Key Takeaways
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Elite Expertise students passed the 2026 Australian Pharmacy Intern Written Exam.
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This year's exam brought a major change: calculation questions moved to manual entry, with no multiple choice and no partial credit.
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Structured prep, timed mock exams, and expert mentorship made the difference for candidates this session.
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Passing the written exam is only the first of two hurdles; the oral exam is the final step before registration.
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Confidence and composure under time pressure matter just as much as clinical knowledge.
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Even candidates who didn't clear this attempt have a clear, structured path to reapply.
Results for the 2026 Australian Pharmacy Intern Written Exam are in, and Elite Expertise students have once again shown what focused, structured preparation can do. This blog breaks down how many students passed, what changed in this year's exam, the skills and habits that actually made the difference, and what the path looks like from here for both those who passed and those preparing to reattempt.
How Many Elite Expertise Students Passed the 2026 Written Exam?
95% of elite-expertise students cleared the written exam this session.
"This session, 95% of Elite Expertise students passed the Australian Pharmacy Intern Written Exam on their first attempt. Some of the students who cleared this round include:
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Sneyah
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Sidra sattar
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Linsha paul Thottian
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Pooja
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Mohsen Tavari
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Monika Tadvi
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Bhavna Patel
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Divya Patel
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Marycarl Catchillar
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Crystal May
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Sanjina shrestha
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Aftab Kaur
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Pranali Jadav
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Samuel Nidhyathil
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Ganga Timalsina
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Umme romana ghouse
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Priyanka Kumari
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Rekha bai
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Fasna Faisal Karuva Parambil
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Bhawana Bhawana
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Rasha Aliessa
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Abhinand
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Annapurna Matli
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Shubham Singla
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Sunandha khand
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Fenil Patel
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Dhruvi Patel
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Fathima Safa Parakkad Abdul Malik
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Faisal mannan
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Apurva Mahajan
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Crystal Scholtz
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Amisha garg
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Jeevan kaur
- Anupama Bogati
among others who put in months of consistent, structured preparation."
What set them apart wasn't luck; it came down to a few consistent habits:
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Regular timed mock exams that mirrored real exam conditions
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Focused calculation drills built specifically around this year's harder, no-partial-credit format
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One-on-one mentorship sessions to catch and correct weak spots early
Only names of students who've given permission to be featured should appear here.
For the complete list of results, visit the Elite Expertise website.
What Made This Year's Exam Harder Than Before?
Calculation questions moved from multiple choice to manual numeric entry, with no partial credit for wrong answers.
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No options to eliminate; candidates had to actually solve the calculation
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Decimal accuracy became critical; small rounding errors cost marks
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Common areas tested included creatinine clearance, infusion rates, and renal dosing
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Open book access (AMH, APF) only helped candidates who already knew where to look
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With 75 questions in 120 minutes, that's roughly 96 seconds per question, leaving no room for slow reference-searching
| Feature | Before 2026 | From 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Calculation Format | Multiple Choice | Manual Numeric Entry |
| Number of Questions | 75 | 75 |
| Reference Use | To Learn | To Confirm Only |
| Time per Question | Slightly More Relaxed | ~96 Seconds Average |
| Eligibility | 75% of Supervised Hours | Same, Plan Applications Early |
What Did Elite Expertise Preparation Look Like?
Structured, timed practice built around real exam conditions, not just content revision.
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Regular mock exams under timed, exam-like conditions
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Calculation drills focused on the newly harder, no-partial-credit format
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One-on-one mentorship from Arief Mohammad, Senior Clinical Pharmacist at Northern Health, and Harika Bheemavarapu, Clinical Pharmacist Educator at Monash Health
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Feedback loops built into every mock session, not just a final score
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Reference navigation practice, so AMH and APF were used to confirm answers quickly, not to search blindly under pressure
| Preparation Element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Timed Mock Exams | Build speed and time management. |
| Calculation Drills | Handle the new no-MCQ format confidently. |
| Mentor Feedback | Correct weak spots before exam day. |
| Reference Navigation Drills | Cut down time lost searching for AMH/APF. |
Who Guided Students Through Their Preparation?
Arief Mohammad and Harika Bheemavarapu, both practicing clinical pharmacists, guided students through their preparation for this session.
