July PCAT study group

[Wallace12]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Who all is taking the PCAT in July and would maybe want to join together in this thread and ask for help and keep each other motivated for the test??
I'll be studying starting ~may 13th it's the Monday after my spring finals. I'll be using Dr Collins and MAYBE cracking pcat by PR. But it doesn't matter what materials we use we can still help each other out. Lets kill this test and get accepted into pharmacy school!
LETS GOOOOO!!!

 

[niftydoc]

if you don't want to purchase the pearson tests (which are worth the money), kaplan has some free online practice test events if you search their website. but they shorten all the sections, still contain info prior to the 2012 pcat changes, and have no writing section.

Thanks. You are right I should not be penny wise and pound foolish.... I guess I'm paying for the practice test. After I check out the free ones of course.

 

[hushpuppies]

I've been doing the pearson tests and getting 80-99 range composite or slightly less than that range for those tests. I hope the pearson tests correspond well with the real thing.

What scores are you guys getting for the pearson practice tests?

 

[Wallace12]

I've been doing the pearson tests and getting 80-99 range composite or slightly less than that range for those tests. I hope the pearson tests correspond well with the real thing.

What scores are you guys getting for the pearson practice tests?

I'm going to buy them tomorrow and do one tomorrow too. From what i hear on here they are definitely worth it and correspond pretty close to the real deal

 

[AlPacino]

Im going to do all the practice tests next week too. Hopefully Ill get a 80+ by the third one since Ive heard that the score you get on the PPT are close to the real thing.

I've been doing the pearson tests and getting 80-99 range composite or slightly less than that range for those tests. I hope the pearson tests correspond well with the real thing.

What scores are you guys getting for the pearson practice tests?

What has been the most time consuming section for you?

 

[Jessica1992]

In my college's pre-pharmacy club we have mentors who are either P1 or P2, and mine said that the Pearsons Tests were the best. She just used Kaplan book and Pearsons test as her main studying tool, and well, she is about to start her 3rd year of pharmacy school this fall!

I hope the Pearson Tests are truly like the real thing. Though I am not at the percentile range I want to be at (they give you such a large range!), the questions are not as detailed as any of my practice books have been.

 

[grawrmoooink]

Anyone practicing or preparing for the essay portion of the pcat?

 

[hushpuppies]

Im going to do all the practice tests next week too. Hopefully Ill get a 80+ by the third one since Ive heard that the score you get on the PPT are close to the real thing.


What has been the most time consuming section for you?

It seems that quantitative and RC are most time consuming, but probably quantitative more so. I either needed to use all 40 min for math, or sometimes i ran out of time.

Yes, PPT are quite good, however the percentile ranges they give are quite large in range. But hopefully they correspond well to the real thing.

Did you purchase tests 1-3 from pearson or did you also get the new test #4?

 

[AlPacino]

It seems that quantitative and RC are most time consuming, but probably quantitative more so. I either needed to use all 40 min for math, or sometimes i ran out of time.

Yes, PPT are quite good, however the percentile ranges they give are quite large in range. But hopefully they correspond well to the real thing.

Did you purchase tests 1-3 from pearson or did you also get the new test #4?

Ive yet to purchase any. Im going to buy the 3 full multiple choice tests tonight and get started on one to see where I stand.

 

[Wallace12]

I only purchased test 3 and 4 and I just finished test 3... Like expected I sucked it up in VA, RC, and quant (40-60 all three), then bio 80-99 and 70-90 for chem. Am I illiterate?? Haha on the ACT in high school reading was my highest subscore.

Self eval: I'm fine on bio, focus a TON on the big 3 ugly scores and maybe retake those sections on test 3 again and see if any improvement and if so do test 4 next Sunday before the REAL DEAL!!

Hope everyone's studied are going well, we're almost there

 

[AlPacino]

I only purchased test 3 and 4 and I just finished test 3... Like expected I sucked it up in VA, RC, and quant (40-60 all three), then bio 80-99 and 70-90 for chem. Am I illiterate?? Haha on the ACT in high school reading was my highest subscore.

