Hi everyone..I'm very depressed! I got rejected!! Well..everything was ok, except my PCAT SCORE- was low! I scored in mid 40s! Several of my friends, got accepted with scores in the 50s!
Now, I really need a good advice...in order to really increase my pcat score..I need it at least to be above the 70s! I took the PCAT few times, and never had any luck with it..always in the same range!!
Please guide me..let me know about any techniques that would help me..whether really good courses..or books! and how to study! I decided to change my study habits..I used the KAPLAN book, which I think it was great! I don't know what's my problem with PCAT..I'm just not a good standarized test taker!!! When I'm at the exam site, I recognize the questions..and feel like I know the answer! My grades are very good! 3.4 GPA!! and I have BA.
I feel down..help me..whoever has a solution...
To address the original question, I have a few points that you might want to consider.
The first is to consider what type of test the PCAT really is. As you noticed, you know the questions and you know the answers. But what's the real problem with that test? It's the timing. You have to do most of those questions in 30 seconds or less! Sure everyone can probably some of those questions in 30 seconds or less, but you have to do it for 4 hours STRAIGHT. That's not an easy feat. That takes practice and a lot of training your mind mentally to think the right way. With a 3.4 GPA you'll definitely want at least a 75% to get into average schools, an 85% or higher to get into a top tier school (exceptions do occur). If you approach the test thinking you have to memorize everything and all you're doing is plugging and chugging, then you're approaching the test in a way that's not as efficient. Remember this test is designed to be FINISHED. It's designed by the writers to be doable. Therefore, the only way, you can finish that many questions in 30 seconds is if there are shortcuts you can take while taking the test.
And there ARE shortcuts, if you practice enough and have constantly kept that mentality to look for these shortcuts. If you train yourself to constantly look for answers to be quickly eliminated, simplification and question rearrangement techniques that will help you shorten the # of steps to answer a question, then your exam will go much easier.
For example, take this random math question I just made up off the top of my head. 4283 x 0.483 = ? Answers are a) 206.86 b) 20686.3 c) 2068.6 d) 239482.44
Right off the top of your head, that question should look strange to you. Why should you be forced to do a ridiculous amount of multiplication? Instead, you should instantly recognize that you probably can eliminate some answers because they're unreasonable. If you just move the decimal point around, you can already arrive at your answer C. Or, you could also just do a simple case of rounding 0.483 to 0.5 and finding the answer that's closest. There's no need to sit and do the actual math. This is of course a pretty clear example.
You can also do this for chemistry questions as well and biology questions, although these are more based on your ability to utilize your own memorization and pull basic concepts for use. There may be a complicated question asking you to reference a really long chemical equation that they've diagrammed, but if you read the question carefully, all they're asking you for is which compound will react with a base. If you can boil the essence of the question down, you'll have a much easier time of finishing questions in the time frame needed.
That being said, you need to practice. Timing is everything. It's a 4-hour marathon where you have to do your best every step of the way. That's why getting comfortable in the stressful environment is key. Everyone has their own way of adjusting to the stress level. If you want to know how I did it, send me a PM. But in general, you need to get used to the pressure well beforehand, because when you get there, there's no time to worry. You just have to be confident, work fast, and know you've got your answers.
Also, don't fudge on your essay sections. The pharmacy schools DO look at them. If you go to an interview, many schools do ask you for a writing sample. I have heard from various adcoms that they do comparisons to make sure that your writing is consistent and well-thought out before they make decisions.
