Pre-registration Examination For Pharmacist (PEP) CBT Experience

It has been a while since I last posted on drugxpert blog. This has been due to preparation for pre-registration examination for pharmacist (PEP). The examination has come and gone and so I have to rest for a day and start up the blog.

But I will not want to leave many of my readers who are yet to write the PEP in the dark as to some things that took place between the registration and the examination.
Read Also: Online application for PEP

The examination is scheduled to hold two days in a year. The third Saturday of March and October is the scheduled day for PEP. However, the day for the next examination is usually stated in the result of the previous set. The day for the March, 2020 examination was stated on the result sheet of October, 2019.

After registration, candidates are expected to print-out their examination slip. The slip is sent to the candidate email address. If the process is done with a laptop, it is very easy to print it directly. Just locate the print icon depending on the operating system and print when connected to a printer. However, it is a little bit tricky with a phone as most available printers don't support printing from a phone.

After accessing the email with a phone, click on save. Unfortunately, it is the webpage that is saved. A compatible printer can print it but this is not common. So you will need to convert it to a PDF file. The conversion is simple if using Google chrome. Click on the file, locate the menu options. Look for convert to PDF and click on it. It will change from a webpage to a PDF file. Send the PDF file to a computer and print it. This prevents opening your email with the computer. Print a copy. Does not matter the colour. Black and White is ok.

Information On PEP Examination Slip

The following are the details in a pep examination slip. The first is the month and year of examination. It goes like 'March 2020 PEP Examination Slip. The other information is the full name, examination number, certificate of experience number, house address, phone number, email, gender, name of institution, year graduated and the center for the examination. Attached is the uploaded passport size photograph. The arrangement of the details is dependent on the device and printer use. The major consideration is if the details are accurate.

About a week before the examination, the pharmacists council of Nigeria (PCN) will send a message to every candidate to their email that registered on the scheduled date. The email was to reaffirm that the examination will not be postponed for anything like due to rumours going on around about the possible change of date due to covid-19. Due to some logistics, it is known that not every candidate will have a chance to make it that day. The message is to give such candidates the opportunity to apply for either a change of venue or a shift of date for them at no extra cost. There is an email address such application can be channeled to. The email should be sent to: pcnedudept2015@gmail.com and pcnig@yahoo.ca

. The letter must be followed by a genuine reason. So many people almost applied because they were at the national youth service corps (NYSC) orientation camp which will enter the schedule date for the examination. However, due to covid-19, the orientation camp was canceled or postponed and those candidates had the opportunity to attend the examination.

The last email from PCN came in about few days before the examination. In the massage was the time for arrival which is 8 am. A list of PEP centers accompany the message. Most PEP centers changed from the one on the examination slip. The one in the email is the correct one that will be used for the examination. Screening of candidates is expected to commence immediately. A group of persons received a text message from their center two days prior to the examination via text message. The message said the examination will be held at the name of the current venue by 8 am and candidates are advised to come along with their examination slip. Those who were confused were given phone numbers to call. Those who applied for change of venue should do well to print-out their new examination slip with their new venue.

On the day of the examination, every candidate was told to remove bags, electronic and electrical gadgets including wrist watches from the vicinity. After that, all candidates were called inside the hall. Every candidate was screened with a digital thermometer and given hand sanitizer after which all signed in. The sign in was done against the name of the candidates with the book containing all registered candidates for that venue. Each candidate is told to sit at the front of a computer that displays March 2020 PEP Examination and the link with green colour with the inscription 'exam.'

When all were seated, everybody was told at the same time to click on 'exam.' The link loaded into another page with a space to input examination number and another for certificate of experience number. For those whose computer could not load to the next page, they indicated and were taken to another computer.

After imputing examination number and certificate of experience number, candidate is expected to click on the link 'login.' The next page consists of examination instructions and candidates data. The instructions are for the candidate to check the data on the right hand side of the computer if they are the same with their own. Another instruction is for them never to refresh the page when the examination begins and for them never to click on the link 'end exam' during the examination anyhow because anybody that does that cannot login to continue the examination again. The link is to end the examination and is only clicked on when one finishes the examination before time out. For those who could not finish on time, the computer will automatically log them off.

The small check box asks for verification from the candidate about their data being accurate and if they are willing to take the examination. 'Start exam' opens up the questions.

The Examination

PEP CBT exam

A page contains just one question. That is too bad. This limits the number of questions you can see at a time. Under the question is the list of four options to choose from. The options were not labeled like a, b, c and d. Just a checkbox by the side of each option. A click on any of the options will highlight the checkbox for that option.

By the top of the question is a small icon with the word 'calculator.' The calculator is a simple one for addition, subtraction, division and multiplication.

By the right hand side is number 1-200 check box. They represent the question number. Any question that has been answered will have it's checkbox automatically change to green. There are instances that the number instead of changing to green changes to yellow. To correct that, click on the number by the right hand side with the yellow colour. Click on a wrong option and click on the right option. The colour will automatically change back to green. The green is an indication that the computer has taken note of your answer. Click next or previous to go to the next or previous question. Click on the question number on the right to take you directly to that question number.
Read Also: How pre-registration examination for pharmacist (PEP) started

Some questions appeared too big on the screen. It was ratified by reducing the screen zoom. It also happened to the calculator. In case of any problem encountered during the examination, there are ICT staff on ground to help. In case you are given some funny instructions, use your head. For instance, when some people were having issues with the colour of their answers turning yellow instead of green, they were told to stop and that the ICT would find a solution. Those who waited suffered for it because their time was counting. It could have backfired for those who continued but everything depends on understanding what is happening and what to do.

At the end of the examination, the computer will log the candidate out when it is time. The examination lasts for 2 hours with 200 objective questions. Candidates who finish before time can click on the end exam. The final page is an instruction to candidates to make sure they sign out before leaving the examination venue. Candidates go back to sign out against their name on the pcn list.

Items Required For The Examination

The examination slip is not needed by PCN for anything. They may need it in subsequent editions. It is the candidate that needs the slip because they need their examination and certificate of experience number. No need for a calculator as the computer comes with a simple one. Since most of the calculations are simple arithmetic, the calculator on the computer does the job perfectly well.

You may need a pencil or pen for simple calculation. The calculation can be done on the examination slip. And maybe an eraser.

Dressing

There is no specific instructions as to dressing for the examination. If you like, dress to kill it is nobody's business. However, dressing should be appropriate and at least simple. Since the examination is always on a Saturday, smart wears are accepted. This include T-shirt and native attire for guys and any nice outfit for ladies.

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