Study Smarter for the NAPLEX: Why Collaboration Matters

Posted May 9, 2026

You did well in pharmacy school, and that is something to be proud of. Your APPE rotations are complete, and soon you’ll walk across the stage to receive your Doctor of Pharmacy degree. You accomplished something difficult.

Now comes the next step: NAPLEX preparation.

Like many students, you may plan to study alone because that approach worked throughout pharmacy school. But the NAPLEX is different from any exam you have taken before. It requires the mental and physical stamina to complete a 6-hour exam with 225 questions, including complex case-based scenarios that can cover material from all four years of pharmacy school. Because of that, a different study approach may help.

Of course, independent study is important. However, consider setting aside time to study with someone else who is preparing for the exam. There is value in learning alongside others. A study partner can help keep you accountable, encourage you to stay on schedule, and challenge your understanding of the material. Discussing questions out loud and explaining why one answer is correct and another is not can strengthen retention and improve critical thinking.

You may also discover new study strategies, better ways to approach questions, or clearer explanations of difficult concepts. Sometimes hearing a topic explained differently makes everything click. In addition, the support and encouragement during such a demanding process can make a real difference.

The good news is that a study partner does not have to be a paid service. It can be a friend, classmate, or another pharmacy graduate preparing for the NAPLEX. The important thing is to spend time working with someone who challenges your thought process and encourages active learning. If you do not have that option available, working with a tutor or structured study partner service may also be beneficial.

It is also important to remember that tutoring is not only for students who struggled in pharmacy school. Many high-performing students seek tutoring to deepen their understanding, strengthen test-taking skills, and improve confidence before exam day.

One difference between a tutoring session and a study partner session is that tutoring typically includes a more structured review of specific topics. Both, however, can include practice questions and test-taking strategy. The goal is the same: improve understanding, strengthen application of knowledge, and prepare effectively for the exam.

Whether you choose a NAPLEX tutoring session or a NAPLEX study partner session, take time to actively review material and work through practice questions with someone else. Even if you are used to studying alone, you may be surprised by how much you gain from studying together.

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