TIPS FOR APRIL 2010 EXAMS

[bobbyblue]

Congrats to all who have passed the exam !!!
Now,Please provide some handy tips for the candidates who are preparing for April 2010 exam.
I think now you all are in a better position to discuss your exam experiences and the result outcome.
Those unable to make this time can also guide as on what topics/books should one focus more on.

Best Luck to all for the next Steps.......

[anandkulthe]

Dear Bobby you need to study the latest edition of CPR.Read atleast 2 times CPR excluding OTC and other chapters.Also read Anatomy & physiology basics ,Management part from Mannon Shroff .US Health care system .This exam is about basics try to study all basic concepts of pharmacy covered in the initial 20 chapters of CPR.I dont think reading Q & A is a better option,because every time they ask new questions.You should read drug interactions and adverse efffects for second section and Biostatistics.Thats enough to get started I feel.

[ipharm]

i took the october 2010 exam and successfully passed it first time. my score is 108. actually i was surprised that my score is more than 100 because i find the exam difficult. i was expecting more of 80+ score. well, that only proves that the equated scoring system they use is really to the test takers advantage. so don't lose confidence. passing the fpgee exam is possible.

my length of study:
i studied for 3+ months time but i still use my weekends and holidays to relax. i often spend 4-6 productive hours for a review day. don't congest your review in a matter of one month with long study hours.its better to try to study ahead as much as possible even with less hours of study a day.

my materials:
a) CPR 5th ed - i focused mainly on chapters 3-18. and did second round review on those chapters. also, don't forget to scan some good chapters like nutrition, economics, herbal and pharmaceutical care. there are handful OTC items in the exam. its up to you if you deemed it necessary to review the 6 chapters of OTC in CPR or not. well, i did study them. i find the medicinal chemistry chapters most challenging to review yet the most helpful for me. don't be disheartened if you experience a hard time reviewing the med chem chapters. i tell you, its all worth it. the federal law chapter is also a MUST read!

b) Manan's Management theory
i read the entire book but after taking the exam, i don't think that this is very helpful at all. the management questions were mostly common sense. if you have time, i suggest you scan this book and just put emphasize on the chapters that is in the blue print.

c) Manan's 1000 Q&A
this is a good reviewer to boost up your confidence. don't expect that the questions here will be the same to those in the exam. this is a mere practice material. use this to your advantage to familiarize with exam questions and pick up relevant information.

d) college notes
i kept several handouts from my college. since i have reviewed them before, i find it easy to go through them. if you have also kept yours, i advise you use them as another reference material.

e) internet sources
just a reference whenever i got confused. i advise you not to study too much using computer. your eyes can get tired easily compared to studying on printed material. that can make you less productive.

Pre-FPGEE:
i did not take the pre fpgee. i believe this is a case to case basis. but if you consider taking pre fpgee, take it a month before so that you can work on the areas you find difficult on the exam. taking the prefp few days before the exam can put down your confidence and makes you worried if your score is below or just above passing. that can lead to cramming which is not really a good habit.

other tips:
a) hold on to your basics. CPR and other materials will be useless if you don't know your basics. review your basic organic chem and anatomy and physiology. it can make your comprehensive study easier.
b) follow the blueprint. my first impression on the blue print is like..."wow! this is crazy! how can they put all this topics in a 350 question-exam" but that is how they do it. we have to conform since they are the one giving the exam. the blueprint is not explicitly given for nothing... i use the internet to find topics in the blue print that i can't find in my other materials.
c) be sensitive to information. just be realistic. have a good grasp of information that you deemed more relevant or significant. do not force to know everything.
d) practice answering questions. this is really important. gauge what you know and how deeply you comprehend. i remember during one of my math exam in college. i look at the test question and read it over and over but i am clueless of how to solve the problem. i became afraid of math problems. fear can be solved by familiarity. have the guts to answer questions.
e) study FDA topics. give time to read FDA related articles like topics on advertisements control, drug control...stuff like that. i never read this in my review so this is were i took guess in the exam.
f) don't depend everything on CPR. others consider CPR like the bible of fpgee. yes it is extremely helpful but its coverage is not to that of the topics in the blue print. make this a priority material but not the sole material.
g) believe you can make it. i am a christian. not all may agree but i think my faith have been my encouragement for this exam. believe in your ability and your creator's ability to look after you and guide you. be inspired and have the passion to do your review.

---------------
this is my input for this forum that has been very helpful for me from the very beginning. this is only my personal view and practice. others may have more valuable inputs than mine but you have to know what works on you...and that's what matters.

[Xypaff]

I succeed it and I do not know how... I can still not realize it !
I did not sleep the night before the exam. I was completely tired (6 month pregnant) and very anxious because I had been studying for only 3 months (3 to 4 days per week)... I was graduated 10 years ago and did not have the time to study basics (biology, biochemistry...). I had not a good impression about my exam when I left the exam room...

