PPB Pharmacist Pre-registration Exam exam-day guide
PPB Pharmacist Pre-registration Exam · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission permit / confirmation letter
Print or download the admission document issued by the exam provider. Confirm with the provider whether a printed copy is required or whether a digital version is accepted, and whether any photo must be attached.
Valid photo identification
Bring the exact ID type the provider specifies (commonly a passport or national photo ID). Check that the name matches your registration exactly and that the document is unexpired. Confirm accepted ID types with the provider before travelling.
Registration and candidate number
Note your candidate/registration number and keep it accessible. You may need it on the answer sheet or login screen.
Approved calculator
Confirm with the provider which calculator models are permitted and whether a basic non-programmable calculator is supplied or must be brought. Check battery and clear any stored memory if the model allows it.
Stationery allowed by the provider
Bring only pens/pencils and erasers that the provider permits. Many exams prohibit pencil cases, notes, and loose paper; confirm the list of permitted items.
Watch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or non-smart digital watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is not visible. Smart watches and wearables are normally prohibited; confirm with the provider.
Location, route and arrival time
Confirm the venue, room, and reporting time in advance. Plan the route and a backup transport option, and note where bags and phones can be stored.
Personal needs plan
Bring water and any permitted medication, and check the provider's policy on food, drink, and medical items in the exam room. If you have a documented condition, confirm any access arrangements well before the day.
Leave prohibited items behind
Phones, smart devices, notes, and bags are usually banned from the desk. Confirm the provider's rules on storage and on what happens if a device is found.
Review high-yield material only
Prepare a short one-page summary of calculations, key counselling points, and commonly confused drug facts. Avoid learning new topics in the final 24 hours.
Sleep, food and timing
Plan a normal night's sleep, a proper meal before the exam, and a buffer so you arrive early without rushing.
Confirm exam format and rules
Re-read the provider's candidate instructions on number of questions, time allowed, break policy, and scoring. Confirm with the provider if anything is unclear; do not rely on second-hand accounts.
Plan the day
Stop starting new topics. Work through your own summary sheets and a small number of timed practice sets under exam conditions. Rehearse calculation methods (dose, concentration, dilution, infusion rate) and common counselling frameworks. Check the admission document, ID, calculator, and travel plan. Protect sleep; avoid late-night cramming.
Do a light review of high-yield lists only: calculations formulae, key interactions, counselling points, and frequently confused drug names. Pack your bag with the admission document, ID, approved calculator, permitted stationery, and watch. Confirm the venue and reporting time once more. Eat well, set two alarms, and aim for a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper breakfast and hydrate moderately. Arrive with a time buffer rather than at the last minute. Leave phones and smart devices stored as the provider requires. Use the waiting time for a brief glance at your summary sheet only, not for intensive study. Follow staff instructions for seating and ID checks.
Read the instructions and check the number of questions and time allowed. Do a first pass answering questions you know, flagging uncertain ones. Pace yourself against the clock and keep a few minutes per section in reserve. Read each question fully, note qualifiers such as 'except' or 'most appropriate', and eliminate options before guessing. For calculations, show working, check units and significant figures, and sanity-check the magnitude of the answer. Transfer answers to the answer sheet as instructed and leave time to check that no question is unanswered.
Rules to check
Bring the identification document specified by the provider and ensure the name matches your registration. If you are unsure which ID types are accepted, confirm with the provider before the exam day.
Do not bring phones, smart watches, notes, or other prohibited materials into the exam room. Follow the provider's storage instructions and switch devices off as directed.
Follow all instructions from invigilators. Do not communicate with other candidates during the exam, and do not leave the room without permission.
Confirm the break policy with the provider in advance. If breaks are allowed, note whether the clock stops and whether you may access personal items.
Scoring rules, including whether wrong answers are penalised, are set by the provider. Confirm the marking scheme beforehand so you can decide how to handle guesses.
If you believe there is an error in a question or a disturbance during the exam, raise it with an invigilator at the time and follow the provider's appeals or incident procedure afterwards.
Arrive by the reporting time stated by the provider. Late arrival rules vary, so confirm with the provider what happens if you are delayed.
Any access arrangements or special provisions must be requested and approved in advance. Confirm with the provider that your arrangements are in place before the exam day.