im on official study leave from now till end of september to revise for the pre reg exam (september 24th one). this is because i have completed my pre reg training (do not have to go back after the exam). i really want to make the best use of this valuable time that i have off as it almost amounts to 2 months. i do not want to take advantage and end up slacking or faffing around. can people who have gone through revising for this exam and passing give me some final words of advice on how to go about smacking the pre reg exam and passing first time round. i really have to give it my all as its my first sitting and i can't afford to do the retake which is like months and months away (june 2011). thanking you all from the bottom of my heart god bless.
p.s. any advice on number of hours to do per day/ revision timetable would be appreciated.
Learn to relax. I know it doesn't sound useful, but if you can learn how to relax quickly, anywhere, then that skill will improve every area of your life, including sitting exams.
Try and plough through as many calcs you can per day - make them second nature.
Read the first six chapters of the BNF and familiarise yourself with the rest of the book. Read the MEP cover to cover. It's dull, but they can ask anything from it.
If you don't know medical terminology, revise this too and revise clinical investigations.
I agree with David, being relaxed and composed before the exam helps. I wasn't 100% composed, but I took some deep breaths which helped me to focus.
2 months is ample of time for the pre reg exam!!! if you burn out over the next few weeks you will have nothing left for the weeks leading up to the exam!
but like the above post, read your BNF and MEP so you know it inside out...and practice past papers and calculations....but you power through it now, it gets pointless in the days before the exam!!
Focus on the Minor ailments, MEP and introduction to major class of drugs in the BNF. Practice on checking the BNF to gather information quickly, like the infusion table, antibiotic table, appendices etc. No point knowing BNF inside out as it will confuse you more when you get a tricky question. If you think your comfortable doing it then go ahead otherwise MEP is worth giving the "know inside out" technique. Closed book is where you need to know things off hand like how you will handle a situation where the customer asks for advice or the legality (MEP) of operating a pharmacy service etc. Open book is where you need more of searching skills like where to seek information asked in the question within the short time given and don't forget the calculations. As johnep keeps saying "a calculation a day" is the best way, but since you have lot of time you are better off practicing as many calcs as you can. Always try to be alert for the tricky wordings used, never assume or take things for granted, read the questions carefully before you proceed. Don't ever panick, you can get 6 calcs wrong and still pass
..get loads of those sample papers and time yourself. speed is everything..especially with open book. n as evry1 says calculations calculations..eat n breathe em
..download the naplex calculations that johnep posted. i found them 2 be very similar to rpsgb ones n they r worked out in the end so if u get stuck u have explanations. dyu have the lloyds bk? i think most grads wer given in the first yr. i found that useful as well in addition to the yellow one. best of luck
god bless.
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