mcq preparation for may 2009
Hello everyone,
Its good to see a forum like this and be its member...
Good work... Mat
I passed the EE last July, and hoping to write BOTH parts this May
It would be great if candidates who have passed the QE 1,2 could share their experiences...
How did you'll prepare from TC? Did memorizing the little details help? Did you'll practice at a pharmacy to improve your skills at OSCE, or did study partners help?
How did you'll prepare from the CPS.
Could anyone mention the best way to remember all the drug interactions....
I'm really having a hard time deciding if I should write both the exams at once...please advice.
Thankyou
Hi,
I passed my Evaluating Exam this January in 1st attempt, now moving on to Qualifying. I was wondering if it is wise to take both MCQ and OSCE at the same time? Because I can't make up my mind whether to do both in November or do MCQ in May and then OSCE in November.
We would be studying the same material for both exams right, just that OSCE is more practical, so it shouldn't be so hectic to do both together?
Thank you.
I just passed the EE Jan 2009 first attempt. I want to start prep for May mcq/osce. is it wise to take both together??? What are peoples thought about pharmacyprep.com course??
Yeah that's what I am wondering too, if I should take both together, but I don't think I am well prepared for OSCE and 2 months is a short time, you need alot of practice for OSCE...so I am thinking to just do MCQ in May, but haven't completly made up my mind yet, still thinking and asking around for some advice...
I heard about pharmacyprep too. These kind of preparation courses are very helpful if you have left school a long time back or if you think you need a push and can't study by yourself. Plus they will guide and prepare you specifically for PEBC exams, which includes tips and exercises for you to practice. It's not a bad option, if you can spare the money!
Hi there:
I read your questions about whether or not you should take MCQ and OSCE together. I recently posted a blog describing what it takes to pass the OSCE called "Success in OSCE".
Here are some points to remember:
You have 3 chances to take each exam. After 3 times, you must appeal to the PEBC. If you don't feel prepared, I would suggest you don't take them together.
If you are studying for the MCQ, you should study full-time (if possible). This is a difficult examination.
There is a lot of free Continuing Education (CE) available online. These always have tests at the end. This is an excellent way of preparing to take the MCQ. One favourite is www.apotex.ca. Go to the Health Professionals section and there are about 10 CE modules that are free. There are 30 questions after each section. There are many other free CE modules online as well.
If I were to take the examinations again (I graduated 28 years ago and they didn't have OSCE), I would suggest taking them together. Studying for MCQ will help you with OSCE and vice versa.
We have been training foreign pharmacists for years to pass the OSCE and I know all their concerns and frustrations. If you want more information about our OSCE course, please visit www.agrohealth.com.
If you have further 'general' questions, post them on this site and I'll try to answer them.
Good luck
Paul
Thanks Mat,
Mnemonics do really help. That's what I've been doing.
Appreciate the help. The links you mentioned are also useful.
Regards
Trina
i agree might as well try and take both together since studying for one helps for the othe rone. BUT what is this about reading TC thrice! ITS LIKE A DICTIONARY!!!!! Do we need to know doses and stuff like that 2 for the exam?
Where did you see that you need to read Therapeutic Choices Three times? I mean, if you have the time and the will to do that, then great! But I think reading it once in a planned and structured manner and then making condensed notes to refer back to would be the best idea. If you forget something or feel you did not cover a topic well then by all means read back over those topics.
Do you need to know 'doses and stuff?'. Well in day to day practice you need to know the doses, and common side effects and interactions for commonly prescribed medications. The same holds true for the MCQ. You may be presented with a patient's medication profile and asked to review it for interactions, determine suitability given a patients medical history, suggest which may be causing a patient's side effects, and many other similar questions. Determining your knowledge about the safe and effective use of medications is a very big part of what the PEBC MCQ is all about.
Good Luck,
Mat :)
Hi
It all depends on who you talk to. Different people will give you different advice, but in the end, the bottom line is that it all depends on your particular capability. Yes, I feel its necessary to read certain chapters in TC at least three times. Because the first time you read, there is no way you are going to remember everything. The second time is to refresh yourself and the third time is a review. But of course, you dont need that for the whole book, just the important chapters like CNS, CVS and Infectious Diseases. You do not have to remember doses for all the meds, just the important ones, and that too is only because it will help you in your practice later on. I dont think its necessary for the exams though.
Bottom line is, no one can tell you how to read. It all depends on your personal capability. Some people might read TC just once, and remember everything. Good for them! But once you start reading it, you'll realise what your capability is and whether you need to read it two times or just once.
Hi,
I was checking through the PEBC site for the break down of Qualifying exam; it's as follows:
56.5% practise pharmaceutical care
8.5% ethical
23% drug distribution management
4% practice management skills
This break down is very different from the evaluating exam; how much do I need to focus on things like calculations, industrial pharmacy etc which were pretty significant in the evaluating exam?
Thank you for this wonderful site. 8)
Hi Trina
This is a very broad question and most of my answers to your questions can be found in my blogs and other forum posts so make sure to browse through the site.
One suggestion I do have to help with remembering interactions (and any other details for exams) are mnemonic devices. These are short poems, stories, word structures etc that you construct to help guide you through the process of remembering large amounts of information. You can make these up yourself or use mnemonics other people have devised. Take a look at the following links.
Hope that helps,
Mat