How to Pass the NAPLEX
Updated: Mar 31, 2018
So you’ve completed one of the hardest journey’s in life—passing all those horrible exams and getting your Doctorate degree in Pharmacy. But as you know, the journey is not over. There are still at least two board exams that you must face in order to receive your license to practice in this field. Nothing about board exams is easy, especially when they have so much weighing on you passing them. Here are a few tips that I used that may help you get through this stressful time.
There are still at least 2 board exams that you must face in order to receive your license to practice in this field.
Take just a little bit of time between graduation and your boards. Some people prefer to jump right into studying for boards as soon as graduation is over. While this may work for some people, it allowed me to actually enjoy such a milestone and sit back to reflect on everything that I have accomplished thus far. Though it may not be wise to take more than just a few weeks off, I did find it refreshing to spend a few weeks with my family and friends before I disappeared and became a recluse; as I prepared for boards.
Don’t change your study habits that helped you make it through pharmacy school. The board exams are difficult enough as it is. Trying to develop NEW study habits will only make it more difficult. I used the same tools to study for the boards that helped me make it through school. I studied for about six hours a day, Monday through Friday, for about two months before taking my exams. Though you may not require this much time to get ready for boards, this was a personal preference of mine.
Leading up to the exam, begin to study on areas that were the toughest for you in school so they are the most recent thing you mastered leading up to the exam. I found it helpful to do pharmaceutical calculations daily; not only because it was an area I struggled in, but because pharmacy life after school weighs pretty heavy on your ability to solve calculation problems.
Space the exams far enough apart to allow you to devote an adequate amount of time to each board.
Get plenty of rest the night before the exam, and as hard as it may be, try not to study – or only review—the morning of the exam. It is not wise to try to use the few hours before the exam to try to teach yourself a concept that you still have not yet grasped.
Take time to sort out what options may be best for you. As stated, I've found the aforementioned tips to work well for me. It resulted in a successful completion of the boards. Whatever tips you decide to take from this blog, always remember, remain confident and believe in your ability to succeed! You've already made it this far!