Welcome to the PCAT Review

of the

Reading Comprehension and

Writing Sections
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Kerr Hall
Instructor: Ashley Reed

Todays Review

Reading Comprehension:
Basics
How to Prepare
Test-taking Strategies

Writing:

Basics
Essay Essentials
Scoring Criteria
Secrets to Success
Dos and Donts
Hints for Stronger Writing

Reading Comprehension:
Basics of the Test
Time: 50 minutes
Number of questions: 48
Time per question: ~ 1 minute
Format: 6 science-related reading
passages with 6-9 questions about each
passage

Reading Comprehension:
Basics of the Test

What is actually being tested?

Comprehension: How well did you understand

the passage?
Analysis: Can you make further inferences about
the topic based on what you read in the
passage?
Evaluation: Can you recognize the assumptions
and biases embedded (but not stated) in the
passage?

Reading Comprehension:
How to Prepare

Read articles with subject matter similar to the test.

Suggested journals:

Science
Nature and Nature Physics
Scientific American
National Geographic
Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association

Practice active reading: underline main ideas, circle key

words, note transition phrases and conclusions

After reading an article, jot down a short summary to

make sure youve understood it

Reading Comprehension:
How to Prepare

When reading for practice, ask yourself the following

questions:
What is the main idea of the article?
What does the author want me to know?
What evidence does the author present to support his/her position?
Does the author offer facts, opinions, or both?
Is this article persuasive or simply informational?

Remember that you are practicing the skill of reading, not

memorizing facts

Always read actively dont just read and forget!

Reading Comprehension:
How to Prepare

Practice under test-taking conditions (or as nearly

as you can simulate them for a computer-based
test)

Complete the sample exercises in test prep books

from Barrons, Kaplan and the Princeton Review

If you practice using online sources, remember that

they may not accurately reflect the format of the test

Follow time constraints and read answer

explanations thoroughly and carefully

Reading Comprehension:
Test-taking Strategies

Allow 6-8 minutes for each passage and its

accompanying questions

Begin with EITHER

the passage with the most questions OR
the passage that seems easiest to you

Leave 30 seconds to a minute at the end of the

section to fill in answers for the questions you
skipped

Reading Comprehension:
Test-taking Strategies

For each passage

Skim the questions before reading the passage

Read the passage quickly but carefully

Jot down notes on your whiteboard if it helps you

and doesnt slow you down
Pay attention to first and last sentences: they are
often critical!

Reading Comprehension:
Test-taking Strategies

If you get stuck on a question, skip it and move on

Base your answers solely on information in the

passage, not on prior knowledge of the topic

Look for key words that signal

Contrast: however, nevertheless, despite, alternatively,
although, but, yet
Emphasis: above all, essentially, especially, primarily,
particularly
Conclusions: therefore, thus, consequently, hence, in
conclusion, it can be seen that

Reading Comprehension:
Here We Go!

1 essay

7 questions

6 minutes

Reading Comprehension:
Correct Answers
1) B
2) C
3) B
4) A
5) D
6) D
7) D

Writing:
Basics of the Test

Two 30-minute essay sections

Tests the ability to reason through writing

Problem-solving essays: you will be asked

to discuss a possible solution to a problem
Topics are not necessarily pharmacy- or
even science-related

Writing:
Basics of the Test

Sample essay topics:

Discuss a solution to the problem of developing

affordable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Discuss a solution to the problem of voter apathy.
Discuss a solution to the problem of promoting healthy
dietary habits.
Discuss a solution to the problems resulting from
insufficient supplies of donated human organs.
Discuss a solution to the problem of protecting
endangered species.

Writing:
How to Prepare

Be informed! Read newspapers and

magazines, watch the news, and/or listen
to news radio

Do 5-minute prewriting drills

Write timed practice essays and have a

friend score them

Writing:
Secrets to Success

Follow the three-step method:

Prewrite and plan

5 minutes

Write

23 minutes

Proofread

2 minutes

Writing:
Essay Essentials

In your essay, you should:

1)

Explain the problem

2)

Offer a solution to the problem

3)

Discuss the advantages of your solution; briefly

mention drawbacks without letting them
overwhelm the advantages

4)

Evaluate alternative solutions to the problem

5)

Conclude by resolving the drawbacks to your

solution

Prewriting Practice

In the next 5 minutes, outline an essay

that answers the following prompt:
Discuss a solution to the problem of the rising
cost of higher education.

Writing:
Scoring Criteria

Argument

Superior reasoning and argument, strong composition

Solution

Clearly relevant and developed with strong evidence

Explanation

Strong, integrated explanation of problem and solution

Alternate solutions

More than one solution evaluated

Organization

Logical, focused and coherent

Writing:
Score Reporting

Writing scores are reported in two parts:

Conventions of Language
Problem Solving

So even if your grammar and spelling arent

perfect, you can still wow them with your critical
thinking skills.

Writing:
Dos and Donts

Do:

Follow the prompt

Take a few minutes to outline and prewrite
Write a short, concise essay
Use objective, factual evidence
Include clear transitions between paragraphs
Proofread for clarity

Writing:
Dos and Donts

Dont:

Ignore the prompt and write an opinion piece or a

political diatribe
Data dump (include too much evidence or
counter-evidence)
Use overly complex sentence structures or big
words if you arent certain of their meanings

Writing:
Hints for Stronger Sentences

Alternate sentence structures:

Good: A balanced diet is the foundation of good

health. A variety of foods is the key to balanced
nutrition. Most people have access to a wide range of
fruits, vegetables, and other components of a
balanced diet.
Better: A balanced diet is the foundation of good
health. Eating a variety of foods ensures balanced
nutrition and tastes good too. Fortunately, most of us
have access to a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and
other components of a balanced diet.

Writing:
Hints for Stronger Sentences

Alternate sentence length:

Good: Fall is my favorite season. The air is crisp.

The leaves are vibrant. Halloween is the best
night of the year.
Better: Fall is my favorite season. The air is
crisp, the leaves are vibrant, and Halloween is the
best night of the year.

Writing:
Hints for Stronger Sentences

Use sentence transitions to make your

writing smoother and more polished:
In addition to X, Y is also a possibility.
Although X is the key factor in, it is also
important to note that Y.
The final reason for X is that

Use paragraph transitions to move

smoothly between sections of your essay

Questions?

If you have questions, feel free to email

me: reeda@email.unc.edu