Self eval: I'm fine on bio, focus a TON on the big 3 ugly scores and maybe retake those sections on test 3 again and see if any improvement and if so do test 4 next Sunday before the REAL DEAL!!

Hope everyone's studied are going well, we're almost there

Does it give you a composite score or just an individual on each section?

 

[Member9123]

I only purchased test 3 and 4 and I just finished test 3... Like expected I sucked it up in VA, RC, and quant (40-60 all three), then bio 80-99 and 70-90 for chem. Am I illiterate?? Haha on the ACT in high school reading was my highest subscore.

Self eval: I'm fine on bio, focus a TON on the big 3 ugly scores and maybe retake those sections on test 3 again and see if any improvement and if so do test 4 next Sunday before the REAL DEAL!!

Hope everyone's studied are going well, we're almost there

I only purchased test 3 and 4 too. I thought test 4 was way harder than 3 was. Let me know when you finish 4 and if you did better or worse than the other one. Maybe I just did worse because of my lack of focus or something.

 

[Wallace12]

Does it give you a composite score or just an individual on each section?

Well just a range. It said like 65-75 or something? My state schools average last year was 68, but I'd like to get over an 85

 

[Wallace12]

I only purchased test 3 and 4 too. I thought test 4 was way harder than 3 was. Let me know when you finish 4 and if you did better or worse than the other one. Maybe I just did worse because of my lack of focus or something.

I think I am going to work on my 3 bad sections and then take 4 maybe on Thursday. Are you using Collins to study with?

 

[AlPacino]

Well just a range. It said like 65-75 or something? My state schools average last year was 68, but I'd like to get over an 85

Oh ok, I see. Thanks for the info 👍

I just bought all three of the multiple choice tests and will start with the first one tomorrow. Will spend rest of night just finishing all Physics HW of the week so I can just focus on PCAT til the test.

 

[Jessica1992]

I think I am going to work on my 3 bad sections and then take 4 maybe on Thursday. Are you using Collins to study with?

Hey, can you let me know if test 4 is significantly different than the other ones? I bought my practice tests a month ago when they had tests 1-3, and I'm debating if I should buy the 4th one or not. If it is basically the same format of questions, I don't think it would be worth it.

 

[hushpuppies]

Hey, can you let me know if test 4 is significantly different than the other ones? I bought my practice tests a month ago when they had tests 1-3, and I'm debating if I should buy the 4th one or not. If it is basically the same format of questions, I don't think it would be worth it.

I agree, as this is also what worries me. The Pearson site said tests 4 was newest, and test 1-3 was last year's material. To add on top of that, I found test 3 hardest of the 123 set. Hearing that test 4 is harder than 3 worries me.

 

[Xeal0007]

I heard that when the PCAT is over you are shown like a preliminary score. Is that true or was someone pulling my leg?

 

[Wallace12]

I only purchased test 3&4 because of financial reasons. I am broke. Haha but I'll definitely post how I do on test 4 later this week once I do it.

 

[Jessica1992]

I only purchased test 3&4 because of financial reasons. I am broke. Haha but I'll definitely post how I do on test 4 later this week once I do it.

Sounds good! Tests 1 and 2 were similar in content themes to 3, but I wasn't sure if 4 was magically new and different. I read on Pearson that they got rid of test 1, because they use the questions in their new study guide, so at least they still apply to current content.

 

[niftydoc]

I heard that when the PCAT is over you are shown like a preliminary score. Is that true or was someone pulling my leg?

It's true I read it somewhere on their website. i can try to find the link for u if u want

 

[Jessica1992]

It's true I read it somewhere on their website. i can try to find the link for u if u want

Yes, it's true. I have a co-worker who took the PCAT last year, and he said his score he received right after the test was the exact same as his official score he received weeks later.

