If you’re a final year medical student in Australia or New Zealand, you may have heard of the Prescribing Skills Assessment – or even the UK PSA – and be wondering what exactly applies to you. Well, you’re not alone!
This blog is here to help clear up the confusion between the UK PSA and the local version of the Prescribing Skills Assessment delivered at Australian and New Zealand medical schools. We’ve pulled together the most frequently asked questions to help you understand how the local exam works, what to expect, and how to best prepare.
Is My School Signed Up, and Should I Expect a Login?
Yes, if you attend one of the following institutions, your school has signed up for the formative PSA:
Australia
- Flinders University
- Western Sydney University
- Deakin University
- The University of Western Australia
- Curtin University
- University of Melbourne
- University of Tasmania
- Bond University
- Monash University
- The University of Sydney
- The University of New South Wales
- University of Newcastle
New Zealand
- University of Auckland
- University of Otago
If you’re at one of these universities, you will receive a login to access the platform.
🔐 Important: If you want to sign up for an account on the BPS Assessment Learner’s Portal, please do not sign up using your school email address. Use a personal email when registering, as this helps avoid login issues when it comes to sitting the real exam.
Which Formulary is the Exam Based on?
For students at participating Australian and New Zealand institutions, the Prescribing Skills Assessment exam is aligned to the:
- Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH)
- New Zealand Formulary (NZF)
That means all prescribing decisions and recommended answers in your exam will reflect local clinical guidelines.
To help you prepare, we strongly encourage you to familiarise yourself with how your national formulary works. These resources are especially useful:
This video series walks you through key features of the AMH, including an overview and how to navigate it efficiently and interpret information relevant to prescribing. It’s ideal if you’re new to the platform or want a refresher on how to get the most out of it.
This page outlines how to search for medicines, interpret prescribing information, and use the NZF in clinical decision-making, skills that will be directly relevant in your exam as well as in practice.
What Practice Materials are Available?
Once you’ve been registered by your school and logged into the BPS Assessment platform, you’ll gain access to localised practice papers that reflect prescribing standards from the Australian Medicines Handbook (AMH) and the New Zealand Formulary (NZF).
You’ll get access to:
- Two 30-question practice papers
- One full-length 60-item practice paper, which you can time yourself on
Each localised paper is developed and reviewed with input from representatives at each participating university. This ensures the materials are not only clinically relevant but also reflect the teaching, curriculum, and prescribing expectations of a final-year medical student at your institution. You can be confident that the skills and knowledge assessed align closely with what you’ve been learning throughout your medical training.
📌 Note: If you’ve worked through all your localised resources and are looking for more practice, there are extra practice papers available to purchase on the BPS Assessment Learner’s Portal. However, you should note that these papers are aligned to the BNF rather than the AMH or NZF. Nevertheless, they may still be a useful resource in your exam preparation, just keep in mind that the recommended answers may differ from your local formulary. And, don’t forget, you’ll need to create a new account on the Learner’s Portal using a personal email address to get access.
When Will I Get My Results?
The Prescribing Skills Assessment is typically delivered over a set sitting window determined by your institution. Results are usually available within 2 weeks after the end of your school’s sitting window.
For the most accurate information about your results release date, check with your course or exam coordinator.
What Happens if I Don’t Pass the First Time?
Most schools will offer a resit opportunity for students sitting the Prescribing Skills Assessment.
Any resits will use a dedicated paper that is completely separate from the exam papers you’ve sat previously. Designed to give you the full exam experience, with 60 new clinical scenarios with the same format and distribution of exam questions.This helps ensure the resit is a fair and valid test of your prescribing skills
📌 Note: Your school will confirm if and when a resit is available, so keep an eye out for communication from your course or exam coordinator.
Remember: This is your Prescribing Skills Assessment
While the UK PSA and the Prescribing Skills Assessment used in Australia and New Zealand share the same goal; improving prescribing safety and competency, they are not the same exam.
The version you will sit at your university has been specifically localised to reflect Australian or New Zealand clinical practice, using the AMH or NZF rather than the British National Formulary. That means your assessment is tailored to your future prescribing environment, and your preparation should reflect that too!
So while you might come across UK-based resources or references, always keep in mind that your exam is tailored to you:
- Local guidelines
- Local clinical scenarios
- Local patient safety priorities
With the right preparation and understanding of how the assessment works, you’ll be well-equipped to succeed. Good luck!