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Arief Mohammad, Senior Clinical Pharmacist at Northern Health, brought real-world clinical reasoning into every mock session, not just textbook answers
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Harika Bheemavarapu, Clinical Pharmacist Educator at Monash Health, focused on breaking down calculation logic and exam technique step by step
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Both mentors reviewed student performance individually, so feedback was specific to each student's weak spots, not generic advice
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Sessions combined clinical knowledge with practical exam strategy, timing, reference use, and composure under pressure
This kind of direct, experienced guidance is often what separates a close attempt from a clear pass, someone who's actually practiced pharmacy explaining not just the right answer, but how to think through it under exam conditions.
What Skills Actually Carried Students Through the Exam?
It wasn't just memorized facts; the students who passed built habits that hold up under pressure.
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Fast, accurate calculation skills, not just knowing the formula, but applying it quickly and correctly
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Clinical reasoning: understanding why an answer is correct, not just recognising it
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Time discipline, pacing through 75 questions without getting stuck on any single one
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Reference fluency, knowing exactly where to look in AMH or APF within seconds
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Composure, staying steady even when a question looks unfamiliar at first glance
These are the same habits that carry students into the oral exam and, eventually, into safe day-to-day practice as registered pharmacists.
How Did Students Manage Exam Pressure?
Confidence was built through realistic practice, not last-minute cramming.
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Timed mock exams done under real conditions, computer-based, with no shortcuts
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Controlled breathing techniques before and during the exam to stay calm
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Pacing strategy decided in advance, so no question derails the full 2 hours
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Practicing with only the allowed references, so the exam day held no surprises
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Treating the exam as a professional performance, not just a memory test
What Should Be on Your Pre-Exam Checklist Next Time?
A short, practical checklist keeps last-minute mistakes from creeping in.
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75% of supervised internship hours completed before applying
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Application submitted correctly and well before the deadline; incomplete forms are the most common cause of delays
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AMH and APF organized and tabbed for quick reference
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Several timed mock exams completed under real conditions
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Rest and stress management in place in the final days before the exam
What Happens Next for Students Who Passed?
Students move directly into oral exam preparation, the second and final exam before general registration.
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Focus shifts to structured oral frameworks like S.I.T.A.R. for history-taking and S.A.R. (Situation, Assessment, Recommendation) for clinical justification
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Mock oral sessions should start early, not wait for the exam period to open
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The same discipline, structure, and composure that got them through the written exam carries straight into oral prep
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Communication skills become just as important now as calculation accuracy was in the written exam
What About Students Who Didn't Clear This Attempt?
It's a setback, not the end of the road; reapplying with targeted prep is the clear next step.
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Take a short break before restarting preparation; burnout leads to repeated mistakes
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Identify the specific weak area, calculations, time management, or content gaps
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Use the waiting period for focused, targeted practice rather than general revision
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Reapply as early as the next application window allows, and avoid leaving it to the last day
| Result | Immediate Next Step | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Pass | Begin Oral Exam Preparation | Can Start Immediately |
| Not Yet Competent | Reflect, Retrain Weak Areas | Reapply for the Next Available Session |
Final Thoughts
Passing the written exam isn't just about knowing the content; it's about being able to apply it fast, accurately, and calmly under pressure. That's exactly what this year's Elite Expertise students proved. With calculation questions now demanding manual entry and zero partial credit, there was no room for guesswork, and 95% of students still came through with a pass.
The pattern behind their success wasn't luck. It was structured mock exams, focused calculation drills, mentorship from experienced clinical pharmacists, and steady nerves built through realistic practice. The same habits that got them through this exam, discipline, clinical reasoning, and composure under time pressure, are exactly what will carry them through the oral exam next.
For students still preparing to reattempt, this isn't the end of the road. A Not Yet Competent result usually points to one fixable area, whether that's timing, calculations, or content gaps, and with the right structured approach, the next session is well within reach.
Whether you're celebrating a pass or gearing up to try again, the path forward is the same: prepare with structure, practice under real conditions, and treat every exam as a step toward becoming a safer, more confident pharmacist.
Best of luck to every candidate in this session and to those preparing for the next one
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