PCAT

1. PCAT • What is it? • Why should you take it? • Where and when to sign up • Anatomy of the PCAT • Scoring (What’s a good score?) • How to prepare/our personal experiences • Practice Problems (Prizes?) • Day of Test • Any questions?

2. PCAT? • Known as the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) • Standardized test used by most pharmacy colleges to help identify qualified applicants • Basically is a combination of the SAT and ACT that will measure your general scientific knowledge • Is now a computer-based test and multiple-choice!!!

3. Reasons For Taking the PCAT • Though not required for all California schools, over 2/3 of pharmacy schools require it! http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/Pages/PCAT.aspx • Provides an additional measurement of your academic ability. A high PCAT score can help cushion a lower GPA! • You’re going to need to learn the science stuff anyway! • It will make any other related classes easier!

4. Schools That Do Not Require The PCAT • Northstate • Loma Linda • Touro (CA, NY) • UCSD • UCSF • UOP • USC • Western • Florida A&M • Idaho State • Manchester • Purdue • Sullivan • Massachusetts (Boston, Worchester) • Northeastern • Rutgers • St. Johns • Ohio Northern • Findlay • Toledo • Oregon State • Pacific- Oregon • Rhode Island • Lebanese American According to the schools recognized by the AACP (American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy) (2013-2014), 26 schools vs. 99 schools (3 unreported)

5. How to Sign Up? • Make an account at the Pearson PCAT website https://tpc-etesting.com/pcat/login.aspx Click registration tab, follow the steps! - First registration step involves selecting preferred test date and facility - General Pearson website will direct you to PearsonVue test center site to confirm your choices and pay *Note: These choices don’t become finalized until you fill out the second registration form and pay the fee!!! Registration Fee: $199.00

6. Dates/Locations for PCAT signup • 2013-2014 Testing Dates General Registration Opens (3/1/2013) - July 17, 18; Sept. 3, 4, 16, 17, 18; Jan. 7, 8 Second Registration Opens (9/7/2013) *Note: Limited Seating - Oct. 28, 29, 30, 31; Nov. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Closest locations (Irvine): Anaheim (next to Angels Stadium), Lake Forest (both are 15 mins away)

7. Anatomy of the PCAT • Consists of 6 content area - Verbal Ability (analogies, word choice, sentences) - Biology (general, microbiology, physiology, anatomy) - Reading Comprehension (exactly like SATs) - Quantitative Ability (algebra, geometry, stats/probability, trigonometry, calculus) - Chemistry (Inorganic, organic, biochemistry) - Essay (Two essay prompts (1 abstract, 1 pharmacy-related))

8. Testing Breakdown • Essay (30 mins) • Verbal Ability (48 questions, 30 mins) • Biology (48 questions, 30 mins) • Chemistry (48 questions, 30 mins) • (Rest break) • Essay (30 mins) • Reading Comprehension (48 questions, 50 mins) • Quantitative (48 questions, 40 mins) - Computer-based with module of questions per section - Timer will be enforced electronically.

10. How is the PCAT scored? • Every section except essay is out of a raw score of 600 • Generally, scores of 400 will result in 50th percentile, but everything is normalized according to the testing range of a particular year (2011 norms) • A composite score (average of raw scores) is your overall final score • Raw scores don’t mean anything, based upon how well you do among others Ex. A score of 420 may mean 75th percentile in one year, but 56th percentile in another • Essays are scored from 1-6, scores of each essay prompt will be averaged (essay scores not as important)

12. According to Kaplan,

13. What do colleges want? • Depends upon the college; obviously higher score improves your chances • Traditionally, schools do not report the range that they are looking for • To be competitive, most schools are looking at 70-75th percentile and above or raw scores of 400 and above

14. UCI classes That Will Correlate to the Specifics of the Science Tests • Biology (Bio 93/97/98, E109/Pharm Sci 120, D103, M121) • Chemistry (Chem 1A-C, Chem 51A,B + labs) • Quantitative (Up to Math 2B) No plant biology or taxonomy anymore!!!! (Photosynthesis, ecology, plant biochemistry)

