Offered Computer Based PCAT 2010

[MaChi78]

I'm taking the PCAT on Oct 16th for the first time and received an email offering me a chance to take the computer based PCAT.
I'm nervous about volunteering since it is still new and my scores would be compaired to others who took the paper an pencil exam.

Any opinions on whether I should sign up for the computer based exam?

I would be able to type the essay faster but if I get a really old computer with a blinking monitor I might end up with a migraine by the end. 🙁

 

[NiveK510]

I'm taking the PCAT on Oct 16th for the first time and received an email offering me a chance to take the computer based PCAT.
I'm nervous about volunteering since it is still new and my scores would be compaired to others who took the paper an pencil exam.

Any opinions on whether I should sign up for the computer based exam?

I would be able to type the essay faster but if I get a really old computer with a blinking monitor I might end up with a migraine by the end. 🙁

Ive been getting those emails as well. Im signed up for the Aug. 21st exam, but I am not going to volunteer. Only reason I wouldnt do it on the computer is that.. Its just easier to read and follow along the stuff on paper and you can write and highlight stuff on a paper exam. But other than that, i wouldnt mind. Until they give paper exam, I will not switch. If i were you, i would just do paper unless there is some real good reason why you would want to take it on the computer.

 

[mcalabr3]

Ive been getting those emails as well. Im signed up for the Aug. 21st exam, but I am not going to volunteer. Only reason I wouldnt do it on the computer is that.. Its just easier to read and follow along the stuff on paper and you can write and highlight stuff on a paper exam. But other than that, i wouldnt mind. Until they give paper exam, I will not switch. If i were you, i would just do paper unless there is some real good reason why you would want to take it on the computer.

I agree with Nivek510. The only beefs that I'd have with a paperless test is you can't circle/highlight the passage. Also, while doing math, I'd want to re-write the problem on my scratch sheet of paper before I start solving it.

On a side note some of the computer centers that they'll be giving the test are crazy advanced! The PearsonVUE center where I took the PTCB exam they scan your palmprint to identify you when you enter/leave the computer room and there are monitors above each cubical...it's pretty intense.

 

[ithink]

I would not take it for several reasons.
1) I do not know if it's you can return to previous questions. I prefer targeting questions that will to take less time to solve first.
2) I heard stories about computerized test questions getting harder if you continue getting questions right. On paper, at least I know that will not be a problem.
3) I type slow, so I probably won't finish my essays on time.

 

[MaChi78]

Thank you everyone for your advice. It seems like the consensus is not to take the computer based PCAT.(Eventhough that palm scanner sounds pretty cool!) By July of next year it will be mandatory for everyone to take the computer based version.(or so I'm told) Hopefully by then, I'll be accepted into Pharmacy school.
Good Luck to all those taking the upcoming PCATs.

 

[nkmho]

I remember taking a different computer based exam a while back and did not like it at all. The worst part was that they gave us dry-erase boards instead of allowing pencil and paper to do scratch work. The eraser for the board was terrible and didn't erase cleanly enough. Not sure it the computer-based PCAT would be the same way, but I wouldn't risk it at all.