behind. I was really worried about retaking the PCAT since it had been so long since I took the classes. I have worked in accounting mostly since I graduated with my biology degree! I thought I would just, I don't know...reread all of my undergrad textbooks! Yeah right, I got through 3 chapters of chem and realized I didn't have 10 years to study for the test. The Kaplan guide overwhelemed me at first but I studied it diligently and took notes just like if it was a class I was taking. I think it prepared me really well and it was about all I had time to study. I was putting in 6-8 hours a day of studying maybe for a month before the test (until I had to get a job).

 

[kitty84]

PharmApp, thank you sooooo much. I will follow whatever in the Kaplan guide. If I get a good grade on the Pcat, I will buy you 3 dinners, no maybe 4 haha

Did they have practice exam before the test? And did the test cover Statistics? I hope not since I really hate probability, just don't see why they make up the probability to make us learn.

 

[inquirer89]

I'd suggest looking at more study material for Organic Chem. Posters from the board said that they noticed a lot more Orgo on the PCAT that the Kaplan did not adequately cover.

 

[PharmApp2008]

Well, I had my own strategy. I figured out which type of problems I was the worst on and I skipped them. With the Kaplan guide, you will not know enough calculus to answer the questions, so I skipped them. I also skipped statistics. I barely had enough time to calculate all of the rest and then I went back and guessed on the ones I skipped. I think I was in the 89th percentile in Math. As for organic, no they don't cover enough. I had to take educated guesses and try to remember my organic. I will try to remember if there was anything else I wasn't prepared for. Hope you all do well!

 

[PharmApp2008]

They do have a practice exam before you start studying in the Kaplan book. It is the diagnostic test. There is also a test at the end.

 

[inquirer89]

I tried to find my book and see but didn't find it. I bought it last fall so it may be an edition behind. I was really worried about retaking the PCAT since it had been so long since I took the classes. I have worked in accounting mostly since I graduated with my biology degree! I thought I would just, I don't know...reread all of my undergrad textbooks! Yeah right, I got through 3 chapters of chem and realized I didn't have 10 years to study for the test. The Kaplan guide overwhelemed me at first but I studied it diligently and took notes just like if it was a class I was taking. I think it prepared me really well and it was about all I had time to study. I was putting in 6-8 hours a day of studying maybe for a month before the test (until I had to get a job).

That is hardcore! lol sorry but I just saw that.

So how much "skipping" did you do? I've heard of that strategy before, but I'm always anal about giving a problem my best, and then I end up losing time on something that I'll probably miss.

 

[kitty84]

wow, sounds to me that you skipped a lot when you studied, so what should I focus on? I did really well in Organic Chemistry when I took it (I got a perfect on the final exam), but it has been one year and I am not sure what part of O-chem they are going to put on the Pcat. I'm not sure whether it's different from what I learned in school? Maybe I should calm down and study instead of getting so worried and then not doing well.
How about the vocabulary and writing sections, how did you prepare for that one, PharmApp?

 

[PharmApp2008]

I am very anal on questions also. The first time I took the PCAT I made around 50% in math because I refused to stop trying to figure out the problems, so I probably got the 1rst 10 right and the last 40 wrong because I didn't have time to even look at them! I made myself stick to my plan this last time and my score obviously improved. I am, however, very slow at answering questions. I took Organic in 2002 so you are probably in better shape than I was, Kitty 84. I think I did okay on that part though. I am bad at vocab and just okay at writing. For the vocab, I just used the Kaplan guide and was relieved that the test used mostly words I had at least heard of. Don't even ask what I got on the GRE! The writing I did well on content and bad on stucture. I don't know why that was. I followed the Kaplan guide and didn't do very well! I got a 2 on structure and 3.5 on content. Maybe because I didn't use 5 paragraphs? Kaplan said use 3 and I did. Oh well I have been accepted so I'm am Okay with that!

 

[PharmApp2008]

I found my book, it was Kaplan 2008-2009. There are some errors in it but I found them to be pretty easy to catch.