Key Points to Remember 

• OPRA tests clinical thinking, not memorisation.
• Use mock tests strategically, don’t spam them.
• Analyse every error with root-cause method.
• Track progress with a score sheet.
• AMH, eTG, APF are for intern exams, not OPRA.
• Time management is crucial – 75 sec/question.

Let me be honest with you for a moment.

At some point in OPRA preparation, almost every student hits this phase:
You’ve studied the syllabus.
You’ve watched the lectures.
You know you should start mock tests.

But instead of confidence, mocks bring fear.

“Why is my score not improving?”
“Should I do more mocks?”
“Am I burning out… or not doing enough?”

I’ve seen this cycle again and again, and I’ve personally felt it too. That’s why this blog exists.

The OPRA exam (which officially replaced KAPS) is not about how many mock tests you attempt.
It’s about how you use them.

With guidance from Elite Expertise and insights from their lead trainers. Mr Arief Mohammad and Mrs Harika Bheemavarapu, this blog will show you exactly how to use OPRA mock tests to improve your score without exhausting yourself.

Grab a coffee. Let’s break this down calmly, step by step.

Why OPRA Mock Tests Matter More Than You Think

One of the biggest mindset shifts you need to make while preparing for OPRA is understanding what kind of exam this really is.

OPRA is not a memory-based exam.
It doesn’t reward students who can memorise long drug lists or recall facts in isolation.

Instead, OPRA is designed to test three core abilities that every safe pharmacist must have:

• Clinical reasoning – Can you connect symptoms, conditions, and drug actions logically?
• Safe decision-making – Can you identify what is safest for this specific patient, not just what is theoretically correct?
• Prioritisation under time pressure – Can you make the best possible decision in 75 seconds without panicking?

This is exactly why OPRA mock tests are not “practice exams” in the traditional sense.

They are thinking simulators.

Every mock question forces your brain to do what the real exam demands:

• Interpret a patient scenario
• Identify risks
• Eliminate unsafe options
• Choose the most appropriate action

At Elite Expertise, mock tests are never treated as a simple score-generating exercise. They are used very intentionally as:

• A diagnostic tool – to uncover weak subjects, logic gaps, and time-management issues
• A reasoning trainer – to sharpen how you think, not just what you know
• A confidence builder – to reduce exam fear and build mental stamina

They are not treated as a score-report card or a judgment of intelligence.

And this mindset makes all the difference.

As Arief Sir explains it perfectly:

“Mocks don’t measure intelligence. They reveal thinking gaps.”

Once you truly understand this, your relationship with mock tests changes completely.
You stop fearing low scores.
You stop obsessing over percentages.
And you start focusing on what actually matters, how your thinking is evolving.

Meet the Expert Behind This Mock-Test Strategy

Before going deeper into mock strategies, it’s important to know whose methodology you are trusting.

Mr. Arief Mohammad

Lead Trainer & Director – Elite Expertise
AACPA Accredited Consultant Pharmacist
Clinical Pharmacist – Northern Health, Melbourne

Arief Sir is widely respected for his “ward-level thinking” approach. He doesn’t teach students how answers look in textbooks—he teaches how pharmacists actually reason in real Australian clinical settings.

During mock test analysis, his focus is always on:

• Why a particular option is unsafe
• What risk must the pharmacist prioritise first
• How the APC frames reasoning under the Rasch methodology

His core belief guides the entire Elite Expertise mock strategy:

“If you can explain your reasoning, you can answer any OPRA question.”

And that belief is exactly what transforms mock tests from stressful exams into powerful learning tools.

Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu

Lead Trainer & Director – Elite Expertise
AACPA Accredited Consultant Pharmacist
Clinical Pharmacist – Monash Health, Melbourne

Harika Ma’am is the reason many students finally stop fearing:

• Pharmacology
• Calculations
• Therapeutics logic

She specialises in simplifying complex concepts and training students to think like Australian interns.

Her mantra:

“Once you understand the ‘why’, the answer becomes obvious.”

Together, their coaching philosophy is simple but powerful:

“Smart Study Beats Hard Study.”

When to Start OPRA Mock Tests (And How Often)

Let’s clear one of the biggest and most dangerous myths in OPRA preparation right away:

“I’ll start mock tests once I finish the syllabus.”

That moment rarely arrives.

The OPRA syllabus is broad, layered, and interconnected. If you wait until you feel “fully prepared,” you’ll delay mocks indefinitely and miss the most powerful learning tool in your preparation.

This is exactly why Elite Expertise follows a phase-based mock strategy. It’s designed to build confidence step by step, sharpen clinical reasoning, and prevent burnout without overwhelming you.

Mocks are introduced early, intentionally, and with a purpose.

