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
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Time: |
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30 minutes |
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Format: |
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1 prompt |
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Verbal
Ability
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Time: |
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30 minutes |
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Format: |
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48 questions |
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Topics Tested: |
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Analogies
Sentence Completions |
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Biology
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Time: |
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30 minutes |
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Format: |
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48 questions |
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Topics Tested: |
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General Biology
Microbiology
Anatomy & Physiology |
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Chemistry
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Time: |
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30 minutes |
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Format: |
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48 questions |
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Topics Tested: |
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General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry |
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Reading
Comprehension
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Time: |
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50 minutes |
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Format: |
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48 questions |
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Topics Tested: |
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Ability to read quickly
Comprehend information
Retreive data |
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Quantitative
Ability
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Time: |
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40 minutes |
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Format: |
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48 questions |
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Topics Tested: |
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Basic Math
Algebra
Probability & Statistics
Precalculus
Calculus |
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Related topics: