About the SPLE

The exam at a glance

Multiple-choice questions

200

Testing time, in two parts

240 min

Questions per part, 120 minutes each

2 × 100

Passing scaled score (200–800)

564

Format and timing

• Part 1: 100 questions in 120 minutes.
• Scheduled break between the parts: it does not count against your testing time.
• Part 2: 100 questions in 120 minutes.
• That is 1.2 minutes per question on average. Pace yourself to finish each part with a few minutes to revisit flagged questions.

Official blueprint

SCFHS distributes the 200 questions over four content areas. Our study guides follow the same areas.

• Pharmaceutical Sciences

  35% · 70 questions

  Study guides in this area (10)

  • PS-1Pharmacokinetics & PK Calculations
  • PS-2Pharmaceutics, Biopharmaceutics, Dosage Forms & Stability
  • PS-3Compounding (Sterile & Nonsterile) & Pharmaceutical Calculations
  • PS-4Medicinal Chemistry & Structure–Activity Relationships (SAR)
  • PS-5Pharmacognosy, Herbal Medicines & Dietary Supplements
  • PS-6General Pharmacology, Pharmacodynamics & Autonomic Pharmacology
  • PS-7Cardiovascular, Renal & Hematologic Pharmacology
  • PS-8CNS, Endocrine, GI & Respiratory Pharmacology
  • PS-9Antimicrobial, Antiviral & Anticancer Pharmacology
  • PS-10Toxicology, Antidotes, Drug Interactions & Adverse-Reaction Mechanisms

• Pharmacy Practice / Clinical

  35% · 70 questions

  Study guides in this area (19)

  • CS-1Clinical Pharmacokinetics & Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
  • CS-2Clinical Pharmacogenomics
  • CS-3Drug Information & Evidence-Based Practice
  • CS-4Immunization & Vaccines
  • CS-5Disease Prevention, Infection Control & Health Promotion
  • CS-6Patient Assessment
  • M1Hypertension
  • M2Diabetes Mellitus
  • M3Antimicrobial Basics
  • M4Infection Syndromes
  • M5Viral, Fungal & Parasitic Infections and H. pylori
  • M6Cardiovascular Part 2
  • M7Anticoagulation & Anemias
  • M8Thyroid, Bone, Adrenal & Corticosteroids
  • M9Psychiatry & Neurology
  • M10Pain & Musculoskeletal
  • M11Respiratory: Asthma, COPD, Allergic Rhinitis & Cough/Cold
  • M12Gastrointestinal, Hepato-Renal, Fluids & Electrolytes
  • M13Specialty, Toxicology, Oncology, Transplant & Women's Health

• Social & Administrative Sciences

  20% · 40 questions

  Study guides in this area (5)

  • SB-1Biostatistics, Research Design & Epidemiology
  • SB-2Pharmacoeconomics & Pharmacy Practice Management
  • SB-3Saudi Pharmacy Law, SFDA Regulations & Health-Care System
  • SB-4Medication Safety, Dispensing Systems & Pharmacovigilance
  • SB-5Ethics, Communication & Behavioural Pharmacy

• Biomedical Sciences

  10% · 20 questions

  Study guides in this area (5)

  • BB-1Physiology & Anatomy
  • BB-2Biochemistry, Metabolism & Nutrition
  • BB-3Molecular Biology & Genetics
  • BB-4Microbiology
  • BB-5Immunology

Scoring and passing

• Results are reported as a scaled score from 200 to 800. The official passing score is 564.
• There is no negative marking: a wrong answer costs nothing more than a blank one. Answer every question.
• A scaled score is not a raw percentage, so the practice scores on this platform are raw percentages and not a prediction of your scaled score.

Test-day logistics

• The SPLE is computer-based and taken at Prometric test centres.
• A standard on-screen digital calculator is provided; you do not bring your own.
• The scheduled break between Part 1 and Part 2 is safe: it does not use your testing time.
• Unscheduled breaks during a part are possible, but the clock keeps running: the time is lost.
• Follow the ID, arrival and personal-item rules in your Prometric appointment confirmation.

High-yield preparation strategy

1. 1Start with a plan

   Set your exam date and daily capacity. The study plan spreads the 5,553 core questions and 39 guides over the days you have and keeps the last days for review.

2. 2Read, then practise the same module

   Read a module's guide, then answer its questions in tutor mode so every explanation lands while the topic is fresh.

3. 3Weight your time like the exam

   Pharmaceutical sciences and clinical practice are 70% of the exam between them. Give them most of your hours; never skip the 10% biomedical block.

4. 4Train the pace

   Run timed exam-mode blocks at 1.2 minutes per question, and sit the full 200-question mock under real conditions at least twice before the exam.

5. 5Close the gaps

   Re-practise previous mistakes and flagged questions every few days; they are where the marks are.

6. 6On the day

   Answer every question (no negative marking), flag and move on when stuck, and take the scheduled break.