Stressed out about MCAT. Anyone?

SDN Members don't see this ad. (About Ads)

So I'm three weeks in studying for my MCAT on July 14th, and I am only using ExamKrackers. However, the science portion destroyed me (bio and chem are ok, but physics and ochem ) Every time I took their 30-minute practice exams and I was like I consider myself as a good student with a solid cGPA and sGPA, nonetheless i feel like a moron after doing EK practice questions. I am planning on taking the official practice test #11 some time next week to see how it goes, but meanwhile I am super stressed out about MCAT because I only have three weeks left. I feel like I will be getting a score below 20 Can anyone comment on how EK compared to the real thing? How much science is really necessary?

The MCAT is densely pack with science. Science is very necessary.

I can not say much about the examkrackers because I studied by taking a bunch of practice exams.

Originally Posted by msion

So I'm three weeks in studying for my MCAT on July 14th, and I am only using ExamKrackers. However, the science portion destroyed me (bio and chem are ok, but physics and ochem ) Every time I took their 30-minute practice exams and I was like I consider myself as a good student with a solid cGPA and sGPA, nonetheless i feel like a moron after doing EK practice questions. I am planning on taking the official practice test #11 some time next week to see how it goes, but meanwhile I am super stressed out about MCAT because I only have three weeks left. I feel like I will be getting a score below 20 Can anyone comment on how EK compared to the real thing? How much science is really necessary?

I think at the beginning of the EK books it says those quizzes are harder than the Actual MCAT. I think my EK quizzes ranged from 6-10 on Physics and Orgo. On AAMC 7 and 8 I didn't get lower than a 9 on either PS or BS.

All those quizzes at the end are stand alone, so you can't use the paragraph to make inferences that help.

i felt like the EK questions were pretty fair. my scores for their 30 minute practices exams consistently fell around the range my real MCAT score, give or take 2 or 3 points.

Originally Posted by msion

So I'm three weeks in studying for my MCAT on July 14th, and I am only using ExamKrackers. However, the science portion destroyed me (bio and chem are ok, but physics and ochem ) Every time I took their 30-minute practice exams and I was like I consider myself as a good student with a solid cGPA and sGPA, nonetheless i feel like a moron after doing EK practice questions. I am planning on taking the official practice test #11 some time next week to see how it goes, but meanwhile I am super stressed out about MCAT because I only have three weeks left. I feel like I will be getting a score below 20 Can anyone comment on how EK compared to the real thing? How much science is really necessary?

I am taking the Sept 11th exam and I can not focus. I am using EK also. Very nervous. I just finished two intense 3-week summer classes and I am now working full-time in a research lab. I am wondering if I should take a practice exam first to see where I stand???

Originally Posted by podlover

I am taking the Sept 11th exam and I can not focus. I am using EK also. Very nervous. I just finished two intense 3-week summer classes and I am now working full-time in a research lab. I am wondering if I should take a practice exam first to see where I stand???

Definitely take AAMC 3 (free one from MCAT) as a baseline. You've got nearly three months and you're shooting for low twenties. There ain't nothing to be nervous for!

I sure am! I haven't been in a class room in about 3 years! Self study is not a big confidence booster lol

Originally Posted by zdlamkin8195

I sure am! I haven't been in a class room in about 3 years! Self study is not a big confidence booster lol

When I took it, I hadn't had any exposure of those science prereq courses for 5 years. It's doable. I "studied" after work every day for a month, and I was ok. Most ppl overestimate how much they remember from these courses anyways

Thanks for the responses guys. I guess I will just cut down my time on SDN and Facebook to focus more on the studying part. Anyway, I just figured out one thing which lifted some of my stress, there're only 52 questions on each science section covering two parts(orgo+bio, chem+physics) at a time, meaning less than 30 questions each. EK gives more than 100 questions to practice and so does the practice exams. There're not many ways to ask the same concept

In terms of prep courses .... What is better, Kaplan or Princeton review?

I'm taking the test next year and I'm already stressin' out! Haha not really, I'm more-so worried that I am actually going to have to sit down and study for this thing separately while I'm taking a full course-load, yay!

Originally Posted by ilovefeet

In terms of prep courses .... What is better, Kaplan or Princeton review?

I consider them on par with each other. Both get the job done.