I'm a non-trad, and I absolutely would have done poorly on the MCAT because I forgot lots of stuff. Yes, the MCAT is passage-based, but you need knowledge to put those passages into context.
I've taken all the exams you listed. MCAT is exponentially more content-driven than those other exams. An LSAT passage is literally just about understanding what you're reading. For an MCAT passage, you still need that a foundational (and occasionally an advanced) level of understanding of the topic you're reading about if you want to score well.
To OP, I was someone who'd been out of school for a while and forgot most things from my premed courses. I took about a month and a half to do organized content review, then about a month and a half of question banks and practice tests. Altogether I probably studied about 300-400 hours.
There's no golden bullet for how many hours you need or how much of it needs to be content review. If you took your pre-med courses recently, did well in them, and feel like you retained the knowledge, perhaps you don't need much content review, and you can briefly brush up on things that you've forgotten. If you don't feel as comfy on the content, then maybe you need a bit more intensive review.
I read that you have taken some listed exams, which included The LSAT, MCAT, and the Bar Exam(in 1 or more jurisdictions), am I correct?
I agree, The LSAT was not testing specific course work knowledge. But absolutely, The Bar Exam does, although certainly there are times you can get the answer from good reading comprehension of the passages.
I want to know if the thousands of dollars I paid on the Bar Review strategies and tricks can help me on The MCAT. (And help others here, sans having to pay several thousands of dollars to find out!😇)
One thing my review course on The Bar exam overly emphasized-it is nonsense to do thousands of questions, without reviewing your results. Literallly focusing on the testing areas you missed or guessed on, helps you shore up weaknesses, and recognize testing patterns.
I did flashcards of the points I missed or guessed on The Bar Exam prep, little notes, sometimes several questions or study points on each card. I saw myself going from 50% scores in weak areas up to 80 or 85% over the weeks. I did not get to 4000-10,000 questions, maybe I did only 1500-2000. BUT, there was NOTHING in what I missed, guessed on, did not know, that I had not reviewed, restudied.
Would you say that kind of approach, would really help to raise your scores and be successful on The MCAT? I mean, what use is it doing 10,000 questions, but NEVER reviewing what you are missing, reviewing, by default how concepts you are weaker on, are tripping you up or being tested?
Would you say, that same rule, improving your test scores, 20-25% or more, can come from not just doing the questions, but taking that time for review? Maybe less quantity, but more quality?