Phase 1: Diagnostic Phase (Early Preparation)

When: Within the first 2–3 weeks of starting OPRA prep
How often: Just one mock

Yes, even if you feel underprepared.
Yes, even if half the syllabus feels unfamiliar.

This mock is not about passing.
It’s about self-awareness.

Think of it as a clinical assessment of you as a learner.

This first mock helps you answer crucial questions like:

• Which subjects are my weakest right now?
• Am I losing marks because I don’t know concepts—or because my reasoning is off?
• Do I struggle more with time pressure or clinical logic?
• Am I overthinking simple questions?

You should expect a low score here. That’s normal.
In fact, a low score is useful it tells you where to focus.

As Harika Ma’am often reassures students:

“Your first mock score is not your future. It’s your starting point.”

Students who skip this phase often study blindly.
Students who do it early study strategically.

Phase 2: Weekly Rhythm Phase (Mid-Preparation)

When: After core subjects are underway
How often: One full-length mock per week

Most students choose weekends for this, and that works well.

This phase is where OPRA preparation becomes real.

Why weekly mocks?

Because OPRA is not just a knowledge test it’s a stamina test.

You’re dealing with:

• 120 questions
• 150 minutes
• About 75 seconds per question

Weekly mocks train your brain to:

• Stay focused for 2.5 hours
• Make decisions without spiralling into doubt
• Recover quickly after a difficult question
• Maintain consistent reasoning under pressure

This is also where patterns begin to appear:

• Repeated mistakes in certain topics
• Common traps you fall into
• Time sinks that slow you down

But here’s the key: Improvement doesn’t come from doing mocks. It comes from analysing them properly.

This phase is where scores start rising only if you review mistakes deeply, not just glance at percentages.

Phase 3: Simulation Phase (Last 30 Days)

When: Final month before the exam
How often: Two mocks per week

At this stage, mocks are no longer about learning new content.
They’re about exam behaviour.

You should simulate the real exam as closely as possible:

• Attempt mocks at the same time of day as your actual exam
• No phone, no notifications
• No interruptions
• No “just checking one thing quickly”

This phase trains:

• Calmness under pressure
• Trust in your clinical judgment
• Speed without panic
• Confidence in elimination strategies
  

By now, mock tests should feel familiar not frightening.

This is when many students finally realise:

“I don’t need to know everything. I just need to think clearly.”

And that clarity is exactly what OPRA rewards.

If you use mock tests the right way, they won’t burn you out.
They’ll carry you forward steadily, confidently, and prepared.

How to Analyse OPRA Mock Tests: The Root-Cause Method

Let me say this as clearly as possible because this is where most students go wrong:

If you don’t analyse a mock test properly, you didn’t “practice.”
You just spent 2.5 hours answering questions.

At Elite Expertise, mock tests are not judged by scores alone.
They are treated as clinical audits of your thinking process.

That’s why they use the Root-Cause Error Analysis Method.

Instead of asking, “Why did I get this wrong?”
You learn to ask, “What type of thinking failed here?”

Every incorrect answer without exception falls into one of four categories.

Once you identify the category, the fix becomes clear.

1. Knowledge Gap (Concept Missing)

This is the most straightforward type of error.

You simply didn’t know the concept well enough.

Examples:

• You didn’t remember the mechanism of a drug class
• You were unsure about disease progression
• You hadn’t covered that topic properly yet

This is not a failure it’s information.

Correct Action:

• Rewatch the relevant lecture (don’t binge target only what’s missing)
• Add a short, crisp note to your error notebook
• Focus on why the concept matters clinically

Avoid copying entire slides.
Your goal is understanding, not rewriting textbooks.

Knowledge gaps are the easiest errors to fix if you identify them early.

2. Logical Error (Priority or Safety Failure)

This is where OPRA becomes OPRA.

You knew the topic.
You understood the disease.
But you chose the wrong option.

Why?

Because OPRA tests clinical prioritisation, not academic recall.

Common signs of a logical error:

• Two options looked correct
• You chose the “standard” drug instead of the safer one
• You ignored comorbidities, age, or contraindications

Correct Action:

• Ask yourself: “What was the safety concern I missed?”
• Re-read the question, focusing on risk vs benefit
• Discuss the question in Elite Expertise mentor WhatsApp groups

This is where Arief Sir’s reasoning sessions are invaluable. He breaks down:

• Why is one option unsafe in this patient
• How Australian pharmacists think under pressure
• How APC frames reasoning using the Rasch methodology

Logical errors are not about studying harder.
They are about thinking better.

3. Silly Mistake (Reading Error)

This one hurts but it’s very common.

You knew the answer.
But you misread the question.

Typical triggers:

• “EXCEPT”
• “MOST appropriate”
• “LEAST likely”
• Skimming under time pressure

Correct Action:

• Slow down your reading slightly
• Mentally underline key words
• Pause for one second before selecting an option

Many students lose 10–15 marks per mock due to reading errors alone.

