Guide to Rasch Methodology in the OPRA Pharmacy Exam

Introduction to Rasch Methodology

OPRA exam, or the Overseas Pharmacists Readiness Assessment, is the licensing exam for international pharmacy graduates who want to practise in Australia. This exam is conducted by the Australian Pharmacy Council (APC). Before March 2025, this exam will replace the KAPS exam (Knowledge Assessment of Pharmaceutical Sciences). APC has implemented Rasch methodology for selecting and scoring exam questions. Since 2020, this psychometric model has been employed in APC Intern Written exam and CAOP (Competency Assessment of Overseas Pharmacists) assessments. Since March 2025, it has been used in the OPRA exam scoring. This method ensures fairness and consistency in the results.

How the Rasch Model Works in Exams

What is Rasch?

A statistical model that balances the difficulty of each question (“item parameter”) with the candidate’s ability (“person parameter”). This method of scoring ensures that the result accurately reflects the candidate’s actual ability rather than the version of the examination they took.  

Why APC uses it:

It ensures fairness, consistency, and defensible candidate assessment—no matter which version of the OPRA you sit.

• Fairness Across Different Exam Versions: In the OPRA exam, no candidate receives the same set of questions. This method of scoring allows us to balance the difficulty of each question.
• Accurate Measurement of Ability: This method allows the assess of the performance of a candidate, keeping in mind the complexity of the questions they answer correctly.
• Better Quality Control for Exam Questions:
• International Best Practice: This method of scoring globally across various countries and thereby meeting global standards of validity and fairness of the scoring.

How scoring adjusts:

• Unlike the traditional method of scoring, there are two things to be considered that the Rasch scoring adjusts to, that is, the difficulty of the question and the candidate’s ability. Each correct answer to a tougher question will carry more weight than the wrong answers to easier questions. This allows for a true measure of your readiness, and the final score is not just about how many questions were answered correctly but also which ones were answered correctly.
• Each question has 4 options to choose the closest correct answer.
• Success is determined by the level of ability or performance compared to this standard, not by comparing performance to other candidates or by an arbitrary score.
• Out of 120 questions in the OPRA exam, 90% are scored, and 10% are unscored. This means that these questions are included in the exam for calibration and testing purposes but do not contribute to the final scoring result.
• These unscored questions are distributed equally among all the five components of the exam.

Also Read: How Do You Qualify for the OPRA Exam with Confidence

A Quick Overview of the OPRA Exam

• Replaces KAPS: APC has announced that the KAPS exam will be replaced by the OPRA exam starting in March 2025.
• Exam Format:
  • This is a computer-based, closed book, multiple-choice Questionnaire (MCQ) of 120
  • The duration of the exam is 2.5 hours
• Content focus:
• The syllabus of the OPRA exam is vast and consists of five major components listed below but not restricted to:
  • 20% Biomedical Sciences
  • 10% Medicinal Chemistry & Biopharmaceutics
  • 10% Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics
  • 15% Pharmacology/Toxicology
  • 45% Therapeutics & Patient Care

• This means that Therapeutics and Patient care is the key for the OPRA exam and consists of almost half the Blueprint provided by APC.
• Fee: The fee for the OPRA exam is AU$2,190, reduced from AUD$2,290.

Eligibility: Who Can Take It?

• This assessment is for candidates from countries such as India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal.
• This is a mandated exam designed for internationally qualified pharmacists entering Australia.
• Applicants need to complete the APC Eligibility Check before registering
• A minimum of a four-year graduate degree is required for eligibility for this exam.

Also Read: 4 Steps to KAPS/OPRA Exam Eligibility

Conclusion

The adoption of Rasch methodology in the OPRA exam ensures a fair, standardized, and accurate assessment of every candidate’s essential pharmacy knowledge and readiness. The switch from the KAPS exam to the OPRA exam was made to keep candidates preparing for this licensing exam current with the Australian healthcare system.

If you are still confused about the OPRA exam scoring and what exactly the Rasch methodology is, Elite Expertise is here to help you. Our team is always available to help with all concerns regarding scoring, OPRA exam preparation, guidance for skills assessment, and steps to take after passing the OPRA exam.

We also provide a demo lecture to check for yourself. The trainers and Directors, Mr. Arief Mohammad and Mrs. Harika Bheemavarapu are both top-class professionals with extensive experience in both clinical and teaching fields. They have helped thousands of students clear the OPRA/KAPS exam on their first attempt. So why wait? Join Elite Expertise and let be your partner in preparation until you pass the exam.