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The PCAT

Test Overview

The Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT*) is designed to examine the skills and abilities needed to excel and succeed in pharmacy school. Currently, over 65% of AACP institutions require the PCAT for pharmacy degree programs.

Primarily a thinking exam, the PCAT tests basic scientific knowledge, math skills, and verbal knowledge. The test consists of approximately 240 multiple-choice questions, placed in five separate sections. The exam spans approximately four hours, including one short break given in the middle.

The PCAT at a Glance

The PCAT consists of five scored sections—Verbal Ability, Biology, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Chemistry.

Writing

Time: 30 minutes
Format: 1 prompt

Verbal Ability

Time: 30 minutes
Format: 48 questions
Topics Tested: Analogies
Sentence Completions

Biology

Time: 30 minutes
Format: 48 questions
Topics Tested: General Biology
Microbiology
Anatomy & Physiology

Chemistry

Time: 30 minutes
Format: 48 questions
Topics Tested: General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry

Reading Comprehension

Time: 50 minutes
Format: 48 questions
Topics Tested: Ability to read quickly
Comprehend information
Retreive data

Quantitative Ability

Time: 40 minutes
Format: 48 questions
Topics Tested: Basic Math
Algebra
Probability & Statistics
Precalculus
Calculus

Related topics:

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