BAU Examinations
We develop examinations for all pharmacists wishing to become a fully registered pharmacist in Australia.
This year we have seen great improvement in our exam development methodology. This ensures defensible and reliable exams and results in fairness and clear identification of competent candidates.
Types of exams we develop and deliver:
Intern Written Exam
This exam tests the competency of pharmacy interns in Australia. Candidates sitting the exam must have completed at least 40% of the required supervised practice hours in Australia.
CAOP (Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists) exam
This exam tests the competency of pharmacists to practise in an Australian setting. Candidates sitting the exam are pharmacists trained and registered in:
- Canada
- Ireland
- United Kingdom (UK), OR
- United States of America (USA)
Sitting it is part of the process of applying for a Skills Assessment letter under our Competency Stream.
KAPS (Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences) exam
This exam tests the knowledge of current pharmaceutical sciences in an Australian setting. Candidates sitting the exam are from countries other than those listed above.
Sitting it is part of the process of applying for a Skills Assessment letter under our Knowledge Stream.
Number of exam attempts:
Total number of candidate attempts was 1180
Fewer exam attempts for KAPS and the Intern Written Exam were undertaken this year after having to cancel and re-schedule amidst COVID-19 peaks. However, we saw higher than average CAOP exam attempts.
Number of overseas trained pharmacists attempts at KAPS
Number of overseas trained pharmacists attempts at CAOP
Number of Australian Intern Written Exam candidate attempts
Enhanced Methodology for APC Exams
In February 2020, the Examinations Team drafted, and sought approval from the APC Board, a Strategic Roadmap to modernise APC Examinations. The aim of this was to integrate the art of question development with the science of trialling and testing and the design of exam instruments. The plan was accepted.
During our 2020 COVID response, we offered to candidates the choice of completing their exams via an online proctored environment. This meant the exams were shortened and more exam forms were developed to maintain security through the extended session window required for online delivery.
To maintain the accuracy of the pass/fail assessment and consistency of the exam forms, the planned adoption of Rasch Methodology of Intern Written (IW) and the Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists (CAOP) exams was brought forward to 2020. Now a larger number of forms have been redeveloped in a 2-hour format administered over a wider session window.
The Rasch modelling approach involved calibrating trialled questions onto a single scale for selection within multiple exam forms. This approach has the advantages of ensuring comparability of results across parallel examination forms and maintaining the accuracy of the pass/fail decision using shorter forms.
The early adoption of the Rasch Methodology has meant that the Examinations Team has developed a new range of capabilities and will now explore opportunities to further modernise assessment in line with the Strategic RoadMap.
“The old adage: ‘there is nothing worse than a good idea implemented badly’ – I would not be proposing these changes without my absolute confidence in the professionalism and ability of the Examination team to successfully implement them. It is an absolute highlight of my long career to have such confidence.” – National Manager, Examination and Assessment
Exam Review
We often review our exams so they remain fit for purpose. We’ve made changes to both the CAOP exam and Intern Written Exam. Changes to the CAOP exam will be implemented from the July 2020 session, and Intern Written Exam changes will be implemented from the October 2020 session.
We have
- reduced the duration of both exams from 3 hours to 2 hours
- reduced CAOP exam to 70 questions in total
- reduced Intern Written Exam exam to 75 questions in total
- removed the short-answer question from the CAOP exam
- removed mandatory sub-scores to pass the exams (candidates only need to achieve an overall pass mark)