Prometric Exam Questions for Pharmacists 2026: 15 Practice MCQs with Answers and Rationale

The pharmacist Prometric paper set by DHA, MOHAP, SHA, SCFHS, QCHP, NHRA and OMSB tests a community or hospital pharmacist's ability to dispense safely: pharmacology and therapeutics, pharmaceutical calculations, interactions and contraindications, pharmaceutics and compounding, and the law and ethics of practice. It is 100 to 150 single-best-answer questions over 2 to 3 hours with a pass mark of about 60%.

The fifteen questions below are written to that blueprint. Time yourself at roughly 70 seconds per item, then read every rationale. The exam repeats reasoning patterns (renal dosing, pregnancy safety, narrow-therapeutic-index drugs, counselling points) far more than it repeats individual facts.

For the full syllabus and authority differences see the Prometric exam for pharmacists guide, and for timed papers use the practice exam banks.

Pharmacology and therapeutics

Question 1

A patient with hypertension and a history of angioedema on lisinopril needs an alternative antihypertensive. Which is most appropriate?

1. Enalapril
2. Losartan
3. Ramipril
4. Captopril

Answer: B. Angioedema is a class effect of ACE inhibitors, so switching to another ACE inhibitor is unsafe. An angiotensin receptor blocker such as losartan carries a much lower risk and is the usual alternative, with counselling to report any swelling.

Question 2

Which statin is least likely to interact with clarithromycin?

1. Simvastatin
2. Atorvastatin
3. Lovastatin
4. Rosuvastatin

Answer: D. Clarithromycin is a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor and raises levels of simvastatin, lovastatin and, to a lesser extent, atorvastatin, increasing the risk of myopathy. Rosuvastatin is not significantly metabolised by CYP3A4.

Question 3

A 68-year-old with atrial fibrillation and a creatinine clearance of 25 mL/min is prescribed dabigatran 150 mg twice daily. The pharmacist should:

1. Dispense as written
2. Recommend a dose reduction or an alternative anticoagulant because of renal impairment
3. Recommend increasing the dose to 220 mg
4. Recommend adding aspirin

Answer: B. Dabigatran is predominantly renally cleared and accumulates in renal impairment, increasing bleeding risk. At a creatinine clearance of 25 mL/min the dose must be reduced, or a different anticoagulant chosen, according to the product label.

Question 4

Which drug should be avoided in a patient with G6PD deficiency?

1. Paracetamol
2. Primaquine
3. Amoxicillin
4. Omeprazole

Answer: B. Primaquine, along with dapsone, nitrofurantoin, sulfonamides and some other oxidant drugs, can precipitate acute haemolysis in G6PD deficiency. This is a frequent exam item because G6PD deficiency is common across the Gulf, South Asia and Africa.

Question 5

A woman who is 8 weeks pregnant asks for something for nausea. The most appropriate first recommendation is:

1. Doxylamine with pyridoxine
2. Misoprostol
3. Ondansetron as first line
4. Metoclopramide as first line

Answer: A. Doxylamine combined with pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is the recommended first-line pharmacological option for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, after dietary measures. Misoprostol is contraindicated in pregnancy. Ondansetron and metoclopramide are reserved for cases that do not respond.

Calculations

Question 6

How many grams of a 2% w/w cream are needed to supply 500 mg of the active ingredient?

1. 10 g
2. 25 g
3. 50 g
4. 100 g

Answer: B. 2% w/w means 2 g in 100 g, or 20 mg per gram. 500 mg divided by 20 mg per gram is 25 g.

Question 7

A child weighing 18 kg is prescribed amoxicillin 40 mg/kg/day in three divided doses. The suspension is 250 mg/5 mL. Each dose is:

1. 2.4 mL
2. 4.8 mL
3. 7.2 mL
4. 14.4 mL

Answer: B. 40 mg/kg multiplied by 18 kg is 720 mg per day; divided by three doses is 240 mg per dose. At 250 mg per 5 mL (50 mg/mL), 240 mg is 4.8 mL.

Question 8

A 1 L bag of 0.9% sodium chloride is to be infused over 6 hours. Using a giving set that delivers 20 drops per mL, the drip rate is approximately:

1. 28 drops per minute
2. 42 drops per minute
3. 56 drops per minute
4. 83 drops per minute

Answer: C. 1000 mL over 6 hours is about 167 mL per hour. 167 multiplied by 20 drops is 3,333 drops per hour, divided by 60 is about 56 drops per minute.

Question 9

A prescription calls for 30 mL of a 1:1000 adrenaline solution to be diluted to 1:10,000. What final volume is required?

1. 100 mL
2. 200 mL
3. 300 mL
4. 3,000 mL

Answer: C. 1:1000 is 1 mg/mL; 1:10,000 is 0.1 mg/mL, ten times weaker. Diluting 30 mL tenfold gives a final volume of 300 mL.

