PCAT Irregularity - Score Increase

[Cantremember]

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Hello all,

I recently took my second PCAT and scored substantially higher than my first. In fact, I scored over 50% higher than my first(Within 13 months). I am aware that this is considered a score irregularity and that I will be given an invalid score. I plan on appealing as soon as I can, but for now I am a little stressed concerning the situation.

My question is whether or not anybody has gone through the same process? How did it work out? Also, any tips on what I should explain in my appeal? I plan on sending in bank statements of purchases, and also a detailed explanation of how I exactly achieved a higher score.

Thanks for your help

 

[ShSa]

Hello all,

I recently took my second PCAT and scored substantially higher than my first. In fact, I scored over 50% higher than my first(Within 13 months). I am aware that this is considered a score irregularity and that I will be given an invalid score. I plan on appealing as soon as I can, but for now I am a little stressed concerning the situation.

My question is whether or not anybody has gone through the same process? How did it work out? Also, any tips on what I should explain in my appeal? I plan on sending in bank statements of purchases, and also a detailed explanation of how I exactly achieved a higher score.

Thanks for your help

I think they mentioned that u should provide them with info regarding how u improved that much. For instance a receipt for purchasing a course perp or a letter from a touter or something like that.
Ps. how did u improve that much???? i really need to improve my score greatly , I did really bad on QA and RC and I would appreciate any advice on how to improve

 

[chemguy79]

Hello all,

I recently took my second PCAT and scored substantially higher than my first. In fact, I scored over 50% higher than my first(Within 13 months). I am aware that this is considered a score irregularity and that I will be given an invalid score. I plan on appealing as soon as I can, but for now I am a little stressed concerning the situation.

My question is whether or not anybody has gone through the same process? How did it work out? Also, any tips on what I should explain in my appeal? I plan on sending in bank statements of purchases, and also a detailed explanation of how I exactly achieved a higher score.

Thanks for your help

There is a thread on this topic from last year. Search the board and you will surely find it.

 

[Cantremember]

I did search for a thread concerning the matter. Any threads with this consist of people saying it would be near impossible to improve that much. I have yet to find any threads of people discussing how they appealed and if it worked for them.


Also, to the person who was concerned with how I did much better, pm me. It doesn't come overnight, you must work hard for it.

 

[R2pharmD2]

Hello all,

I recently took my second PCAT and scored substantially higher than my first. In fact, I scored over 50% higher than my first(Within 13 months). I am aware that this is considered a score irregularity and that I will be given an invalid score. I plan on appealing as soon as I can, but for now I am a little stressed concerning the situation.

My question is whether or not anybody has gone through the same process? How did it work out? Also, any tips on what I should explain in my appeal? I plan on sending in bank statements of purchases, and also a detailed explanation of how I exactly achieved a higher score.

Thanks for your help

I did search for a thread concerning the matter. Any threads with this consist of people saying it would be near impossible to improve that much. I have yet to find any threads of people discussing how they appealed and if it worked for them.


Also, to the person who was concerned with how I did much better, pm me. It doesn't come overnight, you must work hard for it.

It's not surprising you didn't see much about successful appeals, because very few people actually improve their score enough for it to matter (congrats on being the exception, btw). It sounds like you're on the right track though. If you provide a thorough explanation of how you studied, if you did a prep course, etc. and show documentation then I don't see why they wouldn't accept your appeal.

 

[Cantremember]

It's not surprising you didn't see much about successful appeals, because very few people actually improve their score enough for it to matter (congrats on being the exception, btw). It sounds like you're on the right track though. If you provide a thorough explanation of how you studied, if you did a prep course, etc. and show documentation then I don't see why they wouldn't accept your appeal.

Thank you, I do appreciate the input. I provided a very thorough explanation with my appeal.

One of my biggest worries, is that my friend purchased Dr. Collins for me, as I do not have a Paypal. So I cannot provide adequate proof for this. Should I just take a picture of the material along with my appeal?

 

[R2pharmD2]

Thank you, I do appreciate the input. I provided a very thorough explanation with my appeal.

One of my biggest worries, is that my friend purchased Dr. Collins for me, as I do not have a Paypal. So I cannot provide adequate proof for this. Should I just take a picture of the material along with my appeal?

If there's anyway you could get your friend to print you off a receipt to accompany your picture (I'm not terribly familiar with Paypal), that would probably be best. If not, just send in what you can.

 

[mistdiya]

Cantremember,


Hey I was in the same situation last july.. so I know what you are going through... for dr. collins if it is an online version attach one or two pages of each section with the email you are appealing them (thats wht i did)... just tell them what u did to improve and you should be fine ... don't stress about it too much.. 🙂

 

[lolem]

Well, 50 % increase is normal, did you study for it? You dont think you deserved this score? My friend's score increased much higher than you. But he studied for it. his score increased 70%.

 

[owlegrad]

Well, 50 % increase is normal, did you study for it? You dont think you deserved this score? My friend's score increased much higher than you. But he studied for it. his score increased 70%.

😱

How low was his score? Do you mean like from a 50 to an 85 (technically a 70% increase), or a 25 to a 95 (which I believe is what is meant by 70% increase)? Either way, quite impressive. I do not believe that is "normal" at all, though I lack data for comparison obviously.

 

[lolem]

well, people can get very low score if they didnt study for the test. for example they just registered and took the test to see how difficult the test was. However, when they seriously study for it. Their score increased much higher. I think it is normal. Plus Pcat is not that difficult. it just has too much materials. you have to practice to get the right answers in the short time. If you practice and study for it. You will get high score. It is not impossible thing. Many people get 99 %. 🙂 wish everyone luck for tomorrow test

 

[owlegrad]

well, people can get very low score if they didnt study for the test. for example they just registered and took the test to see how difficult the test was. However, when they seriously study for it. Their score increased much higher. I think it is normal. Plus Pcat is not that difficult. it just has too much materials. you have to practice to get the right answers in the short time. If you practice and study for it. You will get high score. It is not impossible thing. Many people get 99 %. 🙂 wish everyone luck for tomorrow test

Good luck!

