PCAT®

The Purpose of the Test
The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT®) is a specialized test that helps identify qualified applicants to pharmacy colleges by measuring general academic ability and scientific knowledge necessary for the commencement of pharmaceutical education.

Test Development
The Pharmacy College Admission Test is constructed specifically for colleges of pharmacy. The design and content of the PCAT® are determined by the types of abilities, aptitudes, and skills deemed essential by colleges of pharmacy for success in the basic pharmacy curriculum, and by research concerning the kinds of tests that most accurately predict success in science-oriented courses, such as those included in pharmacy education. Periodic reviews of the test content are conducted with deans, faculty, and administrators in schools of pharmacy to ensure that the test items reflect curriculum changes in pharmacy schools.

Test Content
The Pharmacy College Admission Test consists of approximately 300 multiple-choice questions. Each question has four answer choices listed, only one of which is correct. The answer to each question can be derived independently of the answers to any other question. You will have approximately three and one-half hours to complete the test (including a short rest break about halfway through the test).

The PCAT® is divided into separate sections, each of which is timed separately. During the time allowed for each section, you will be permitted to work only on that section. You will not be allowed to go back to earlier sections or on to later sections. As you work on each section, it is advisable to answer first those questions which are easy for you, skipping over those questions to which you will need to return for further thought.

There are five content areas measured by the Pharmacy College Admission Test:

The Verbal Ability section measures general, nonscientific word knowledge using antonyms and analogies. There are approximately 50 questions in this section.

The Quantitative Ability section measures skills in arithmetic processes, including fractions, decimals, and percentages, and the ability to reason through and understand quantitative concepts and relationships, including applications of algebra (but not of trigonometry or calculus). There are approximately 65 questions in this section.

The Biology section measures knowledge of the principles and concepts of basic biology with major emphasis on human biology. There are approximately 50 questions in this section.

The Chemistry section measures knowledge of principles and concepts of inorganic and elementary organic chemistry. There are approximately 60 questions in this section.

The Reading Comprehension section measures ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret reading passages on scientific topics. There are approximately 45 questions in this section.

The PCAT® also has an extra section of experimental items that will not affect your score. However, because you will not know which section is experimental, do your best on all sections of the test.

 

 

 

 

 

*PCAT® is a registered trademark of The Psychological Corporation, which does not endorse this site.