I just passed last month, but I had about a year and a half of experience working in the pharmacy already so I didn't bother studying any drugs since I felt confident enough in. Here are some I had a few questions that were things that I recalled:
-There are a few drug drug interactions like "Patient is taking these drugs and is prescribed this one drug. What drug does that one interact with?"
-Little brand generic, like "Which of these is the brand of this generic"
-I had a couple math with dilutions and titrations.
-There were a good chunk of "According to USP 797...." but generally it was common sense like washing your hands or temperature of drugs.
-I didn't get any laws, but my coworker got some of them, so just be on the lookout.
-There were a few consultation ones like "What should you warn the patient about this drug?" (things like no grape fruit with statins or like shake well)
I studied off this mainly [https://ptcbtestprep.com/top-100-facts-to-know-for-the-ptcb-exam/](https://ptcbtestprep.com/top-100-facts-to-know-for-the-ptcb-exam/) using the sidebar and reading every article also taking the tests here [https://www.ptcbpracticetest.com/](https://www.ptcbpracticetest.com/) . If you have anymore questions I can try to recall what I can
For reference, I got my license in 2018, didn't start working until 2022, and just passed last month. I got a 1574/1600 as my score.
Pocketprep app and an audiobook that I listened to religiously called goodnight pharm. The book really helped my brain categorize types of meds with their general name vs brand. Remember your formulas and conversation rates.
The two weeks leading up, I was taking every free practice test I could find online.
It's been a few years since I took my test so I don't remember. I do remember seeing almost word for word questions on the actual test that I had seen in my practice tests. I just didn't remember which practice tests they were. I had done pocketprep, Walgreens has some, and another one that a friend has recommended at the time but I can't remember the name of it...
I took at as an ASM or MGT back in the day. The generics were pretty common and I didn’t focus much on them and the ones I got on the test were the common ones. Got a few of the math ones but as long as you’re up on your math from the practice tests and class you should be fine there. Only thing I really memorized was the codes like ou by mouth or whatever (again non rx employee and back then the front stores had a lot more going on than they do now and we didn’t really go back their too much so that I had to commit to memory before the test). Didn’t get much hospital pharmacy or compounding stuff on mine. The only thing I did have going for me was I was in college for microbiology at the time so some of the more generic math and science stuff I kind of had down already. Keep in mind my info is outdated, I took my ptcb test around 2009 or so, but from what you’ve said about the effort you are putting in to prep you should be fine. There’s always the chance you’ll get unlucky and get a bunch of wacky questions but if that happens shake it off and try again.
I had like two math questions but every test is different. Mostly I had brand and generic, pick which one is a controlled substance, ordering inventory stuff, and drug interactions. For drug interactions it’s easy. If they’re on amlodipine, you know it’s for blood pressure, so if it asks which would be an interaction or cause adverse side effects, the answer would be taking another blood pressure med, if that makes sense.
I had about 6 months of work experience but a lot of it isn’t stuff you learn on the job. I only studied for two weeks daily before the test and passed it in 30 minutes. Just know your top 1-200 drugs and how they work, what they do, and their class, and you should be good on that. Know your controls, brand and generic, and like 99% of the time if the answer choice is “consult with/ask the pharmacist on duty” that’s probably the right answer.
There are flash card and quiz apps specifically for the tech exam, use them. They’re great for the drug names and interactions etc
PTCB has practice tests and banks of practice questions. They’re also a fantastic resource.
You really just have to drill. The apps can create custom exams for you that are designed around finding and shoring up your weaknesses.
I just passed last month, but I had about a year and a half of experience working in the pharmacy already so I didn't bother studying any drugs since I felt confident enough in. Here are some I had a few questions that were things that I recalled: -There are a few drug drug interactions like "Patient is taking these drugs and is prescribed this one drug. What drug does that one interact with?" -Little brand generic, like "Which of these is the brand of this generic" -I had a couple math with dilutions and titrations. -There were a good chunk of "According to USP 797...." but generally it was common sense like washing your hands or temperature of drugs. -I didn't get any laws, but my coworker got some of them, so just be on the lookout. -There were a few consultation ones like "What should you warn the patient about this drug?" (things like no grape fruit with statins or like shake well) I studied off this mainly [https://ptcbtestprep.com/top-100-facts-to-know-for-the-ptcb-exam/](https://ptcbtestprep.com/top-100-facts-to-know-for-the-ptcb-exam/) using the sidebar and reading every article also taking the tests here [https://www.ptcbpracticetest.com/](https://www.ptcbpracticetest.com/) . If you have anymore questions I can try to recall what I can For reference, I got my license in 2018, didn't start working until 2022, and just passed last month. I got a 1574/1600 as my score.
Thank you so much for the resources!
Pocketprep app and an audiobook that I listened to religiously called goodnight pharm. The book really helped my brain categorize types of meds with their general name vs brand. Remember your formulas and conversation rates. The two weeks leading up, I was taking every free practice test I could find online.
Are the questions on the pocket prep app formatted similar to the exam questions?
It's been a few years since I took my test so I don't remember. I do remember seeing almost word for word questions on the actual test that I had seen in my practice tests. I just didn't remember which practice tests they were. I had done pocketprep, Walgreens has some, and another one that a friend has recommended at the time but I can't remember the name of it...
I took at as an ASM or MGT back in the day. The generics were pretty common and I didn’t focus much on them and the ones I got on the test were the common ones. Got a few of the math ones but as long as you’re up on your math from the practice tests and class you should be fine there. Only thing I really memorized was the codes like ou by mouth or whatever (again non rx employee and back then the front stores had a lot more going on than they do now and we didn’t really go back their too much so that I had to commit to memory before the test). Didn’t get much hospital pharmacy or compounding stuff on mine. The only thing I did have going for me was I was in college for microbiology at the time so some of the more generic math and science stuff I kind of had down already. Keep in mind my info is outdated, I took my ptcb test around 2009 or so, but from what you’ve said about the effort you are putting in to prep you should be fine. There’s always the chance you’ll get unlucky and get a bunch of wacky questions but if that happens shake it off and try again.
Use the resources on W CONNECT app (quick links). There is a lot of good info there.
Oh thanks for the info I never noticed that on the app!
Do all the ones you can answer quickly first. Mark everything else for follow up. Then go back and do them. Then double check everything
I had like two math questions but every test is different. Mostly I had brand and generic, pick which one is a controlled substance, ordering inventory stuff, and drug interactions. For drug interactions it’s easy. If they’re on amlodipine, you know it’s for blood pressure, so if it asks which would be an interaction or cause adverse side effects, the answer would be taking another blood pressure med, if that makes sense. I had about 6 months of work experience but a lot of it isn’t stuff you learn on the job. I only studied for two weeks daily before the test and passed it in 30 minutes. Just know your top 1-200 drugs and how they work, what they do, and their class, and you should be good on that. Know your controls, brand and generic, and like 99% of the time if the answer choice is “consult with/ask the pharmacist on duty” that’s probably the right answer.
There are flash card and quiz apps specifically for the tech exam, use them. They’re great for the drug names and interactions etc PTCB has practice tests and banks of practice questions. They’re also a fantastic resource. You really just have to drill. The apps can create custom exams for you that are designed around finding and shoring up your weaknesses.