How to Pass the Prescribing Safety Assessment Without Running Out of Time

Time pressure is one of students’ biggest challenges when sitting the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA). Even the most confident prescribers can feel overwhelmed by the ticking clock. If you’ve found yourself running out of time on practice papers or are worried about finishing, you’re not alone.

The good news? With the right strategies, you can complete the PSA within the time limit, without compromising accuracy. Here’s how;

Understand the Structure First

I know we’ve said it so many times, but before diving into time-saving techniques, make sure you know the format inside out! The PSA includes eight question sections, each testing a different aspect of safe and effective prescribing. You’ll have 120 minutes to complete 60 questions (equivalent to 200 marks), so time is tight, but manageable with practice.

Know your timings:

2 minutes per question is a useful average, but some sections (e.g. prescription writing) will naturally take longer.

Others (like data interpretation or calculations) may be quicker — use this to your advantage.

Top Tips to Save Time in the PSA

1. Don’t Get Stuck — Flag and Move On

If a question is taking too long, don’t panic. Use the flagging function to mark it and come back later if you have time. It’s better to secure marks on questions you can answer confidently than to lose time on tricky ones.

🎯 Pro tip: Set a soft time limit for yourself — for example, no more than 3 minutes on any single question before moving on.

2. Use the BNF Efficiently

The BNF is your best friend in the PSA, but it can also be a time sink. Practice navigating it quickly and purposefully, making sure you’re familiar with the different sections. You should know:

  • Where to find drug interactions
  • How to check doses (especially for renally-impaired or paediatric patients)
  • Where to find prescribing guidelines for common conditions

🎯 Pro tip: Get comfortable using the online versions of the Medicines Complete BNF, BNFc and the NICE BNF and BNFc (in the UK) as these are what will be available in the exam.

3. Prioritise High-Yield Sections

Not all questions are equal in time or complexity. Focus on securing marks in the easier, quicker sections first, such as:

  • Adverse Drug Reactions
  • Drug Monitoring
  • Providing information
  • Data Interpretation
  • Calculations
  • Planning Management

Note: While prescription writing and prescription review may take longer, they also incur the most marks, so managing your time with these questions is paramount in making sure you don’t run out of time.

4. Practice with Realistic Timed Conditions

One of the best ways to build speed is practising full-length papers under exam conditions. This builds your time awareness, stamina, and ability to prioritise.

You’ll find a bank of practice questions on the official PSA website; make sure you utilise them!

🎯 Pro tip: After each timed practice, review not just what you got wrong, but where you lost time.

5. Use a Time Management Plan on the Day

Go into the exam with a clear strategy:

  • Aim to complete each section in a set amount of time. Take a look at our previous blog – Mastering The Time Pressures Of The PSA, which includes a breakdown of timing for each section of the exam.
  • Leave at least 10–15 minutes at the end to review flagged questions.
  • Write your timings down on your scrap paper or make mental notes to help keep track.

The Take-Home Message

Running out of time in the PSA is a common worry, but with the right preparation and exam-day tactics, you can beat the clock.

Start by understanding the format, sharpen your BNF skills, and practise with purpose. Time management is a skill, just like prescribing, and you can master both.

Explore more tips, blogs and exam resources on the BPS Assessment Learner’s Portal to build your speed and confidence.

You’ve got this — one question (and one minute) at a time.

How to Prepare for a PSA Re-Sit and Pass with Confidence

If you’re preparing for a Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) re-sit, you’re not alone – and you’re not at a disadvantage. Many students go on to pass the PSA confidently on their second attempt with the right preparation, mindset, and resources.

This blog is here to help you reflect, reset, and build a practical, focused plan to succeed next time.

1. Reflect on your first attempt

Before jumping straight back into revision, take time to reflect on your previous sitting:

  • What questions types did you find most difficult?
  • Were there certain topics you felt underprepared for?
  • Did you run out of time or rush through questions?

Use any feedback you received, either from your practice papers or your exam performance, to identify where things went wrong. Understanding why you struggled is the first step to improvement.

2. Give yourself enough time to prepare

Plan your time well and start early. Build a revision schedule that gives you:

  • Regular study sessions each week
  • Time to review key prescribing topics (e.g. dose calculations, prescribing for special populations)
  • Time to complete full practice papers under exam conditions

Aim for quality over quantity – even short, focused sessions can be effective when you’re working on specific areas of weakness.

3. Focus on the question types that cost you marks

The PSA is made up of eight distinct question styles, each testing different aspects of safe prescribing. Some commonly tricky areas for re-sitters include:

  • Prescribing – giving the optimal answer (for full marks)
  • Dosage calculations
  • Adverse drug reaction identification
  • Prescription review questions

Work through each question style individually and learn the best strategy to tackle them. There’s a breakdown of all question types on the BPS Assessment Learner’s Portal to guide your practice.

4. Practise using the BNF effectively

Knowing how to navigate the BNF resources quickly and confidently is crucial for the PSA. If you’re resitting, chances are you already understand the structure, but you may still be losing time on questions if you can’t locate key information fast.

Focus on:

  • Drug indications, contraindications, and dosing guidance
  • Prescribing for specific populations (e.g. elderly, renal impairment, pregnancy)
  • Key safety alerts and monitoring requirements

Spend time practising BNF-based lookups during your revision, especially within the timed setting of a mock paper. Remember you’ll have access to; Medicines Complete BNF and BNFc and NICE BNF and BNFc (only in the UK), so it’s important to be familiar with both. 

5. Make the most of freely available resources

You don’t need expensive tools to pass the PSA, just the right ones.

On the BPS Assessment Learner’s Portal, you’ll find:

  • Free practice papers designed to reflect the real exam
  • Detailed explanations for how to answer each question style helping you learn from mistakes
  • Exam tips and blog content tailored to both first-time sitters and resitters

Use these resources to revise smarter and improve your confidence ahead of your re-sit.

6. Don’t be afraid to ask for support

It’s easy to feel disheartened after not passing the first time, but support is available:

  • Speak to your tutors, prescribing leads, or university faculty – they can help identify areas for targeted revision.
  • Connect with peers who have sat or passed the exam recently.
  • Consider forming a study group or joining an online forum where prescribing challenges and tips are shared.

And most importantly – be kind to yourself. Failing an exam does not define your ability to be a safe, competent prescriber.

You’ve Got This

Failing the PSA first time isn’t the end of your journey – it’s a step on the path to mastering safe prescribing. With focused revision, support from your faculty, and the resources available, you can go into your re-sit with clarity and confidence.

Start early, stay focused, and believe in your ability to succeed!