You may want to brush up on percentiles if you think many people get 99. 😉










Yes, yes I know, first time test takers from whenever to whenever, blahblahblah. Still, not many people are going to get 99s.

 

[DH1987]

well, people can get very low score if they didnt study for the test. for example they just registered and took the test to see how difficult the test was.

That's insane. If I'm going to fork out 200 f***ing dollars for a test, I will be eating, breathing, sleeping, and still be studying the damn thing in my dreams. For the love of all that's holy, I will do whatever I possibly can to avoid having to shell out $200 again.

 

[xtsukiyox]

That's insane. If I'm going to fork out 200 f***ing dollars for a test, I will be eating, breathing, sleeping, and still be studying the damn thing in my dreams. For the love of all that's holy, I will do whatever I possibly can to avoid having to shell out $200 again.

Not saying this is what's being referenced by the above posters - but - apparently Pharmacy is one of those professions which have a high incidence of student loans / grants from the Bank of Mom & Pop.

 

[owlegrad]

Not saying this is what's being referenced by the above posters - but - apparently Pharmacy is one of those professions which have a high incidence of student loans / grants from the Bank of Mom & Pop.

Do you happen to have an application on you? We don't discuss finances often, but I get the impression that most of my classmates and I are on loans.

 

[xtsukiyox]

Do you happen to have an application on you? We don't discuss finances often, but I get the impression that most of my classmates and I are on loans.

Gawd, I wish.

I just mean the prevalence seems to be high as compared to other majors - like, for instance, nursing. Perhaps it's because a lot of the pharma students in the area are planning on going to a private college & the nursing students are struggling trying to pay the CC. I also reference some rather vociferous personalities here on SDN. Even if 5% of pharma students are financed by BoM&P, that's seems probably significantly higher than a lot of other majors.

Anyway, this just seems to be my observation & would explain the number of people willing to, in my eyes, throw away $200 by not studying to the best of their ability. It could also be explained by lots of people living under their means on student aid.

I could end my wild speculations any time, before I shove my foot more firmly in my mouth, yeah? 😀

 

[R2pharmD2]

As utterly awesome as it must be to have your parents pick up the tab for school, it definitely seems like a disproportionate amount of those people are completely clueless about the real world. If I pick up the tab for my daughter's school, you better believe she's going to have a job too

 

[Cantremember]

Cantremember,


Hey I was in the same situation last july.. so I know what you are going through... for dr. collins if it is an online version attach one or two pages of each section with the email you are appealing them (thats wht i did)... just tell them what u did to improve and you should be fine ... don't stress about it too much.. 🙂

Thank you for the input, I will definitely keep this in mind.

Also to everybody else concerning the test. I didn't slack in studying for the test. Being naive, I used only Kaplan as my study source. Taking the exams for Kaplan, I felt I had a good feel for the material. It wasn't until after my PCAT that I found this website and noticed the many different study guides possible.

 

[rjosh33]

Cantremember, just out of curiosity, what'd you score the second time you took it?

 

[pcat 95]

Hi , iam planing to take pcat jan . this sep i got 76 in math, 75in bio , 48 in chem 🙁,10 in rc, 27in verbal . total 43 comp🙁 i want to start early and score well . can a 2nd time score get more than first . can somebody post their increased score for encouragement?

 

[R2pharmD2]

Hi , iam planing to take pcat jan . this sep i got 76 in math, 75in bio , 48 in chem 🙁,10 in rc, 27in verbal . total 43 comp🙁 i want to start early and score well . can a 2nd time score get more than first . can somebody post their increased score for encouragement?

Merged with existing thread on this topic. Please use the search function in the future before posting a new thread.

 

[pharmguy77]

I stayed the same.

 

[JayhawkPharm3r]

Hi , iam planing to take pcat jan . this sep i got 76 in math, 75in bio , 48 in chem 🙁,10 in rc, 27in verbal . total 43 comp🙁 i want to start early and score well . can a 2nd time score get more than first . can somebody post their increased score for encouragement?

I know what a 43 feels like. But, here is some encouragement...

September 2011 PCAT:
VA: 73
Bio: 16 😴
RC: 43
QA: 34
Chem: 58
Composite: 43

January 2012 PCAT:
VA: 86 (18% increase)
Bio: 91 (469% increase)
RC: 76 (77% increase) (I wish it was "Movie Comprehension" 😀)
QA: 95 (179% increase)
Chem: 98 (69% increase)
Composite: 96 (123% increase) 😱

If you commit yourself to studying, you can do better. But it does take commitment.

Rock Chalk!

 

[kcwang]

I have been telling people that it is possible to get significant improvement on the pcat score with enough determination and motivation. Your score proves exactly that. Great job JayhawkPharm3r, and that 96 certainly looks nice =].

 

[anonmember]

You may want to brush up on percentiles if you think many people get 99. 😉

Aren't the rankings actually based on a group of scores from 1998-2003 or so, and not against other test-takers from the current year? In that case, it would technically be possible for quite a lot of people to score 99 if performance improved significantly among the entire population.

 

[owlegrad]

Aren't the rankings actually based on a group of scores from 1998-2003 or so, and not against other test-takers from the current year? In that case, it would technically be possible for quite a lot of people to score 99 if performance improved significantly among the entire population.

Yes that is possible. But really?