About the Practice Test
The PCAT Practice Tests are currently available with items like those you will find on the actual PCAT. Comparative analyses have shown that individuals who took a Practice Test before taking the actual PCAT earned significantly higher PCAT scores than those who did not.
- You will have access to the Practice Tests from the date of purchase until the end of the PCAT test cycle, which ends with the January PCAT test date.
- Each Practice Test provides you with detailed information about the Writing subtest. You will receive information about how to compose your essays and how your essays will be scored and reported. You will also be provided with sample Writing topics and actual sample essays to give you an idea of what essays look like and how they are scored.
- The current Practice Tests contain the same number of multiple-choice items that are on the actual PCAT. Over 80% of the items have appeared on actual PCAT test forms, and all have been written specifically for the PCAT. About 40% of the items appeared on previous versions of the Practice Tests (available from 2004 through 2007).
- Each Practice Test consists of 240 items in five multiple-choice subtests, with explanations for each correct answer.
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PCAT Practice Test
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Subtest
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Number of Items
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Descriptions
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Part 1:
Verbal Ability
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48
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General, nonscientific word knowledge and usage using analogies and sentence completion
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Part 2:
Biology
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48
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Principles and concepts of general biology, microbiology, and human anatomy and physiology
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Part 3:
Chemistry
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48
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Principles and concepts of general and organic chemistry
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Part 4:
Reading Comprehension
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48
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The ability to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate reading passages on science-related topics
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Part 5:
Quantitative Ability
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48
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Mathematical processes and the ability to reason through and understand quantitative concepts and relationships, including applications of basic math, algebra, probability and statistics, pre-calculus, and calculus
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Total
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240
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Taking a Practice Test
You may purchase access to an individual Practice Test for $40.00, an additional Practice Test for $25.00, or you may purchase both for $57.00. From the date of purchase of each Practice Test until the January PCAT test date of the current test cycle, you are entitled to:
- Detailed descriptions of the Writing subtest, including actual sample essays that illustrate each score point.
- Five PCAT multiple-choice subtests (not printable), with correct answers and explanations for each question; a timer is provided if you choose to simulate timed conditions like the actual PCAT.
- A separate printable Diagnostic Report for each of the five multiple-choice subtests and for the Composite score (the five multiple-choice sections combined).
- Adobe® Reader is required to view the Diagnostic Reports. Download Adobe® Reader here.
Each Subtest Diagnostic Report:
1. Displays an approximate percentile score range for the subtest to show you how your score compares to scores of other examinees from the same reference group used to determine actual PCAT percentile ranks.
2. Lists of the number of questions for each specific subject area within a subtest and shows the number and percent of questions you answer correctly for each to help you know your strengths and weaknesses.
A Composite Diagnostic Report summarizes the results of the five Subtest Diagnostic Reports.
At any time while using a Practice Test, you may choose to score an individual subtest. Once you choose to score a subtest, you will be able to continue to review the questions, and print out a Diagnostic Report as many times as you wish from your date of purchase until the next occurring January PCAT test date when the current annual test cycle ends. However, you will not be able to score any subtest more than once. No refunds will be granted.
Click the link below to register for the PCAT Official Practice Test site. Once you have registered for the site, you may purchase PCAT Practice Tests from “My Profile” page. You only need to register once and can reuse the site as often as you like. If you have registered before, click the “Login” link to get to the “My Profile” page.