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How Did Khushi Makwana Begin Her OPRA Journey?
Congratulations to Khushi Makwana on successfully clearing her July 2026 OPRA examination!
Khushi's journey is particularly inspiring because her successful result came after a difficult first attempt.
She moved from India to Melbourne in 2023 to pursue a Master of Public Health. After completing her postgraduate studies, she decided to restart her pharmacy career and began preparing for the OPRA examination.
A friend who had taken the KAPS examination in 2024 introduced her to Elite Expertise. Khushi joined the Elite Expertise OPRA preparation course in December for the March intake.
Her journey, however, did not go exactly as planned.
She appeared for the OPRA examination in March and did not pass two units. The result left her feeling disappointed and unmotivated.
Instead of allowing that result to end her journey, Khushi decided to prepare again.
Her July result now marks an important achievement in her journey toward becoming a registered pharmacist in Australia.
Watch Khushi's full OPRA success interview
What Made Khushi's First OPRA Attempt Challenging?
For Khushi, one of the biggest difficulties was managing her full time job alongside OPRA preparation.
She was also living independently in Melbourne, away from her family. Managing work, personal responsibilities and exam preparation at the same time made it difficult to give her studies the attention they needed.
Her first attempt also taught her an important lesson about preparation.
Khushi explained that she focused heavily on theory during her first attempt and did not complete enough mock tests. By the end of her preparation, she felt that she had forgotten a significant amount of what she had studied.
The result helped her identify what needed to change.
Her workplace supported her during her second preparation period and even provided annual leave, giving her more time to concentrate on the examination.
With support from her family, friends, colleagues and Elite Expertise, Khushi returned to her preparation with a different approach.
How Did Khushi Prepare Differently for Her Second OPRA Attempt?
Khushi's second preparation focused on understanding, revision and practice rather than relying on theory alone.
After reviewing her first result, she recognised that Patient Care and Therapeutics required more attention. She therefore spent more time studying these areas and practising related MCQs and mock tests.
This change became an important part of her preparation.
She also emphasised the importance of discipline and completing lectures.
Her advice is practical. Attend the lectures, understand the concepts, make notes where necessary and complete mock tests.
Elite Expertise also provides handouts, which Khushi found useful when making detailed notes during lectures was difficult.
Her experience shows why candidates should use their first attempt as feedback if they need to sit the examination again.
Instead of repeating exactly what she had done before, Khushi identified her weaker areas and adjusted her preparation accordingly.
Which OPRA Topics Did Khushi Find Most Difficult?
Khushi particularly enjoyed pharmacology, but she found it challenging to remember the large amount of information involved.
Pharmacology requires candidates to understand diseases, medicines, mechanisms of action and adverse effects. Remembering all these details together can become difficult during intensive exam preparation.
She also found some pharmacology questions tricky during the examination.
Her experience led her to an important conclusion: strong basic pharmacology matters.
According to Khushi, you cannot realistically memorise every mechanism of action and every detail. However, when your fundamentals are clear, you can reason through concepts that may not look familiar at first.
That became one of her biggest lessons from the OPRA journey.
How Did Elite Expertise Support Khushi's OPRA Preparation?
Khushi had positive feedback about both Harika Ma'am and Arief Sir.
She remembers her first class with Harika Ma'am as particularly memorable. She appreciated how Harika connected her professional experiences with pharmacology concepts, which helped make difficult topics easier to understand.
She also appreciated Arief Sir's teaching style, particularly his detailed explanations and discipline.
For Khushi, the course structure provided several useful components:
- Regular lectures
- Handouts
- MCQ practice
- Mock tests
- Revision
- Structured preparation
- Guidance from experienced trainers
She specifically identified discipline and mock tests as important parts of her successful second attempt.
Elite Expertise's Australia OPRA exam course is listed as a 3.5 month programme with 300 plus hours of live and recorded lectures, 150 lessons and more than 3,000 practice questions. The programme also includes live sessions, recorded classes, assignments, clinical scenarios and mock examinations, according to the course information provided by Elite Expertise.
The course is designed for international pharmacy graduates preparing for the OPRA examination and includes topics such as basic pharmacology, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular conditions, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug interactions, CNS, infectious diseases, oncology, gastrointestinal conditions and endocrinology.
What Was Khushi's OPRA Exam Day Experience Like?
Exam anxiety was another major part of Khushi's story.
After her first unsuccessful result, she was worried about experiencing the same outcome again. She even had difficulty sleeping before her July examination.
She spoke with Glory from the Elite Expertise team about her concerns and anxiety. The support and encouragement helped her manage those feelings.
On exam day, Khushi decided to trust the preparation she had completed.
Her experience shows that exam confidence does not necessarily mean having zero anxiety. You can feel nervous and still perform well when you have prepared properly.
The Australian Pharmacy Council states that the OPRA examination is a computer based, closed book examination containing 120 multiple choice questions, with 150 minutes available to complete the exam. OPRA assesses the biomedical, pharmaceutical and clinical sciences underlying pharmacy practice in Australia.
OPRA is part of the Knowledge Stream pathway for eligible overseas qualified pharmacists seeking registration in Australia.
What Did Khushi Feel After Clearing Her July OPRA Result?
After months of preparation, Khushi finally received the result she had been hoping for.
Her reaction was simple:
For her, passing the examination represented the completion of one major stage in a much longer professional journey.
She also described a major change in her confidence.
Only a few months earlier, she had been struggling emotionally after her first result. After receiving her successful July result, she felt completely different.
