For an intern pharmacist working in Australia, who wants to get general registration and start working as a registered pharmacist, the final step is to clear intern written and oral exams. The intern written exam is conducted by Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). This exam evaluates the ability of interns to apply pharmaceutical and clinical practice knowledge that they gained through the supervised practice into real-world scenarios questions.
Proper preparation by practicing mock tests, sample papers, and practice questions can significantly improve chances of success.
This blog covers everything you need to know about pharmacy intern practice tests, how to use them effectively, and proven strategies to approach the exam with confidence.
Understanding the Pharmacy Intern Written Exam
This examination is designed to test your competency across multiple areas of pharmacy practice, including:
- safe and effective use of medicines, pharmacotherapy, and patient counselling which will showcase the clinical knowledge
- Calculations of dose, concentration, and compounding, dilution and more which will denotes the pharmaceutical knowledge
- Knowledge about pharmacy law, ethics, and professional decision-making which will showcase the professionals and ethical value of pharmacists
- Excellent interpersonal Skills which will help in interpreting prescriptions, patient scenarios, and documentation
Exam format & Structure
| Mode | Computer-based online exam |
| Number of questions | 75 MCQs (67 scored and 8 unscored) |
| Duration of exam | Candidates have 120 minutes to complete the Intern Written Exam |
| Scoring Method | The Rasch methodology determines the passing score, a psychometric standard-setting method |
| Exam fees | AUD 770.00 |
Why Use Mock Tests for Pharmacy Intern Written Exam Preparation
One of the most effective ways to prepare is through mock test practice for pharmacy intern written exam. Practicing mock tests can make candidates:gives many benefits such as
- Regular practice of mock tests in the real exam environment will reduce anxiety and will make candidates familiar with Exam Format:
- It will improve the time management. Candidates will understand the pace of the examination and complete all questions within the allotted time.
- It will help to identify the weak areas and helps to concentrate on high-yield topics which they can revise later
- Repeated practice of mock tests will improve performance and confidence
Sample Paper for Pharmacy Intern Written Exam
There are several sample papers and mock questions available. But candidates must be responsible enough to choose the relevant resources for preparation. There are many training providers and online platforms offer sample papers for the pharmacy intern written exam. Students should make sure if the sample papers typically include:
- 50–80 MCQs based on the APC syllabus
- A mix of calculation-based and clinical scenario questions
- Detailed explanations for each answer with deep pharmacy knowledge
- Personalized mentorship
Always review explanations carefully, even for the questions you got right. This helps reinforce your knowledge and prevent future mistakes
Practice Questions for Intern Pharmacists
Practicing questions daily is one of the most powerful preparation techniques. Here are some areas to focus on:
- Pharmacology: Mechanisms of action, adverse effects, drug interactions
- Therapeutics: Treatment guidelines for common conditions (asthma, diabetes, hypertension)
- Law and Ethics: Poisons schedules, dispensing requirements, PBS rules
- Calculations: Dilutions, dosing for paediatrics, IV infusion rates
Make a habit of solving 10–20 practice questions for intern pharmacists every day. Track your scores to monitor progress over time.
Intern Exam Preparation Materials
It is very important for candidates to rely on relevant preparation material or resources which are aligned with APC standards. Some of the common recommended resources include:
- Review core areas thoroughly through APC Competency Standards:
- Candidates must have a clear idea to use Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) for essential for therapeutics and clinical decision-making
- Some of the best practice recommendations includes Therapeutic Guidelines
- Understanding of regulations and ethics which will improve the knowledge of Pharmacy Law Texts
5 Sample MCQs for Pharmacy Intern Written Exam
Here are some practice questions to get you started:
Q1: A patient with type 1 diabetes presents with hypoglycemia. Which of the following is the best initial treatment?
- A) Glucagon injection
- B) IV insulin
- C) Oral glucose (15–20 g)
- D) IM adrenaline
Explanation: Mild to moderate hypoglycemia is best treated with fast-acting oral glucose.