I studied in

• Comprehensive Pharmacy Review (Shargel)

(I could not do all the book... question of time... And it is better to do at least one time all the book and do not forget the tables, the pictures...). There are a lot of information regarding the clinics of disease...
I really like that book.

• Mannan Shroff (if someone is interested in the combo-pack 3 - management, the 5 CD's of Q&A, FPGEE revision, Q&A, chemistry... - I want to sell it half price. The book are not highlighted. Everything is as new : I bought the combo in Augustus)

Good for the multiple choice questions, for a quick revision...
Not good as a main source of information !
I study management in it too...

• Remington

For management, statistics...

• Lipincott

I had Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Microbiology
I just had the time to study Pharmacology... A great book too, very easy to understand and may help for the CPR. I just read Microbiology.

I had not the time to review my basics, did not have any college notes with me and did not spend too much time on internet by lack of time ! For the basics, I regret to not do them... Sometimes, CPR drove me crazy because of that.

I had other books that I did not open

I scored 102 for 3 months study !
And now I have to concentrate myself on TOEFL ibt. It will be more difficult for me, I think

Just to say : you can do it !!!

[omy]

Originally Posted by ipharm

i took the october 2010 exam and successfully passed it first time. my score is 108. actually i was surprised that my score is more than 100 because i find the exam difficult. i was expecting more of 80+ score. well, that only proves that the equated scoring system they use is really to the test takers advantage. so don't lose confidence. passing the fpgee exam is possible.

my length of study:
i studied for 3+ months time but i still use my weekends and holidays to relax. i often spend 4-6 productive hours for a review day. don't congest your review in a matter of one month with long study hours.its better to try to study ahead as much as possible even with less hours of study a day.

my materials:
a) CPR 5th ed - i focused mainly on chapters 3-18. and did second round review on those chapters. also, don't forget to scan some good chapters like nutrition, economics, herbal and pharmaceutical care. there are handful OTC items in the exam. its up to you if you deemed it necessary to review the 6 chapters of OTC in CPR or not. well, i did study them. i find the medicinal chemistry chapters most challenging to review yet the most helpful for me. don't be disheartened if you experience a hard time reviewing the med chem chapters. i tell you, its all worth it. the federal law chapter is also a MUST read!

b) Manan's Management theory
i read the entire book but after taking the exam, i don't think that this is very helpful at all. the management questions were mostly common sense. if you have time, i suggest you scan this book and just put emphasize on the chapters that is in the blue print.

c) Manan's 1000 Q&A
this is a good reviewer to boost up your confidence. don't expect that the questions here will be the same to those in the exam. this is a mere practice material. use this to your advantage to familiarize with exam questions and pick up relevant information.

d) college notes
i kept several handouts from my college. since i have reviewed them before, i find it easy to go through them. if you have also kept yours, i advise you use them as another reference material.

e) internet sources
just a reference whenever i got confused. i advise you not to study too much using computer. your eyes can get tired easily compared to studying on printed material. that can make you less productive.

Pre-FPGEE:
i did not take the pre fpgee. i believe this is a case to case basis. but if you consider taking pre fpgee, take it a month before so that you can work on the areas you find difficult on the exam. taking the prefp few days before the exam can put down your confidence and makes you worried if your score is below or just above passing. that can lead to cramming which is not really a good habit.

other tips:
a) hold on to your basics. CPR and other materials will be useless if you don't know your basics. review your basic organic chem and anatomy and physiology. it can make your comprehensive study easier.
b) follow the blueprint. my first impression on the blue print is like..."wow! this is crazy! how can they put all this topics in a 350 question-exam" but that is how they do it. we have to conform since they are the one giving the exam. the blueprint is not explicitly given for nothing... i use the internet to find topics in the blue print that i can't find in my other materials.
c) be sensitive to information. just be realistic. have a good grasp of information that you deemed more relevant or significant. do not force to know everything.
d) practice answering questions. this is really important. gauge what you know and how deeply you comprehend. i remember during one of my math exam in college. i look at the test question and read it over and over but i am clueless of how to solve the problem. i became afraid of math problems. fear can be solved by familiarity. have the guts to answer questions.
e) study FDA topics. give time to read FDA related articles like topics on advertisements control, drug control...stuff like that. i never read this in my review so this is were i took guess in the exam.
f) don't depend everything on CPR. others consider CPR like the bible of fpgee. yes it is extremely helpful but its coverage is not to that of the topics in the blue print. make this a priority material but not the sole material.
g) believe you can make it. i am a christian. not all may agree but i think my faith have been my encouragement for this exam. believe in your ability and your creator's ability to look after you and guide you. be inspired and have the passion to do your review.

---------------
this is my input for this forum that has been very helpful for me from the very beginning. this is only my personal view and practice. others may have more valuable inputs than mine but you have to know what works on you...and that's what matters.

thanks ipharm for the tips and congrats!

[pharmafpgee]

ipharm Thank you verry much for thy great tips ,congrats for thy success