The fix isn’t more study it’s better attention control.

4. Calculation Slip (Panic, Not Knowledge)

You knew how to calculate it.
But under pressure, something went wrong.

Common causes:

• Decimal point errors
• Unit confusion (mg vs mcg)
• Rushing due to fear of time

Correct Action:

• Do daily calculation drills (5–10 questions)
• Practice until the steps become automatic
• Write down units clearly even in your mind
  

As Arief Sir always reminds students:

“Calculations don’t fail students. Panic does.”

When calculations become routine, confidence replaces fear.

The Elite Rule (Non-Negotiable)

Elite Expertise follows one strict rule:

If you cannot explain:

• Why is the correct option correct
  AND
• Why are the other three options wrong

You are not done analysing that question.

This level of analysis transforms mock tests from stress-tests into score boosters.

And once you analyse this way consistently, your OPRA scores don’t just improve—

Your thinking does.

Building an Error Notebook (Your Secret Weapon)

If there’s one habit that truly separates average scorers from top scorers, it’s having an error notebook. Honestly, this is where the magic happens. Most students underestimate it, but the difference it makes in the final weeks of OPRA is huge.

Your error notebook is not a diary of failure. It’s a manual of growth. Every mistake you make becomes a lesson that saves marks the next time around. Think of it as your personal playbook a quick reference for tricky situations and “oh-no-I-forgot-that” moments.

What Goes Inside?

• Repeated mistakes – those questions or concepts that keep tripping you up
• Tricky drug interactions – like “clarithromycin + simvastatin”
• Law or ethics traps – S8 recording requirements, controlled drug rules
• Personal weak areas – anything you keep forgetting, miscalculating, or misunderstanding

Example entries could be:

• “Avoid clarithromycin with simvastatin – causes myopathy risk”
• “S8 recording requirements – double-check signature and date”
• “Renal dose adjustments I keep forgetting for elderly patients”

Keep it short, clear, and actionable. Bullet points are perfect. You don’t need paragraphs just enough to jog your memory under pressure.

How to Use It Effectively

• Read it once a week preferably on a quiet day when your brain is fresh.
• Before every mock revisit the notebook to remind yourself of pitfalls.
• Final week prep this is your secret weapon. Many students are shocked by how many marks they save just by revisiting these repeated mistakes and reminders.
  

The key here is consistency. Don’t wait until the last minute to start this notebook. The earlier you begin, the more powerful it becomes.

OPRA Time Management Techniques That Actually Work

Let’s get real OPRA doesn’t wait for you to overthink. It’s a fast-paced exam: 120 questions in 150 minutes, or roughly 75 seconds per question.

First Pass Strategy

• Go through all questions systematically.
• If a question takes more than 40 seconds, flag it and move on. Don’t let one hard calculation or tricky therapeutics question steal time from several easier ones later.

90-Second Ceiling

• Never spend more than 90 seconds on a single question during your first pass.
• This simple rule alone often saves 10–15 marks, because it prevents you from getting stuck.

Safety Buffer

• Aim to finish your first pass in 120 minutes.
• This leaves 30 minutes to review flagged questions, giving you time to think calmly and apply logic without panic.

On-Screen Elimination Trick

• Use the strikethrough or mark tool on the exam platform.
• Eliminate clearly unsafe options first.
• Less visual clutter equals faster, more confident decisions.

Tracking Progress with an OPRA Score Sheet

Burnout often comes from not seeing progress. Numbers don’t lie, and a simple tracker can be incredibly motivating.

Example:

Date	Mock	Score %	Weak Area	Time Left
Jan 10	Mock 1	52%	Calculations	0 min
Jan 17	Mock 2	59%	Cardiology	6 min
Jan 24	Mock 3	65%	Ethics	12 min

Even small improvements matter. Watching your time left increase is just as valuable as score improvement.

Important Clarification: OPRA vs Intern Written Resources

• AMH, eTG, and APF are NOT for OPRA.
• They’re for Intern Written Exams and practical internship practice.
• OPRA focuses on:
  
  • Clinical reasoning
  • Conceptual understanding
  • Safe decision-making

Elite Expertise introduces these references after OPRA, exactly when they become relevant. This keeps your preparation clean, focused, and stress-free.

Final Thoughts

Doing 50 mocks without analysis is far worse than 10 mocks with deep reasoning.

OPRA is challenging but fair. If you:

• Use mocks strategically
• Analyse errors honestly
• Track progress patiently

…you will improve.

As Harika Ma’am always reminds students:

“Focus on the process. The result will follow.”

Remember: You are not just preparing for an exam. You are training to become a safe Australian pharmacist.

Your journey doesn’t start on exam day. It starts today.

Take a deep breath.
Trust the process.
Keep moving forward.