Test day finally arrived
After a few months of study in the Pharmaceutical Engineering exam and a few more delays, I finally had to do it. I arrived at the Pearson Vue Testing Center early, which gave me time for a few final minutes to review Top 200 and Alligator Mathematics. These were my weakest subjects. After I pounced on my glass card, I wandered inside and registered.
Testing center
There were a few other people in the lobby, I guess they were there for other exams. The registrar asked me to receive my authorization letter from PTCB for testing, then placed my index finger on the scanner and showed my identifier issued by the state. After signing the privacy form I received a locker.
Check in was unexpectedly quick. As soon as I removed the keys to my wallet and car, I took the key out of the locker, and someone called me to return to the testing area. The first stop was the proctor zone, which is a glass closed room with monitors and a central view of all the test cabins. They gave me a calculator, dry erase paper, pens, and disposable earbuds. Proctor told me clearly, so as not to erase any work with paper. She asked if I was ready, and then she took me to the test station.
Computerized test
The computer was very easy to use, and the buttons and menus were simple and straightforward. Fonts were easy to read and enjoyable to watch. Test questions were multiple choice with four options, as I read on the PTCB website. There was a time left for the clock, discreetly located in the corner, and another screen where you could see how much you finished. The program that administers the exam, well combined.
My strategy
My strategy was to go through all the questions and make the lungs first. This plan seemed to work well for me, and I felt more prepared when it came time to delve into more complex issues. There were a lot of questions that I mostly did not expect, but then I remembered that ten questions were experimental and are not even taken into account. I got about 20 minutes to spare, which I used to recalculate all my math problems. Good thing, because it reflected some, that I didn’t correctly decode the word and initially answered incorrectly. After less than a minute left, I pressed the finish button.
Simultaneous Pass / Failure Results
For a few seconds, the screen went out, and then another screen appeared, which said “Passage”. What a relief. The whole process took about two and a half hours, but it looks like it went instantly. Although I knew that on the same day my grades and the certificate arrived in about two weeks. They appeared in a large white envelope through street mail.
Testing for a pharmacy is not easy, but I can tell you that having a certain strategy will help a lot with anxiety testing. The best strategy, of course, is to study the training program for pharmaceutical technicians and be prepared.