Pharmaceutics and dispensing

Question 10

Which of the following should be stored in the refrigerator after opening?

1. Insulin pen in current use
2. Reconstituted amoxicillin suspension
3. Salbutamol inhaler
4. Glyceryl trinitrate tablets

Answer: B. Reconstituted amoxicillin suspension should be refrigerated and discarded after the labelled period, usually 7 to 14 days. An insulin pen in use is kept at room temperature for up to 28 days; unopened pens are refrigerated. Inhalers and GTN tablets are stored at room temperature.

Question 11

A patient collecting nitrofurantoin for a urinary tract infection should be counselled to:

1. Take it on an empty stomach
2. Take it with food to improve absorption and reduce nausea
3. Avoid all fluids
4. Stop if the urine becomes dark yellow

Answer: B. Nitrofurantoin is better absorbed and better tolerated with food. Harmless discolouration of urine can occur and is not a reason to stop. Adequate fluid intake is encouraged in urinary tract infection.

Question 12

Which enteric-coated or modified-release product must not be crushed?

1. Paracetamol 500 mg tablets
2. Omeprazole 20 mg capsules (enteric-coated pellets may be opened but not crushed)
3. Folic acid 5 mg tablets
4. Prednisolone 5 mg plain tablets

Answer: B. Omeprazole pellets are enteric coated to survive gastric acid; crushing destroys the coating and the drug. The capsule can be opened and the intact pellets dispersed in an acidic juice. The other products are immediate-release and can be crushed if needed.

Pharmacy practice, law and ethics

Question 13

A customer asks to buy a large quantity of a codeine-containing over-the-counter product. The pharmacist should:

1. Sell it, since it is over the counter
2. Refuse outright without explanation
3. Assess the request, limit supply, counsel on dependence risk and refer if misuse is suspected
4. Sell it only to men

Answer: C. Over-the-counter codeine products are restricted in GCC countries and carry dependence risk. The pharmacist's professional duty is to assess, limit supply according to local rules, counsel and refer where misuse is suspected.

Question 14

In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, a prescription for a controlled (narcotic) medicine is usually valid for:

1. A limited period set by the regulator, commonly a few days to two weeks
2. One year
3. Unlimited time
4. Six months

Answer: A. Controlled-drug prescriptions have short validity periods set by each health authority and must be on the approved form with full prescriber and patient details. Exact periods vary by authority and schedule, so confirm the current rule for your licence.

Question 15

A pharmacist notices a prescribed dose is ten times the usual maximum. The correct action is to:

1. Dispense as written because the prescriber is responsible
2. Dispense half the dose as a compromise
3. Withhold dispensing and contact the prescriber to clarify before supply
4. Ask the patient what dose they usually take and dispense that

Answer: C. A pharmacist is independently responsible for the safety of what is dispensed. A tenfold error must be clarified with the prescriber before any supply, and the intervention documented.

How to use these questions

• Fewer than 9 correct: revisit pharmacology fundamentals and calculations before attempting timed papers.
• Calculation questions are two or three per paper and the most reliable marks on the exam. Practise until dilution, percentage and weight-based dosing are automatic.
• Learn the standard counselling points and the high-risk lists: pregnancy, renal impairment, G6PD deficiency, narrow-therapeutic-index drugs and major CYP interactions.
• Know the controlled-drug rules for the authority you are sitting. Law questions are easy marks for candidates who have read the regulations and lost marks for everyone else.

Practice with authority-specific question banks on our Prometric practice exams page, and run the free eligibility check to see which licences you qualify for before you spend anything.

Looking for a hospital job in the Gulf? Register once in the GCC medical talent pool and our placement team matches your profile against live vacancies at partner hospitals in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. Profiles are reviewed within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

How many questions are on the Prometric exam for pharmacists?

100 to 150 single-best-answer MCQs in 2 to 3 hours depending on the authority. Pass mark around 60%. The DHA exam for pharmacists and SCFHS exam for pharmacists guides give the exact format.

Is the exam different for community and hospital pharmacists?

The licence category is usually the same (Pharmacist), and the blueprint covers both settings. Clinical pharmacists with a PharmD or residency may qualify for a separate clinical pharmacist title in some authorities; see the clinical pharmacist guide.

Do I need experience to sit the pharmacist Prometric exam?

Most authorities require a pharmacy degree, home-country registration and one to two years of post-registration experience. Fresh graduates should check the eligibility check for the current rules per authority.

Which topics carry the most marks?

Pharmacology and therapeutics is the largest block, followed by calculations, interactions and contraindications, pharmaceutics and pharmacy law. Counselling and patient-safety scenarios appear throughout.

What is a pharmacist paid in the Gulf?

In 2026, roughly AED 6,000 to 14,000 in the UAE, SAR 6,000 to 15,000 in Saudi Arabia and QAR 8,000 to 16,000 in Qatar per month, tax free, for 3 to 5 years of experience. See the pharmacist salary guide.