She said that the confidence was new.
That makes Khushi's achievement worth celebrating. Congratulations once again, Khushi, on clearing your July OPRA examination!
What Advice Does Khushi Give to Future OPRA Candidates?
Khushi's advice comes directly from her own experience.
1. Do not be too hard on yourself
After her first attempt, Khushi blamed herself heavily. During her second preparation, she learned to recognise when she needed a break.
She explained that studying for 10 to 15 hours every day is not always necessary. If your mind is tired, taking a break can help you return to your preparation with better concentration.
2. Focus on important areas
You cannot give equal attention to every topic at every stage of preparation.
Khushi recommends identifying important areas and concentrating on them.
Her own experience showed her that Patient Care and Therapeutics needed more attention, so she increased her practice in those areas.
3. Complete mock tests
This was one of the clearest lessons from her first attempt.
Khushi did not complete enough mock tests before her first examination. During her second attempt, she made mock practice a bigger part of her preparation.
4. Build strong basics
Khushi strongly recommends understanding basic pharmacology.
A strong foundation can help you approach unfamiliar questions more confidently.
5. Keep hope alive
Perhaps the most personal part of Khushi's advice is to keep going even when your confidence drops.
After her first attempt, she questioned whether she was good enough. She even had days when she did not study.
However, she continued to believe that she could eventually succeed.
Her July result proved that a difficult attempt does not have to be the end of your journey.
How Can Elite Expertise Help With OPRA Exam Preparation?
For candidates preparing for OPRA in Australia, Elite Expertise offers a structured online preparation programme.
The course currently lists:
| Course Feature | Elite Expertise OPRA Course |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3.5 months |
| Online training | 15 weeks |
| Lectures | 300+ hours |
| Lessons | 150+ |
| Practice questions | 3,000+ |
| Format | Live and recorded |
| Access | Unlimited |
| Mock tests | Included |
| Community | Dedicated WhatsApp group |
The programme is led by Arief Mohammad and Harika Bheemavarapu, who are listed by Elite Expertise as clinical pharmacists and OPRA coaches.
The course covers the major knowledge areas candidates need for OPRA preparation and includes regular classes, practice questions, assignments and mock exams.
For candidates who are working while preparing, recorded lectures can also provide flexibility when attending a live session is difficult.
You should always confirm current OPRA eligibility, registration requirements, exam dates and fees directly with the Australian Pharmacy Council before making decisions about your registration pathway. The APC currently lists the OPRA fee at AU$2,245 per attempt.
What Can You Learn From Khushi's OPRA Success Story?
Khushi's story gives future candidates several practical lessons.
- Your first result does not determine your final outcome.
- Your preparation strategy can change.
- Your weak areas can become stronger.
- Your confidence can return.
Most importantly, you can learn from an unsuccessful attempt instead of allowing it to define you.
Khushi entered her second attempt with a clearer understanding of what she needed to improve. She focused more on Patient Care and Therapeutics, increased her MCQ and mock practice, worked on her basic pharmacology and managed her time more carefully.
That change helped her reach the result she wanted.
Congratulations once again to Khushi Makwana on her successful July 2026 OPRA result.
Her journey from disappointment after the March attempt to the happiness of clearing the July examination is a strong reminder for every candidate who is currently struggling with preparation.
Final Thoughts
Khushi Makwana's OPRA journey is a story of persistence, self correction and renewed confidence.
She had to manage a full time job, live away from her family, deal with exam anxiety and recover from an unsuccessful first attempt. Yet she returned to her preparation, changed her strategy and cleared the July 2026 examination.
Her three biggest messages are clear: do not be too hard on yourself, build strong concepts and keep hope alive.
For future OPRA candidates, her experience offers a practical reminder that one difficult result does not define your pharmacy career.
Congratulations, Khushi. We wish you every success in the next stage of your journey toward pharmacist registration in Australia.
Key Takeaways
- Khushi Makwana successfully cleared the July 2026 OPRA examination after an unsuccessful first attempt in March.
- Managing a full time job and OPRA preparation was one of her biggest challenges.
- She changed her preparation strategy by focusing more on Patient Care, Therapeutics, MCQs and mock tests.
- Khushi found that strong basic pharmacology helped her understand unfamiliar concepts during the exam.
- She credits the support of her family, workplace, friends and Elite Expertise for helping her stay motivated.
- Her biggest message to future candidates is simple: do not be too hard on yourself, stay focused and keep hope alive.
FAQs
1. Did Khushi clear OPRA on her first attempt?
No. Khushi appeared for the OPRA examination in March and did not pass two units. She then prepared again and successfully cleared her July 2026 attempt.
2. What was Khushi's biggest OPRA preparation challenge?
Her biggest challenge was managing a full time job, personal responsibilities and OPRA preparation while living away from her family.
3. Which OPRA topics did Khushi focus on during her second attempt?
After reviewing her first result, she focused more on Patient Care and Therapeutics, along with MCQs and mock tests.
4. What did Khushi say helped her most during her second preparation?
She particularly valued discipline, attending lectures, making notes or using handouts, and completing mock tests.
5. What did Khushi recommend to candidates who fail their first attempt?
She advised candidates not to be too hard on themselves, to identify important areas, strengthen their basic concepts, take breaks when needed and continue with hope.
6. How many questions are there in the OPRA examination?
According to the current APC OPRA Exam Guide, the examination contains 120 multiple choice questions and candidates have 150 minutes to complete it.