Q2: Which schedule of medicine in Australia is known as “Pharmacist Only Medicine”?
- A) S2
- B) S3
- C) S4
- D) S8
Explanation: Schedule 3 medicines are available only from a pharmacist without a prescription.
Q3: Calculate the volume required: Stock solution contains 250 mg/5 mL. How many mL are needed for a 100 mg dose?
- A) 1 mL
- B) 2 mL
- C) 2.5 mL
- D) 3 mL
Explanation: 250 mg ÷ 5 mL = 50 mg/mL. For 100 mg: 100 ÷ 50 = 2 mL.
Q4: Which of the following drugs is contraindicated with SSRIs due to risk of serotonin syndrome?
- A) Paracetamol
- B) Triptans
- C) Metformin
- D) Ibuprofen
Explanation: Triptans (for migraines) can increase serotonin levels and cause serotonin syndrome with SSRIs.
Q5: What is the most appropriate counselling point for a patient starting warfarin?
- A) Eat a high-protein diet
- B) Avoid all vegetables
- C) Maintain a consistent intake of vitamin K foods
- D) Stop taking other medications
Explanation: Consistency in vitamin K intake helps maintain stable INR levels.
Online Pharmacy Internship Exam Practice: Why Choose Elite Expertise?
When it comes to structured and result-oriented preparation, Elite Expertise is one of the topmost online coaching institutes for the APC Intern Written Exam. Their training programs offer:
- Candidates can learn from highly experienced pharmacists and educators-Mr. Arief Mohammad & Mrs. Harika Bheemavarpu, who are accredited consultant clinical pharmacists in Australia.
- Thousands of mock tests and practice questions for intern pharmacists
- Personalized Study Plans that are strategic and designed to improve strengths and weaknesses
- Get direct support and doubt clearing sessions during live lectures from mentors
- Candidates will have options to attend live and recorded sessions until they clear the exam. This will give a flexibility for busy students and working professionals
With Elite Expertise, you can prepare smarter, stay consistent, and increase your chances of clearing the exam on your first attempt.
Final Thoughts
Successfully clearing the intern written exam is a milestone for candidates who are awaiting to get registered as a pharmacist in Australia. With proper preparation & strategic approach, interns can easily crack the examination. Regular practice with mock tests, solving sample papers, practice questions or enrolling in a comprehensive course, one like offered by Elite Expertise, will boost the confidence and significantly improve the passing chance.
By practicing under real-exam conditions and refining your time management skills, you’ll enter the test centre with confidence and be one step closer to becoming a registered pharmacist in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pharmacy Intern Written Exam
The Pharmacy Intern Written Exam is conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC) to assess an intern pharmacist’s competency in applying clinical and pharmaceutical knowledge in real-world scenarios.
The exam contains 75 multiple-choice questions, with 67 scored and 8 unscored questions.
Candidates have 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete the exam.
The Rasch methodology, a psychometric standard-setting method, is used to determine the passing score.
The exam evaluates safe and effective use of medicines, pharmacotherapy, patient counseling, calculations, pharmacy law, ethics, and professional decision-making.
Mock tests help familiarize candidates with exam format, improve time management, identify weak areas, reduce anxiety, and boost confidence.
Sample papers and practice questions are collections of 50–80 MCQs aligned with APC syllabus, including calculations and clinical scenarios, often with detailed explanations and mentorship support.
Candidates should use APC Competency Standards, Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH), Therapeutic Guidelines, and Pharmacy Law texts for comprehensive preparation.
Daily practice of 10–20 questions, regular mock tests, and review of explanations is highly recommended to reinforce knowledge and improve accuracy.
Elite Expertise provides structured online courses, thousands of mock tests, practice questions, personalized study plans, mentorship from experienced pharmacists, and live/recorded sessions for effective preparation.