Preparing for the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) can feel overwhelming, particularly when you're balancing placements, revision and clinical commitments.
Many students lose marks not because they lack knowledge, but because they struggle with clinical application, exam strategy or confidence under pressure.
The students who perform best usually develop all three.
Here are my top tips to secure your marks in the PSA.....
1. Rushing the Prescription
Students often identify the correct drug but select the wrong dose, route or frequency.
Slow down. Read twice. Prescribe once.
2. Ignoring Renal Function
If kidney function is provided in the question, it is usually there for a reason.
Always consider whether a dose adjustment may be required.
3. Forgetting Drug Monitoring
Choosing the correct medicine is only part of safe prescribing.
Remember to think about what monitoring is needed after treatment starts.
4. Missing Contraindications
Exam pressure can lead to tunnel vision.
Before prescribing, quickly ask:
"Is there any reason this drug should not be used here?"
5. Misreading the Question
Many students answer the question they expected to see rather than the one that's actually being asked.
Take a moment to identify exactly what the examiner wants.
6. Poor Time Management
Spending too long on a difficult question can cost valuable marks elsewhere.
Keep moving and come back if necessary.
7. Neglecting Fluids and Electrolytes
This is an area many students underestimate.
Make sure fluid prescribing gets dedicated revision time.
8. Not Practising Real PSA Questions
Knowledge alone isn't enough.
The PSA assesses application, judgement and prescribing decisions in realistic clinical scenarios.
9. Overthinking Simple Cases
Sometimes the safest and most obvious option is the correct answer.
Avoid talking yourself out of a reasonable prescribing decision.
10. Leaving Revision Too Late
Students who prepare consistently tend to perform better and feel more confident on exam day.
Last-minute cramming rarely works well for prescribing assessments.
Success in the PSA is rarely about memorising more drugs than everyone else.
Students who perform well typically combine:
Strong clinical knowledge
Effective exam strategy
Confidence in their decision-making
When one of these areas is missing, performance often suffers.
If you're preparing for the September 2026 PSA and want focused support with prescribing questions, calculations, drug monitoring, exam strategy or confidence building, I offer personalised 1:1 PSA tutoring tailored to your individual needs.
