Please write useful tips for those who didn't make it this time

[successfpgee]

I wanted to write this messege particularly for those who didn't pass.
I was in same shoes last december very depressed very dishearted.
Infact after october test i was shocked as i felt dec 2008 was much easier than oct 2009.
I didn't even leave any messege about my expereince after i finished my test.
Please all fpgee aspirants who didn't make this time.Please read and re-read.
1)Please go through CPR atleast twice if you can thrice.
2)Don't leave OTC chapters in CPR also.
3)Please find some extra source for bio-stats.Even i don't know which book to refer.
4)Please use Lippcot pharmacology as supplement along with Basic bio medical from online resources.
5)Mannon shroff all books are useful.
6)Dutta book is a MUST FOR MEDICAL CHEMISTRY and Functional group analysis.
Guys if i can do you all can do it too.
Please don't loose hope,i very well know how you guys are feeling,but remember we all have to reach same destination, some before some after.
Please do hardwork and pray hard.
i failed last time as i got exactly 74.
But i picked up courage to go for it again.
I wish all the best.
I know you all can do it next time.
God bless you all with loads of success.

[sairarafiq]

dont disheart you all can do this.

i wish too all the best.be confident.

[successfpgee]

Thanks Saira,Write your stratergy and study plan also please,as i know it will be so useful for future test takers.Please all who cleared help others by giving tips and how they can make a study plan for their april exam.

[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.

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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.

[reddybk8]

Well said ipharma...i did the same thing and passed the oct 2009 exam.your suggestions will definetly help the readers.

[successfpgee]

Thanks Ipharma,Very useful information.
Thanks for your time.

[heba]

hi every body thanks god i passed the exam and my score is 97 i didn't find the exam easy but i passed i studied from moris cody and i found the clinical part in the exam easy but the management and statistic i didn't find it easy so if any one wants to study you can depend on moris cody in clinical part and good luck for all

[sairarafiq]

my suggestion to all future fpgee test takers is this firstly focus on your pharmacy basics,your concepts should be clear.then i think focus on the cpr.thats very good source.complete that book atleast 3 times like that you should be able to complete the exercise at the end of each chapter 90%.i found manonsheroff good source for management.


GOOD LUCK TO ALL APRIL2010 FPGEE TEST TAKERS

[ipharm]

I forgot to mention that don't waste your time practicing difficult computations. There are only few of pharmaceutical calculation questions which are quite easy to solve. No calculators will be provided on the exam so practice your manual computing skills. Good luck.

[nabprules]

hi everyone and congratulations to you who passed the exam
i passed the exam and it was my first attemp with score 117...i started studying last june while i was waiting for NABP to let me take the exam. when they finally let me take the test was early august and i had studied half of CPR so basically i only studied really hard for 2 months (like 6 hours a day) i used CPR which i read it twice, manan shroff pharmacoeconomics which is really useful but still lots of questions in the test that i had not seen them before and i did 1000 questions by manan shroff the older version which it's good to know about them but i think the questions in the test was about more recent medications and new thecnologies and genes which i didn't find them in 1000 Q&A.
i took the pre FPGEE early september which i found it really helpful to show me what should i focus on but still i found fpgee much harder my score on that was 124 which was pretty close to my current score.
my point is if i could do it in 2-3 months after 5 years passed of my graduation all of you can do it. pick 2 refrences and read it carefully and summerize it so you can go through your notes in last days it really helped me

good luck to u all and wish me luck on toefl ibt...