 

[futurepharm425]

Hey everyone, reading this thread seriously makes me feel so much better to know that other people are in the same position as me! I am using the Kaplan lesson book along with the pearson practice tests. I am taking Microbiology this summer along with a basic Bio course and Anatomy so I am pretty refreshed on those sections. I am just trying to focus on re-learning Chem since it's been two years since I last took it! Do you guys have any tips for studying- like do you guys read and highlight or read and take notes to like drill it in your brains? I mean I spend so much time looking at these topics that eventually they just stick but I am worried on Test Day I am going to just blank! Keep it up guys; we're almost there! 🙂

 

[hushpuppies]

I only purchased test 3 and 4 and I just finished test 3... Like expected I sucked it up in VA, RC, and quant (40-60 all three), then bio 80-99 and 70-90 for chem. Am I illiterate?? Haha on the ACT in high school reading was my highest subscore.

Self eval: I'm fine on bio, focus a TON on the big 3 ugly scores and maybe retake those sections on test 3 again and see if any improvement and if so do test 4 next Sunday before the REAL DEAL!!

Hope everyone's studied are going well, we're almost there

I feel you, the VA and RC components are dragging me. Barely scraping 40-60 in those too...

 

[Member9123]

I think I am going to work on my 3 bad sections and then take 4 maybe on Thursday. Are you using Collins to study with?

yeah i did use collins, along with kaplan and some other stuff

 

[Member529]

I can never finish the math section on time! It's definitely going to be my lowest score. Anyone else having trouble with math?

 

[vasoolraja]

I can never finish the math section on time! It's definitely going to be my lowest score. Anyone else having trouble with math?

Me too I am unable to finish math on time. I had done better in GRE math (77 percentile) than PCAT pearson practice test (45-55 percentile range).
Took a practice test today and bombed most sections. Composite score range is about 50-70 percentile. I feel discouraged with the results. I am taking the real test on Jul 17.

 

[68quebec]

i have confidence in myself to say that anyone who actually participate in this particular post will do fine on PCAT and more likely to get accepted on class of 2018. good luck to you all.

 

[AlPacino]

i have confidence in myself to say that anyone who actually participate in this particular post will do fine on PCAT and more likely to get accepted on class of 2018. good luck to you all.

Hopefully that is what the outcome of our hard work will be

Do not fret so much on the quantitative section and the timing. We are all just so used to having calculators do our work since I cant remember how long, that going back to the old arithmetic days before TI-89 takes some adjustments. Practice makes perfect. Just keep working on the tests and hope for the best.

 

[niftydoc]

Is it just me or does the bio section of d Kaplan book put anyone else to sleep?! Lol

 

[Xeal0007]

Is it just me or does the bio section of d Kaplan book put anyone else to sleep?! Lol

nope, me too.

I am really ready to get this thing over with!

 

[Member529]

Does anyone know what the user interface for the test is like? Do we get to see the questions we skipped before we submit all the answers?

 

[Wallace12]

Did anyone happen to be a pharm tech at Walgreens by chance? I received a call today about an interview, I've heard from other people that the job kinda sucks/stressful. This one is in a smaller town than where I go to school,(~8k population) so I wouldn't think it'd be super busy. It'll be part time and it's about a 30 min drive for me. What do you guys think?

 

[Annie14892]

Is the Collins biology section much easier than that of the actual PCAT?

 

[niftydoc]

Did anyone happen to be a pharm tech at Walgreens by chance? I received a call today about an interview, I've heard from other people that the job kinda sucks/stressful. This one is in a smaller town than where I go to school,(~8k population) so I wouldn't think it'd be super busy. It'll be part time and it's about a 30 min drive for me. What do you guys think?

I work for CVS. Pharmacies can be crazy period. Small town big town... There's no difference. Get ready for ppl yelling at u for things beyond ur control! Lol 😃

 

[Wallace12]

I work for CVS. Pharmacies can be crazy period. Small town big town... There's no difference. Get ready for ppl yelling at u for things beyond ur control! Lol

Haha yeah kinda forgot about that, yeah that happens with like every job dealing with people haha luckily I'm pretty mellow and chill it won't bother me haha 😎

How many hours do you work a week and how does that affect with your studying time?

