The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7310 p165
31 July 2004

Offers insights into examiners’ perspectives and exam techniques

‘MCQs in pharmacy practice’, 2nd edition, edited by Lilian M. Azzopardi. Pp 368. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2003. ISBN 0 85369 566 0

This book contains a total of 600 multiple choice questions of various types used by examiners in undergraduate pharmacy practice and also registration examinations. It provides an opportunity for graduates and undergraduates to practise answering these questions, which many will want to grasp. Both open- and closed-book questions are provided in six “tests”, but the book also offers insights into examiners’ perspectives, topics for study, techniques and useful tips for sitting examinations and answering different types of questions. Information on which questions cohorts of students found most problematic is also given.

As with any new purchase, if the user dives straight into the first challenge without reading the instruction manual, they are unlikely to derive most benefit from it, so the notes on how to use it are one of the most important features of the book.

Being designed for international use, some proprietary names will be unfamiliar to UK readers, although an appendix provides a list of active ingredients. Despite this, I found a few ingredients were unfamiliar. Another problem inevitable when questions cover clinical and legal issues, is that changes occur over time, rendering a few questions slightly out of date. I also found a couple with some ambiguity about the answer.

Not everyone likes to practise questions when studying for examinations, but for those who do, this book will also help them learn how to avoid getting them wrong.


Janet Krska

Janet Krska is a practice pharmacist at Tayside Health Board and a consultant in academic pharmacy