A global pharmaceutical career is any pharmacist’s dream job! The global pharmaceutical industry is a large and growing industry, with a CAGR of 6 – 8% annually. Global pharma companies typically offer competitive salaries and benefits packages. Additionally, they also offer good work life balance and opportunity to travel for their work. Furthermore, this can be a great way to experience different cultures and meet new people.
To make this a reality, Australia can be a great place to start with. First and foremost you will have to clear the KAPS exam to migrate to Australia.
But, What is the KAPS exam?
The Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences (KAPS) exam is a two-paper exam that assesses the knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical sciences. Subsequently, if you are a pharmacist seeking registration to practise in Australia, this exam is an important step. The exam is designed to ensure that foreign pharmacists have the necessary knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective pharmaceutical care in the Australian healthcare system.
To know more about this exam, please go through our previous blogs. The link for the same is here. Part 1 and part 2. In these 2 blogs, we have covered various topics related to the exam in detail.
Moving ahead, many students face this fear of preparing for any competitive exam, But, don’t worry. We are here to guide you through the KAPS exam preparation in this blog. Here we will delve deeper into the various steps you can take to ace this exam.
So, how do we prepare for the KAPS exam?
The KAPS exam is a challenging exam, but it is possible to clear it with careful preparation. There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the exam, including reference books, practice tests, study guides, and online courses. You can also find helpful advice from other pharmacists who have successfully passed the exam. We have extensively covered the must have books for your KAPS preparation. Click here to go through the same.
Now, let us look at the steps to ace your KAPS exam.
Proper planning is important.
Here, the first and foremost important aspect is to understand the exam. Learn about the exam pattern, number of papers and subjects involved. It is a 2 paper exam having 100 MCQs each, 2 hrs for each paper with a 60 minute gap between the 2 papers. A minimum passing criteria of 50% in each subject is needed to clear the exam.
Please go through this below table carefully to understand how much weightage is carried by which subject. For more details regarding break up of each subject you can refer to APC website here. Accordingly, come up with a study plan for each subject.
Source: Australian Pharmacy Council
From the above table it’s very clear that more stress has to be given to physiology and pharmacology in paper 1 and for therapeutics in paper 2. So, plan accordingly. Be smart, do not spend too much time on subjects that carry lesser weightage.
Next step is to gather all your resources needed for preparation. Keep all the standard books, previous year papers, reference materials handy. Keep realistic goals and try to achieve them regularly.
Also remember that the KAPS exam has no negative marking! Use this to your advantage. If you are stuck during exams and are running short of time, do not leave any question unanswered. There is a good 25% chance your answers are correct!
Time management is the key!
Whenever you are preparing for a competitive exam, managing your time effectively is very important. This can make or break your preparation. Break down the exam syllabus into smaller, more manageable topics. Then, create a schedule for studying each topic. Make sure you cover all topics and nothing is left behind.
For example, if you plan to study for 3 hrs a day, dedicate 1 hr each for physiology and pharmacology & therapeutics. They carry maximum weightage in the 2 papers. Keep the rest 1 hr for other 2 subjects. This way you can be sure of scoring more.
Make your own notes.
It has always been stressed by any exam toppers that you need to make your own notes. This helps in pictographic memory and we will be able to retain and recall concepts better.
Try to engage with the material in different ways, such as creating flashcards or teaching the material to someone else, using highlighters to mark important last minute revisions etc. Use sticky notes to note down important formulas and drug classifications. Paste it in an area where you can glance daily. This will help you retain more as it stays in your long term memory.
Small, consistent steps are better than big, inconsistent actions.
Along with hard work, we need to work smarter to ace competitive exams like KAPS. You need to be really consistent with your preparation and as mentioned earlier, proper planning goes a long way. Practice, practice and practice! The better prepared you are, the more confident you will be at the actual exam.
If you decide to dedicate 3 hrs a day, all you need is consistency. Believe it or not, studying these many hours consistently is enough to help you clear the KAPS exam! If you are able to achieve this you always have an upper hand in comparison with someone who studies for 6 hrs a day but takes a break for 2 days.
Revision, Mock tests and practice papers.
Revision plays an important role in acing the KAPS exam. Don’t plan revision just before exams, instead, schedule regular revision sessions throughout your preparation. Consequently, regular revision reinforces your concepts and hence better retention. Revise key concepts thoroughly before exams.
Give as many mock tests as possible. If and when it is possible, take the mock exams at the scheduled time of your exam. This simulation helps you be mentally prepared for the exams.
Self care during exams preparation.
During the exam preparation days, take regular breaks during studies. This is important to refresh your mind and hence concentrate better for the rest of the day. During the breaks, take a walk outside, listen to your favourite music or engage in your favourite hobby. It’s easy to lose motivation when preparing for a difficult exam. But it’s important to remember your goals and why you’re studying so hard.
Exam preparation can be a really stressful period for students. So, self care takes a back seat during this phase. But, take good care of your health by getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and exercising regularly. Meditate for a few minutes daily. Taking care of your physical and mental health will not only help you with your preparation, but also helps perform your best on the exam day.
On the day of the exam.
Your dedication and hard work along with your consistency is going to pay off. So, be confident. Carry all the documents mentioned. Reach your venue before time. Adhere to the rules to be followed in the exam center. Stay calm and give your best!
Finally, believe in yourself that you can clear the KAPS exam with flying colours and start your global pharma career. We believe that following the above mentioned steps will definitely help you with the same. We at Coachminister, help you clear the KAPS exam with our intensive program. To know more about it, click here. We wish you best luck in your exam preparation!
