Content areas for the KAPS exam
The KAPS exam consists of 2 papers:
Paper 1: Pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology and physiology
Paper 2: Pharmaceutics and therapeutics
Paper 1: Pharmaceutical chemistry,
pharmacology and physiology
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
You'll need to show you understand and have suitable knowledge in
the following content areas:
Pape Content Indicative elements
r1 assessed
1 Organic Nomenclature
chemistry Drug class
recognition
Reaction types
Functional
group reactivity
Drug stability
Acid-base
reactions
2 Stereochemi Nomenclature
stry Optical activity
Geometric
isomerism
Conformation
3 Physical and Kinetics
inorganic Acid-base
chemistry reactions
Phase
equilibria
4 Analytical Spectroscopy
chemistry Redox
reactions
Assay
techniques
Diagnostic
agents
5 Biochemistry Nomenclature
Structures
Biochemical
classes
Thermodynami
cs
Biochemical
pathways
6 Structure- Relationship
activity between a
relationships chemical or 3D
structure and
its biological
activity
7 Medicinal Structure-
chemistry activity
relationships
Drug
presentation
and delivery
Drug
formulation and
stability
Drug
metabolism
Mechanism of
drug action
Modern drug
development
Absorption,
distribution and
elimination of
drugs
8 Drug Breakdown and
metabolism conversion of
medicines
through
regularly
occurring
bodily process,
leading to
active
ingredients and
by-products of
the original
medicine
Pharmacology and physiology
You'll need to show you understand and have suitable knowledge in
the following content areas:
Pape Content Indicative
r1 assessed elements
1 Biochemical Principles of
pharmacolog drug action
y Drug
interactions
Receptor
pharmacology
Autonomic
transmission
Endocrine
pharmacology
Cardiovascular
pharmacology
Anti-
inflammatory
agents and
analgesics
Antibiotics
Diuretics
Local and
general
anaesthetics
Vitamins
Drugs
affecting
nutritional and
metabolic
function
Drugs
affecting the
central
nervous
system
2 Systemic The
pharmacolog mechanism of
y drug action as
it relates to
specific
organs and
disease states
3 Chemotherap Antibacterial
y drugs
Antiviral drugs
Antifungal
drugs
Antiprotozoal
drugs
Anthelmintic
drugs
Anticancer
drugs
4 Toxicology Common side
effects
Signs of
toxicity
Mechanism of
toxicity
5 Pathophysiol Alteration of
ogy physiological
processes by
drugs or
disease states
6 General Normal bodily
physiology functions
including but
not limited to
the central
nervous,
digestive,
cardiovascular,
lymphatic,
nervous,
respiratory,
urinary,
endocrine and
reproductive
systems and
their
integration
Blood and
other body
fluids
Paper 2: Pharmaceutics and
therapeutics
Pharmaceutics
You'll need to show you understand and have suitable knowledge in
the following content areas:
Pape Content Indicative elements
r2 assessed
1 Physical Solvents
pharmacy Types of
preparation
Solutions
Suspensions
Emulsions
2 Biopharmaceuti Dissolution
cs Drug absorption
Bioavailability
and
bioequivalence
Drug
interactions
with a
biopharmaceuti
cal basis
3 Pharmacokineti Biological half-
cs and life
pharmacodynam Elimination rate
ics constants
Apparent
volume of
distribution
Clearance
Steady state
considerations
Drug protein
binding
Drug
metabolism
Drug
interactions
Pharmacogeneti
cs
Relevant
calculations
4 Pharmaceutical Preservation
microbiology Antimicrobial
agents
Sterilisation
technology
5 Formulation Formulation of
drugs for
various routes
of
administration
Parenteral dose
forms
Controlled
release
preparations
Evaluation of
particular dose
forms
6 Dose forms, Drug products
including Constituent
extemporaneou drug substances
s preparation Combination
compounded
products for use
via various
routes of
administration
Therapeutics
You'll need to show you understand and have suitable knowledge in
the following content areas:
Pape Content Indicative
r2 assessed elements
1 Calculations Dilutions
Percentages
Densities
Sensitivity of
balance
Proportions
Isotonicity
Milliequivalent
s and
milliosmoles
Buffers
Dose
calculations
from body
weight or
surface area
Stability
2 Posology and Appropriate
dose dosages of
determinatio common
ns medications
Dosage
regimens of
common
medications
3 Medicine Demonstrating
choice an
understanding
of the clinical
processes
used for
choosing the
most
appropriate
drug for the
presenting
patient and
their condition
4 Surgical Drug choices
dressings, for surgical
applications dressings
and The use of and
choices for
associated
surgical
drug delivery
dressings
systems
5 Adverse Adverse