 

[futurepharm425]

Did anyone happen to be a pharm tech at Walgreens by chance? I received a call today about an interview, I've heard from other people that the job kinda sucks/stressful. This one is in a smaller town than where I go to school,(~8k population) so I wouldn't think it'd be super busy. It'll be part time and it's about a 30 min drive for me. What do you guys think?

I agree with what was said earlier. I am a pharmacy technician for Walmart in Iowa and I can promise you people will find some way to blame you for any problems reguarding their meds. It's a part of the job but I can tell you that it's a fantastic learning experience especially right before pharmacy school! :]

 

[tuanthetiger]

9 more days people! I'm just ready to get it over with. Its completely taken over my summer .. I just want to be stress free!

 

[niftydoc]

Haha yeah kinda forgot about that, yeah that happens with like every job dealing with people haha luckily I'm pretty mellow and chill it won't bother me haha 😎

How many hours do you work a week and how does that affect with your studying time?

I work 35-40 hrs a week.. Honestly it's been a struggle trying to juggle work and studying for the PCAT. It's kinda hard to concentrate after a 12 hour shift on ur feet. Lol. So I try to wake up early before work to study. I guess I'll find out on d 18th 😀

 

[niftydoc]

9 more days people! I'm just ready to get it over with. Its completely taken over my summer .. I just want to be stress free!

Yes me too. In just ready for it to be over.
Anyone having problems with their personal statement!? Cause I am.

 

[Wallace12]

Yes me too. In just ready for it to be over.
Anyone having problems with their personal statement!? Cause I am.

I am and I've pushed it back until after the test... 😱 hopefully that doesn't turn out to be a bad idea

 

[AlPacino]

Im hoping to submit my app day before the PCAT. Im just waiting on my last LOR and for PharmCAS to receive my transcript. Hopefully my app will go out on the first batch in August when PharmCAS starts sending them out. But right now my focus is the PCAT. Im with tiger. Just want it to be over and move on to the next task.

 

[Serenoir]

I totally agree!! I work night shift, 40hrs a week and its realllly hard to work and study at the same time!!

 

[isanders]

I recently purchased all three of the multiple choice practice tests from pearson.
Took test #2 this morning and received composite of 80-90%(seems kinda broad ranges)
Subscores VA: 60-80% BIO: 80-90% CHEM: 80-90% RC: 75-95% (hard to tell exactly where the arrow was) QA: 75-95%
Overall, felt happy with my preliminary results, chem and bio were very easy, verbal was a challenging, RC was alright but passages seemed pretty short (about same as collins), and quant was by far the most difficult guessed on around 20% of questions so I am very surprised how i did, expecting more of a 40-60% lol. Also multiple VA and RC questions/passages looked very similar/identical to collins so that helped as well. Going to focus on math and verbal for now and then take the other two practice tests later this week/early next week.

 

[pytha]

Who has taken test #4 of the Pearson tests? Out of all 3 tests I think it was the hardest. What I really want to know who is actually finishing all the quant sections within the 40mins haha

 

[isanders]

yeah i agree, quant just went by so fast and many of the problems i just had to guess on because time was running out!

 

[Serenoir]

do you kno if pearson's tests are Mac compatible? someone told me the scores come out off

 

[Wallace12]

do you kno if pearson's tests are Mac compatible? someone told me the scores come out off

I have a Mac, they are compatible. Are you saying the ranges come off wrong than they should?

 

[niftydoc]

I am and I've pushed it back until after the test... 😱 hopefully that doesn't turn out to be a bad idea

Me too.. I'll focus on it after the test. I want my application completed and submitted by the beginning of August.

 

[Serenoir]

I have a Mac, they are compatible. Are you saying the ranges come off wrong than they should?

yeah I heard that ranges are off,,, I don't know if its true though

 

[ibminh]

Hey guys quick questions. I was doing the practice test and turned out I did horrible on the Reading section. It said that percent of items correct is 63% but my percentile is only 20-40 percentile. Meanwhile, I got 60% item correct in math section and my percentile falls within 60-80....Does that mean that i suck at reading compare to most people?