Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT)

The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) may be one element required as part of your pharmacy school application, since 85% of pharmacy colleges use PCAT scores to help determine applicant admission. The computer-based test contains seven sections (Verbal Ability, Biology, Chemistry, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and two writing questions) designed to test your general academic ability and scientific knowledge.

To take the test, you should register online about two months before the test date to ensure your choice of location and to avoid late fees. Registration before the deadline (see PCAT website) costs $199 and includes an unofficial Score Report at the test center and the Official Transcript sent to three recipient schools of your choice. Additional or optional fees include late registration ($49), transcripts in addition to the three provided ($20 each), a mailed paper version of your Score Report after you take the test ($20 each), online practice tests (1 for $40, 2 for $60, or 3 for $80) and several rescoring options.

After you register online and pay the fee, you will receive a confirmation e-mail within 24 hours containing information about how to select a testing center, test date, and time. (You can schedule these at www.pearsonvue.com/PCAT) Carefully fill in your name and personal information, as you will not be allowed to take the exam if your name does not exactly match your ID cards.

The PCAT test contains 240 questions to answer over four hours, though there is a short break in the middle of the testing period. The multiple choice sections are scored 200-600 (600 being the highest), and the writing is scored 0-5 (5 being the highest). Since incorrect answers on multiple choice questions do not count against you, it is to your advantage to make an educated guess if you are not sure of the answer. Each multiple choice section contains 48 questions, of which 40 are counted towards your score, and two writing questions, one of which is counted and the other is used for statistical purposes.

On the day of the exam, you should arrive 30 minutes early and bring several forms of ID, one state-issued ID such as a driver’s license, as well as an alternate form such as a library card or credit card. If you bring a knapsack, food, drink, or a cell phone, you must put it in a designated secure area and cannot remove anything during the break unless you need to access a personal item. If cell phones or electronics make noise during the exam, your score will be invalidated.

After the test, your unofficial Score Report will be available at the test center. Within five weeks you will see your personal Score Report online and official transcripts will be mailed to the designated recipients. Passing scores are independently determined by colleges, so you will have to check with each college to see if you should retake the exam. After taking the exam five times, additional documentation is required to register a sixth time.