If you are a pharmacy graduate or internationally licensed pharmacist preparing to take your PEBC MCQ board licensing exam, you must choose between taking structured courses or self-paced studying. Choosing the best course of action takes work, as there are many factors to consider when making this decision. The key, however, is to find what is right for you and which structure will support your learning style best. This blog will provide points to consider to help you find the learning method that meets your interests.
Finances
Taking structured courses can be costly and may place strain on your financial resources, especially if you have a tight budget. If you choose to invest in a structured MCQ course, you might have to work harder to make up for lost finances. It may also take away from your studying and from your family time and free time, ultimately accumulating stress. Self-paced courses online, on the other hand, are less expensive because you would have to buy and/or utilize available resources to study at your own pace and on your own time.
Time and Dedication
If you choose to take a structured course, you would have to commit time to attending classes and keeping up with all the assignments, quizzes, and lessons while attempting to balance other obligations and responsibilities. With self-paced learning, you can study at your own pace, anywhere, without being bound by defined hours for class, lectures, or even studying. When you are engaged in self-paced learning, you can choose what time is best for you to study and where to study.
Location
Location is another factor to consider when choosing between self-paced learning and structured courses. Depending on where you live in Canada, you may not have a coaching center within your vicinity. Therefore, it might be more convenient to study on your own or with a self-paced online course rather than moving or traveling to another location to access structured MCQ courses.
Group Learning
Structured learning offers a group learning element that self-paced learning lacks. When you are engaged in structured group learning, you will be presented with the opportunity to have class discussions, meet and learn with other students and receive peer support, directly ask your instructors questions, complete tests, and mock examinations, and receive feedback and structured guidance.
In contrast, self-paced learning does not offer you the option to participate in structured group learning. While you may have access to some practice exams and exercises, you will not have the advantage of testing your knowledge and becoming familiar with the structure and format of the MCQ by completing the mock exams offered in structured courses. If you have any questions, you would have to do research or ask someone for answers. Or if you are a group learner and like to learn with other people in structured environments, then you will find a structured learning course helpful; be it online or in-person. On the other hand, like to work and learn better independently, then self-paced learning is the better option for you. Again, it is all about your learning style and what best meets your needs.
Guided Studying
When you enroll in a structured MCQ course, your instructor will provide you with a guided and comprehensive learning experience to help you achieve a passing score on your first attempts. A structured MCQ course has the benefit of providing you with the materials, sources, and learning experience to make your studying more effective and success more attainable. If you are studying on your own, then you have to find the right sources by yourself and engage in the learning process on your own. You may not know what sources are best to review, and you may consequently waste valuable time reviewing material and sources that are not helpful or effective.
On the flip side, you might miss important material that is testable or highly testable. If you do not pass your MCQ exam pharmacy canada, you must pay the required fees to retake it. Retaking this licensing exam will waste more time, money, and effort.
Motivation
It is important to remain motivated throughout the examination process. When learning in a structured format or environment, you are likely to be more motivated to study and keep up with upcoming assessments. In addition, you are more likely to remain motivated due to peer and instructor support. If you are studying by yourself, you may find yourself losing motivation. It is important to keep yourself motivated, whether you are learning on your own or in a structured setting, to keep moving forward and make progress in your equivalency journey. Self-paced learners achieve measurable progress by maintaining high discipline along with motivation. Therefore, if you can maintain self-discipline and motivation while studying on your own, then self-paced learning might be for you. If, however, you find yourself highly motivated by studying with others and working to meet deadlines, you might find enrolling in a structured course more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
In the end, this decision falls within your hands. You have to determine the learning style that best fits your needs, schedule, and finances. Everybody is different and will find one learning style more convenient than the other.
Check out Prep Pharma’s MCQ course, which offers a great blend of both structured and self-paced study.
