The NAPLEX Study Schedule You Actually Need

If you’re thinking, “I’ll start worrying about the NAPLEX later,” here’s why that’s a mistake. The 2024 NAPLEX first-time pass rates were just released, and the average was 75.7%. That means nearly 1 in 4 test-takers didn’t pass.

There are a lot of reasons behind this average, but let’s focus on what you can actually control: how you prepare yourself. And that starts with a study schedule to keep you on track.

Your NAPLEX Prep Starts on Day One of Rotations

Hands-on learning is the best way to try and apply what you’ve learned in the classroom. But you won’t have that opportunity with everything you learned during didactics.

That’s why daily exposure to high-yield, exam-style questions is key to reinforcing what you know and filling in the gaps. Enter TrueLearn’s SmartBank: A comprehensive question bank mapped to the NAPLEX blueprint, so you’re practicing the exact type of questions you’ll see on test day.

How I Built My Study Plan (and Passed on the First Try!)

If you’re anything like me, you won’t take NAPLEX prep too seriously until a few months before graduation—and reeaally seriously six weeks before your test date. That’s fine if you have a solid plan. Here’s how I structured mine:

1. Set Your Test-Ready Date

• Decide when you ideally want to take the NAPLEX and when you must take it.
• Factor in the 14 business day turnaround time for results and any residency licensure deadlines (some programs require you to be fully licensed within 90 days of starting).
• Build in a buffer just in case you need to retake it.
• Pro tip: Dedicate at least one full week before your test date to review and do practice questions with TrueLearn’s SmartBank.

2. Identify Your Weak Spots & Study Priorities

Review the NAPLEX blueprint and take a baseline practice test (Pre-NAPLEX or another exam) to assess where you stand.

• Identify the resources you actually need: a structured review book or video course + TrueLearn’s SmartBank for practice questions.
• Prioritize topics based on:
  • What makes up the largest portion of the exam
  • Areas where you struggled in school or didn’t get much hands-on experience from rotations
  • High-yield topics like top 300 drugs and calculations
• While on rotations, I focused on disease states relevant to my current site, top 300 drugs, and calculations.

3. Plan for Life Outside of Studying

• Graduating from pharmacy school is a huge milestone! You should celebrate it!
• Be realistic about when you won’t be studying:
  • Family coming into town? Build in time for that.
  • Taking a graduation trip? Plan around it.
  • Moving across the country? Give yourself buffer time.
• Also, schedule catch-up days and rest days—you’ll thank yourself later

Here’s A Few Example NAPLEX Study Schedules To Get You Started

🗓 3 Months Out – While on Rotations

During rotations, I focused on topics relevant to my current site. This is an example study schedule from my inpatient adult medicine rotation. I aligned my readings with journal clubs and topic discussions, using weekends for bigger chapters and review days.

Daily NAPLEX Prep (Around 90 minutes/day)

• Top 300 Flashcards (10 min)
• Calculations Practice (20 min)
• Review Notes (25 min)
• Practice Questions (35 min)

🗓 6 Week Study Schedule – Focused Review & Test Endurance

By this point, I had studied or seen most topics during rotations. My focus shifted to refresher days, reinforcing weak areas, and ramping up test endurance.

Adjustments:

• more practice questions or practice exam days (started doing 50-100 questions in one sitting).
• more time spent on weak areas or topics heavily tested on NAPLEX.
• test-taking stamina with TrueLearn’s SmartBank.

The Pass Rates Don’t Lie. Start Preparing the Right Way. Passing the NAPLEX isn’t about just being “smart”—it’s about having a plan and the right tools.

Wishing you all the best,
Libby Shelton, PharmD, RPh

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