Bullet Summary
- OPRA exam time is 2.5 hours with 120 MCQs, giving ~1.25 minutes per question, so time management is crucial.
- Exam is conducted three times a year: March, July & November, and exact timing and venue are mentioned on the admit card.
- No entry after the first 15 minutes and no breaks during the exam, so arriving early and maintaining focus is important.
- Use a Solve → Skip → Return strategy to complete easy questions first, then handle long case-based and legal questions later.
- Prepare with full-length timed mock tests in the 9 AM–11:30 AM slot, especially during the final 4–6 weeks to build speed and stamina.
- Elite Expertise helps candidates master timing and accuracy through structured study plans, timed mock exams, and expert guidance.
Introduction
If you are preparing for the OPRA exam in New Zealand, then this guide is going to be your best friend. The OPRA exam is not just a test of what you know — it is a test of how well you think, decide, and apply your clinical knowledge under time pressure. Many pharmacists confess that they didn’t fail due to lack of preparation, but because time slipped away inside the exam hall.
To prevent that from happening to you, here is a simple and friendly breakdown of the OPRA exam timings, duration, pacing strategy, handling pressure, and preparation methods that match the exam schedule.
Take a deep breath: let’s decode this together
1. What Is the Official OPRA Exam Timetable 2025–26?
The OPRA exam is conducted three times a year:
- March
- July
- November
These cycles ensure pharmacists can plan their licensing timeline efficiently. Once registered, you’ll get a personal exam slot and centre allocation on your admit card.
2. How Long Is the OPRA Exam?
The OPRA exam contains:
- 2.5 hours (150 minutes)
- 120 Multiple Choice Questions
This means you have 1 minute and 15 seconds per question, time management is not optional; it’s crucial.
3. How Many Sections Are Included and Their Weightage?
Although there are no fixed timing divisions inside the paper, the questions cover:
| Section | Approximate no: of questions |
| Clinical judgment & therapeutic decisions | 35–45 |
| Dispensing, law & pharmacy practice | 25–30 |
| Counselling & communication | 25–30 |
| Calculations & practical case scenarios | 15–20 |
These questions appear in mixed order, so decide the solving sequence wisely.
4. What Are the Exam Session Start & End Times?
Most centres follow:
- Exam begins at 9:00 AM
- Ends at 11:30 AM
Reporting time is usually 8:00 AM – 8:15 AM for ID checks, seating and instructions.
5. Rules About Late Arrivals
The OPRA exam is very strict about timing:
- Entry not permitted after the first 15 minutes
- No extra time for late entry
- Once the clock begins, timing cannot be paused for any reason
So plan to reach the center at least 45–60 minutes early.
6. How Should You Adjust Your Study Plan Based on Exam Timing?
The best way to train your mind for the 9:00 AM exam is to practice in the same time slot.
Ideal routine:
- 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM → full mock practice
- Afternoon → mistake analysis + topic revision
Your brain will automatically become faster during that time window because of repeated conditioning.
7. How Long Should You Practice Mock Tests for Timing Accuracy?
Here is a powerful timeline to follow:
Weeks Focus
- Week 1–3 Topic-wise practice without time pressure
- Week 4–6 Short 30–60 minute timed drills
- Week 7–10 Full 120-question mock tests under exact time
- Last 2 weeks Alternate-day full mocks + revision days
By the final week, solving 120 questions in 2.5 hours should feel normal, not stressful.
8. How to Optimize Speed & Accuracy in the Actual Exam
Use the Solve – Skip – Return Strategy:
- First → Answer the quick & sure ones
- Skip → Long clinical cases and doubtful questions
- Return → Spend time on lengthy scenarios at the end
This protects you from losing time early in the exam.
Extra pointers:
- Read the question first before reading long case details
- If you don t know the answer after 90 seconds → move on
- Keep the last 15–18 minutes for reviewing marked questions
- No blanks, educated guessing still wins marks
9. What About Breaks?
No breaks are allowed during the 2.5-hour exam.
But you’ll be fine if you:
- Eat a light breakfast
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid sugary or heavy foods that cause energy crashes
- Comfort → Focus → Performance.
Why Pharmacists Trust Elite Expertise for OPRA Preparation
If you want a structured way to master both concept clarity and timing control, many internationally trained pharmacists rely on Elite Expertise because:
- Their study plans are built around real OPRA exam duration and pressure
- Weekly full-length timed mock exams simulate the real test experience
- Expert mentors guide you on question-scanning, time allocation & smart answering patterns
- Students get PDF study materials + case notes + counselling scenarios + legal summaries
- Progress tracking ensures you don’t just study, you improve every week
Many candidates shared that Elite’s timing-focused preparation helped them finish the OPRA exam calmly with 5–10 minutes to spare, instead of rushing at the last moment.
Extra Study Tips to Boost Time & Focus
Here are simple habits that make a BIG impact:
- Solve 30–40 calculation questions every week
- Practice counselling scripts aloud with a timer
- Use 5-minute micro-revision cards between study blocks
- Build a “weak topic tracker” and fix them weekly
- Study with a stopwatch, not intuition
Remember: speed is a skill, it is only when you measure it.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be perfect to pass OPRA, you just need to be accurate with time.
With the right mindset, steady practice and smart pacing, you’ll walk into the exam with confidence and walk out smiling.
You’ve already taken the hardest step, deciding to qualify.
Every minute you prepare brings you closer to your pharmacy license in New Zealand.
You’re capable.
You’re progressing. And you’re going to make it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The OPRA exam is 2.5 hours (150 minutes) long and contains 120 multiple-choice questions.
The OPRA exam is held three times yearly: March, July, and November.
Most test centres conduct the exam from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
No breaks are permitted during the 2.5-hour exam.
No, entry is not allowed after the first 15 minutes.
Yes, you may skip and return to any question anytime during the exam.
Yes, always guess instead of leaving blanks—every unanswered question is a lost scoring opportunity.
Practice full 120-question mock tests under real timing conditions (9:00–11:30 AM).
Clinical judgment scenarios and legal/dispensing case questions take the most time.
Coaching centres like Elite Expertise train candidates with timed mocks and pacing strategies for better speed and accuracy.