15. Biology • 93: DNA structure, replication, evolution, transcription/translation, mitosis/meiosis, action potentials • 97: Hardy-Weinberg, punnett-squares, sex-linked, pedigree charts • 98: Kreb’s cycle, amino acids, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, fermentation • E109, Pharmsci 120: Respiratory system, renal system, homeostasis, heart system, hormones, sex/fertilization, menstruation cycle, anatomy • D103: Signaling (ligands, 2nd messengers), pathways (G-coupled proteins), embryology/development stages • M121: bacterial life cycle, nitrogen-fixation, characteristics of bacteria, classification of microbes, sterilization practices

16. Chemistry • Chem 1A: periodic table, element properties, bonds, protons/electrons, electron binding clouds, redox equations, nuclear decay • Chem 1B: stoichiometry, calculations/percent yields , electrochemistry, solubility rules • Chem 1C: pH (equivlance pts), titrations, ICE charts! • Chem 51A/B/labs: SN1,2 & E1,2 reactions, aprotic/protic solvents, arrow pushing mechanisms, synthesis, spectroscopy, NMRs

17. Math • Algebra (percent discount, money interest, averages, sequences) • Geometry (Pythagorean theorem) • Trignometry (law of cosines/sines, trig laws) • Calculus (differentiation (impartial), integration (by parts) , limits *Note: good to know L'Hôpital's rule • Statistics (standard deviation, mean, graph interpretations) • Probability (permutations, percentages)

18. Practice Questions • Biology The chromosome number of offspring produced via parthenogenesis is A. diploid B. haploid C. 2N D. Both A and C Which of the following developmental stages has the greatest nuclear-to-cytoplasmic material ratio? A. 4-celled zygote B. 8-celled zygote C. Morula D. Blastula

19. Practice Questions • Biology The chromosome number of offspring produced via parthenogenesis is A. diploid B. haploid C. 2N D. Both A and C Which of the following developmental stages has the greatest nuclear-to-cytoplasmic material ratio? A. 4-celled zygote B. 8-celled zygote C. Morula D. Blastula

20. Practice Questions • Biology The chromosome number of offspring produced via parthenogenesis is A. diploid B. haploid C. 2N D. Both A and C Which of the following developmental stages has the greatest nuclear-to-cytoplasmic material ratio? A. 4-celled zygote B. 8-celled zygote C. Morula D. Blastula

21. Practice Questions • Chemistry π bonds are formed by which of the following orbitals? A. Two s orbitals B. Two p orbitals C. One s and one p orbital D. All of the above The reaction of 1 mole of diethyl ether with hydrobromic acid results in the production of: A. 2 moles of ethyl bromide B. 2 moles of ethanol C. 1 mole of ethylbromide and 1 mole of ethanol D. 1 mole of methylbromide and 1 mole of propanol

22. Practice Questions • Chemistry π bonds are formed by which of the following orbitals? A. Two s orbitals B. Two p orbitals C. One s and one p orbital D. All of the above The reaction of 1 mole of diethyl ether with hydrobromic acid results in the production of: A. 2 moles of ethyl bromide B. 2 moles of ethanol C. 1 mole of ethylbromide and 1 mole of ethanol D. 1 mole of methylbromide and 1 mole of propanol

23. Practice Questions • Chemistry π bonds are formed by which of the following orbitals? A. Two s orbitals B. Two p orbitals C. One s and one p orbital D. All of the above The reaction of 1 mole of diethyl ether with hydrobromic acid results in the production of: A. 2 moles of ethyl bromide B. 2 moles of ethanol C. 1 mole of ethylbromide and 1 mole of ethanol D. 1 mole of methylbromide and 1 mole of propanol

24. Preparation/Our Experiences • Study (go back to old notes from classes) • Buy PCAT study books (KAPLAN) • KAPLAN course (choice of online modules or live in-class) (check booths for discounts!) • PCAT Study Guide by Pearson ($25.00) • Online practice-tests (sciences) directly from Pearson - Single test: $45.00 - Two: $65.00 - All three: $85.00 • Spend all summer studying?

26. Testing Day: Tips and Conditions • Arrive 30 minutes early • You need 2 forms of ID (one with photo, one with name: license, credit card) • Need your registration confirmation form • Fingerprints taken • Lockers, pencils, and earplugs provided • Possible patdown? • Escorts to and from your station (bathroom) • A camera will observe everything you do!!!!! • No calculators! • Computer may or may not lag

27. After the Test, • Before submission of your test, you have the option to cancel your scores • After submission, a print-out of your raw scores/percentile rankings is given (you get to know your scores right away!) • 6 weeks later, official score report (writing scores) is released through your account (scores may or may not change)