The pharmacy written exam for intern pharmacists in Australia is an essential registration requirement. Interns must successfully pass this exam, along with the intern oral exam and a valid Intern Training Program (ITP), to gain general registration.
What is the Pharmacy Written Exam?
The pharmacy written examination is a mandatory requirement developed by the Pharmacy Council of Australia. It forms one of the two exams interns must pass during their intern year, the other being the oral exam. This exam is held three times a year—typically in February, June, and October—and spans a duration of 2 hours. It consists of 75 multiple-choice questions and is open book.
Eligibility and Exam Structure
To be eligible for the exam, interns must be provisionally registered with the Pharmacy Board of Australia and have completed at least 75% of the required supervised practice hours by the exam date. The exam can be taken either at a designated test center or as an online proctored exam from home, both of which are closely monitored to prevent cheating.
Content Categories
The Pharmacy Council has identified six key content categories upon which the examination is based:
Calculations
First Aid Competency
Dosage Forms
Counseling
Law and Ethics
Therapeutic Areas and Disease State Management
Each category assesses candidate competency across various domains, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of skills and knowledge essential for safe and effective practice in the Australian healthcare setting.
Exam Preparation Tips
Preparation is key to success in the pharmacy written exam. Here are some essential tips to help you navigate the exam confidently:
Know Your Resources: An essential starting point is to thoroughly acquaint yourself with essential textbooks and notes, ensuring you have up-to-date resources including key references like the AMH and APF. Mark important sections using highlighters or colored pens, focusing on frequently tested topics or areas where you need reinforcement. Utilise sticky notes to bookmark pages containing critical information such as formulas, drug interactions, or guidelines. This will enable quick reference during the exam, helping you save valuable time.
Time Management: Allocate your time wisely by assessing the number of questions and dividing your time accordingly. For instance, in a 2-hour exam with 75 questions, aim to spend about 1.6 minutes per question. If you encounter a particularly challenging question, flag it and move on to ensure you have ample time to address all questions. Prioritise completing all questions first, and use any remaining time to revisit flagged questions and review your answers for accuracy.
Read Carefully: Reading questions carefully is paramount to avoid misinterpretations that can lead to incorrect answers. Pay close attention to the wording, especially qualifiers like "least appropriate," "most appropriate," "correct," or "incorrect," which dictate the context of your response. Take your time to understand each question fully and avoid making assumptions that could lead to errors.
Answer Every Question: Answering every question is crucial as unanswered questions earn zero points. If unsure about an answer, employ educated guessing strategies. Eliminate obviously incorrect choices and make an informed guess based on your knowledge and reasoning. Multiple-choice exams typically do not penalise incorrect answers, so guessing can improve your chances of earning points.
Practice, Practice, Practice: Lastly, practice is key to improving your exam performance and building confidence. Utilise practice exams, past papers, and sample questions to simulate exam conditions and familiarise yourself with the format and types of questions likely to appear. Identify your weak areas through practice exams and dedicate additional study time to strengthen your understanding in those subjects.
Pass Mark and Results
It's important to note that there isn't a specific pass mark published by the Australian Pharmacy Council. Performance standards are based on competency and are adjusted to ensure fairness and consistency across exam sittings.
Results are typically emailed to candidates approximately two weeks after the exam date.
The pharmacy written exam is a challenging yet essential component of the Australian Pharmacy Intern Training Program. It evaluates interns' readiness to provide safe and effective patient care across various pharmacy domains. We hope this guide has provided you with valuable insights and tips for preparing effectively.
Thank you for reading Pharmacy House Australia's guide to the pharmacy written exam. Check out our website for additional resources, and best of luck in your exam preparation!
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