PCAT preparation is the key to passing this examination. The problem is that many hopeful pharmacy students do not prepare for the exam correctly. Fortunately, there are a number of PCAT preparation tips that you can use to set yourself on the right study course.
The first step in PCAT preparation is to know the structure of the test. The exam is divided into 5 sections and you will have 4 hours to complete all of them. The sections include biology, writing, quantitative reasoning, chemistry, and critical reading. When you understand the different sections, you will be able to better prepare for them.
Procrastination is something that can easily happen and many people find not procrastinating to be easier said than done. The problem with procrastination is the fact that you will not be able to get all of your studying done before the test date. Getting a head start on everything will also allow you to take the PSAT early in the testing cycle.
This is important because you will have the chance to retake it if you do not perform as well as you want. If you leave everything too late, you will miss this opportunity.
Focus On The Weak Areas
If you feel that you are weaker in certain areas of the coursework than others, you need to focus on this. Spending more time on your weak subjects will be useful when it comes to the test. However, you should never focus on these areas at the expense of your stronger areas.
An area that you are strong in will still need work. You cannot neglect these areas completely and expect to do well in the test. A balance needs to be achieved where you spend a little more time on your weak areas, but still go over your strong areas.
Know Your Study Habits
Everyone has different study habits and one method of studying can work better for you than another. It is important that you create a study plan that takes your habits into account. There are many people who cannot study for more than 15 minutes before becoming distracted. If you are one of these people, you will need to break your studying into 15-minute blocks.
Research has found that shorter study sessions will work better in general. This is due to the fact that you retain more information at the start and end of your study sessions. Spending hours going over something might not be the best solution and you need to consider this.
Have The Right Mindset
You should never go into the test thinking that you are trying it out. This will end up in you needing to retake it. You need to enter the test thinking that this is the only time you are going to take it. This will make you more focused and you are more likely to get the result that you want.
There are many tips that you need to know when it comes to preparing for the PCAT. You need to plan your studying and keep your normal study habits in mind.