The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is composed of 240 multiple choice questions and 2 writing assignments. Applicants will be given about four hours to complete the test. Multiple choice items will be given in straight question or fill-in-the-blank format. Every item will be accompanied by four probable answers.

The PCAT is separated into seven subtests, issued in the following order:
• Writing (part I),
• Verbal Ability,
• Biology,
• Chemistry,
• Writing (part II),
•  Reading Comprehension,
• Quantitative Ability.

The Writing answers will be evaluated in terms of problem-solving skills and the efficient use of the conventions of language, and must be completed within 30 minutes.

The Verbal Ability subtest evaluates nonscientific vocabulary and usage. It is composed of analogies (60%) and sentence completion exercises (40%).  This subtest has 48 items and must be completed within 30 minutes.

The Biology subtest assesses mastery of the essential ideas of biology, including common biology, microbiology, human anatomy, and human physiology. It must be completed within 30 minutes and is comprised of 48 items; general biology makes up 60% of the exam, microbiology makes up 20%, and anatomy and physiology make up the remaining 20%. 

The Chemistry subtest assesses knowledge of the essential principles of elementary organic and inorganic chemistry. It is composed of 48 items, which must be completed within 30 minutes. General chemistry makes up 60% of the subtest, at the same time as the remaining 40% is devoted to organic chemistry.
The Reading Comprehension subtest assesses the candidate’s capability of understanding and evaluating science-related reading passages. It is composed of 48 multiple-choice questions concerning six separate reading passages, and must be completed within 50 minutes. 30% of the questions will test comprehension; 40% will test analytical skills; and the remaining 30% will assess the ability to evaluate the passages.

The Quantitative Ability subtest assesses mathematical skills and quantitative reasoning in the areas of essential math, algebra, probability, statistics, precalculus, and calculus. This subtest consists of 48 items which must be completed within 40 minutes; basic math skills make up 15% of the exam content, algebra makes up 20%, probability and statistics make up another 20%, precalculus makes up 22%, and the final 22% focuses on calculus. It should be noted that some of the items in every multiple-choice part are experimental, meaning that they are used to expand future versions of the exam and do not add to the exam score. It will be not possible to decide which questions are new.