I just can't get those hard convoluted passages, or at least some of them.

I am doing the EK 30-minute exams, and every now and then I just come across a passage, where I know the topic, but cannot do well on the passage and end up missing maybe half of the questions.

Granted, the one I am speaking of now, a thermo heat engine passage out of the chemistry book (anybody remember that passage) was not very clear at all. The reverse heat engine resembled a refrigerator, so I was not sure if I was supposed to use the efficiency and heat values for a refrigerator or not.

Opinions/help?

Any good source of hard passages in general (have all kaplan material)? Do not have BR.

sfdfs

Get BR

I just can't get those hard convoluted passages, or at least some of them.

I am doing the EK 30-minute exams, and every now and then I just come across a passage, where I know the topic, but cannot do well on the passage and end up missing maybe half of the questions.

Granted, the one I am speaking of now, a thermo heat engine passage out of the chemistry book (anybody remember that passage) was not very clear at all. The reverse heat engine resembled a refrigerator, so I was not sure if I was supposed to use the efficiency and heat values for a refrigerator or not.

Opinions/help?

Any good source of hard passages in general (have all kaplan material)? Do not have BR.

I feel ya...especially in Physics/Chem....Often i think it is easy for me to trick myself into a false sense of understanding when doing content review....I read a paragraph and i'm like..."i got this"...then i go to apply it and have the WTF look on my face when i see the passage. I'm finding that slowing down throughout the content and really understanding the stuff inside and out helps me apply it. Simple and profound..i know:eek: Prime example...was reading equilibrium stuff last night...got to some passage questions and felt semi-retarded. I closed the book and watched an episode of ice-road-truckers and went to bed. This morning i woke up..sat down and re-read the content much slower and really targeted areas that were not clear....i came to the same passages plus others and nailed em. SOOOOOOOOOO... i would check your content knowledge first and find the holes....then work on stratagey...Thats just me though...GL...whens your test?-----ps...TBR:thumbup:

Use TBR and TPR.

AAMC's have no "hard passages" compared to hard ones on the real thing.

Honestly the AAMCs are a joke compared to the real thing...laughably easy in terms of the abstract thinking needed vs. what the MCAT is today.

TBR and TPR are similar...and even some Kaplan exams

Get BR

word.

If you don't have money and/or time for TBR, re-do the EK passages. However, it's important that you really understand the reasoning behind the answer choices the first time around. Make notes in the margins, review the content, etc. For that thermo passage in the EK exam, really understand what's going on based on the asnwer explanations. Then, give yourself about a week before you attempt it again.

I got TBR and it really helps. One thing that has improved my confidence and scores is that I do all the passages over and over (especially for the chem and physics TBR passages). For the TBR chemistry books, has a suggested "schedule" for each chapter: the first 3-4 passages you do are untimed, the next 3-4 timed, and 3-4 for content review after you're done with the first two passages. I'd follow their schedule (I did the physics ones in random order). After that, I'd re-do all the physics and chem passages, but untimed.

For the questions were this was helpful, I'd write down my reasoning behind each answer choice. Obviously, for things like calculations, I didn't see the need to do that. That really helped to develop and intuition. TBR is awesome b/c they have elaborate answer explanations that really help you develop a feel for the passages. I'd write down little notes in the margins, and that really helped me develop an intuition about those hard passages. It helps you see the passage in the "mcat" way. I'm kinda in the middle of redoing the passages the second time around...when I re-do them a third time, I think I'm going to do all of them timed.

Some people can't stand taking practice tests and/or passages multiple times, but I've done it for AAMC tests, EK 1001 sections, and TBR passages. For things that I'm shaky on, I've found nothing better to help me solidify the content and eliminate any extra "thinking" during the actual thing....

word.

If you don't have money and/or time for TBR, re-do the EK passages. However, it's important that you really understand the reasoning behind the answer choices the first time around. Make notes in the margins, review the content, etc. For that thermo passage in the EK exam, really understand what's going on based on the asnwer explanations. Then, give yourself about a week before you attempt it again.

I got TBR and it really helps. One thing that has improved my confidence and scores is that I do all the passages over and over (especially for the chem and physics TBR passages). For the TBR chemistry books, has a suggested "schedule" for each chapter: the first 3-4 passages you do are untimed, the next 3-4 timed, and 3-4 for content review after you're done with the first two passages. I'd follow their schedule (I did the physics ones in random order). After that, I'd re-do all the physics and chem passages, but untimed.

For the questions were this was helpful, I'd write down my reasoning behind each answer choice. Obviously, for things like calculations, I didn't see the need to do that. That really helped to develop and intuition. TBR is awesome b/c they have elaborate answer explanations that really help you develop a feel for the passages. I'd write down little notes in the margins, and that really helped me develop an intuition about those hard passages. It helps you see the passage in the "mcat" way. I'm kinda in the middle of redoing the passages the second time around...when I re-do them a third time, I think I'm going to do all of them timed.

Some people can't stand taking practice tests and/or passages multiple times, but I've done it for AAMC tests, EK 1001 sections, and TBR passages. For things that I'm shaky on, I've found nothing better to help me solidify the content and eliminate any extra "thinking" during the actual thing....

You will kill the MCAT. You have the right mentality.

You will kill the MCAT. You have the right mentality.

oh man that made my day.

:D:D:D:D

haha

Yeah, unfortunately, BR is just not an option for me right now. I wish I had been smarter earlier.

I have an old hand-me-down book of TPR FLs, A-D, will these have tough passages? I think someone above suggested they may.

Yeah, unfortunately, BR is just not an option for me right now. I wish I had been smarter earlier.

I have an old hand-me-down book of TPR FLs, A-D, will these have tough passages? I think someone above suggested they may.

I've heard good things about TPR, so definitely maximize that resource. i have the mcat workout from TPR, and it's definitely got some hard passages.

i'd say the best thing to get is the AAMC tests online. there's a free one on their website too, e-mcat.com

also, look for the berkeley review books on alibris.com or abebooks.com--both are websites for rare books. I found my TBR physics books for ridiculously cheap prices on there.

You can still do fine if you don't have TBR. I started this thread (http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=636663) about some free online resources that may be of help to you.