The PCAT is a multiple-choice test that assesses scientific aptitude, mathematics, reading comprehension, verbal ability, and writing skills. It is designed to test candidates’ understanding of basic mechanics in science and math and their ability to communicate effectively. The only open-ended portion of the test is the writing skills section, which requires two essays. Candidates should review the subject matter and practice answering PCAT-style questions before test day.
The PCAT, also known as the College of Pharmacy Admission Test, contains questions related to scientific aptitude, particularly related to biology and chemistry; mathematics, including calculus; reading comprehension; verbal ability; and writing skills. The PCAT questions are all multiple choice, with the exception of two free-form essays. Multiple-choice questions in the math and science sections often test substantive facts and knowledge. As such, they are often presented as equations, definitions, or rule-based questions. PCAT reading comprehension and reading comprehension questions, on the other hand, usually ask candidates to deduce, compare, and analyze various written meanings and grammatical constructions.
Most PCAT questions are based on facts. They are designed to test how well a candidate for graduate admissions understands basic mechanics of the earth and life sciences and mathematics, and how effective the candidate is at communicating. Most colleges of pharmacy require applicants for admission to have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a scientific field, or at least significant courses in math and science, from an English-speaking institution. Thus, little on the exam should be new information for candidates, but generally it should be reviewed before test day.
With the exception of the essay section, all sections of the PCAT contain a series of multiple-choice questions, in which test takers must choose the best answer from four or five options. Especially for science and math sections, the multiple choice aspect can make the exam more difficult than if the questions simply asked for a written answer. Although the correct answer is among the options, most PCAT questions are worded in such a way that several different answer options seem, at first glance, correct. Studying for the PCAT test, therefore, usually requires reviewing the subject as well as practicing reading and answering PCAT-style questions.
One of the primary purposes of the PCAT questions in the Verbal Ability section is to test candidates’ understanding of English language nuances and grammatical structures. The section is made up of vocabulary analogy questions as well as sentence completion questions that ask for the best word or phrase to complete the thoughts of a given sentence. Verbal questions can be challenging as they often ask for the best answer, not just a correct answer. Most of the time, some if not all of the options presented in the multiple choice selection could plausibly work.
Compared to the other multiple-choice sections, Reading Comprehension has the fewest questions – but that doesn’t mean it’s shorter. PCAT reading comprehension questions begin with the presentation of a passage, usually one that is complicated and obscure. The following questions seek to determine the candidate’s ability to quickly extract relevant information from unfamiliar texts. In almost all respects, the PCATreading comprehension sections are comparable to similar sections on other standardized tests.
The only open-ended portion of the PCAT is the writing skills section, which asks test takers to compose two unique essays. Both rehearsals are timed and, in many ways, are designed to demonstrate how participants use verbal communication and language skills in practice. Traditionally, the essay part was handwritten on prepared exam paper. The PCAT exam is increasingly administered on the computer, but places that offer word processing do not provide spelling or grammar checking.
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