reactions to reactions for
drugs drugs
Relevant
patient
counselling
and advice
6 Drug Drug
interactions interactions
Relevant
patient
counselling
and advice
7 Drug Using
information information
sources to find
drug and
health
information
relevant to
conditions and
disease states
8 Managing Non-
minor prescription
ailments prescribing
Diagnosing
minor illness
Rational over-
the-counter
product
selection
Over-the-
counter drug
information
KAPS exam paper samples
To help you sit the KAPS exam, we provide 4 official sample papers:
Download Paper 1 Sample 1 (35 pages PDF)
Download Paper 1 Sample 2 (40 pages PDF)
Download Paper 2 Sample 1 (34 pages PDF)
Download Paper 2 Sample 2 (39 pages PDF)
These each contain older questions to help you practise. These
questions are no longer used, but they'll help you understand:
the types of content covered in each paper of the exam
how questions might be presented
If you want to practise the sample papers under exam conditions,
you'll need to answer all 100 questions in each paper in 2 hours.
The real KAPS exam is delivered online at an approved test centre.
Our exam provider, Pearson Vue, provides an online sample test.
Recommended textbooks for
preparation
When you make the decision to sit the KAPS exam, study will be
important. To focus your efforts, assess your current knowledge of the
pharmaceutical sciences.
We recommend you refer to the most recent editions of the
recommended textbooks.
We have provided a list for you to consider. We do not endorse any
particular reference source.
There is an extremely significant range of materials available to
candidates so allow time to research this important area.
Pharmacology
Shaunagh Darroch, Bronwen Bryant, Kathleen Knights, Andrew
Rowland, 2018, Pharmacology for Health Professionals, 5th edn,
Chatswood, New South Wales: Mosby Elsevier
This text gives a comprehensive introduction to important
pharmacology principles and concepts. It has a strong focus on
therapeutics and is written specifically for the Australasian region.
Written for practitioners of the health sciences and underpinned by
current evidence-based medicine, the edition continues to cover
topics vital to a holistic understanding of pharmacology. These topics
include historical, legal and ethical considerations, pharmacokinetics,
and the therapeutic applications and adverse effects of current drugs.
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Florence A.T., D.A. Atwood, 2015, Physiochemical Principles of
Pharmacy, 6th edn, London: Chicago, IL : Pharmaceutical Press.
This text uses pharmaceutical examples to illustrate the underlying
physical chemistry of drug delivery, characterisation, formulation,
transport and absorption.
Pharmaceutics
Basic Principles and Application to Pharmacy Practice, 2nd edn, 2023
Editors: Alekha Dash, Somnath Singh
Divided into three sections – Physical Principles and Properties of
Pharmaceutics; Practical Aspects of Pharmaceutics; and Biological
Applications of Pharmaceutics – this covers all aspects of
pharmaceutics and provides a single source.
Therapeutics
1. Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary – latest edition
2. Australian Medicines Handbook - latest edition
3. British National Formulary - latest edition
All three publications provide valuable and extended insights into the
level of understanding and knowledge required in the area of
therapeutics.
General review of pharmacy related topics
L., A.H. Mutnick, P.F. Souney, L.N. Swanson, 2013 Comprehensive
Pharmacy Review, 7th edn, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
This provides a wide range of topics central to the study of pharmacy,
chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacology, pharmacy practice and drug
therapy that are presented in outline form and this reference has been
used as a quick review or preview of essential topics
Calculation questions in APC examinations
Each individual candidate will have to evaluate for themselves their
current level of knowledge regarding calculation questions. The
following provide an opportunity to practice and if necessary re-
engage with the basic methods of pharmacy calculations:
Rees, J.A, I. Smith, J. Watson, 2015, Introduction to Pharmaceutical
Calculations, 4th edn, London: Pharmaceutical Press.
Ansel, H.C., 2013, Pharmaceutical Calculations; 14th edn, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania: Wolters Kluwer Health, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
