MCAT Practice Problems

[spcwounder]

I'm curious, what are you using for practice? Short of taking a full length practice test. I feel like conceptually I'm getting the material, but I don't have a chance to apply it. I know ExamKrackers used to have 1001 practice problems, but they don't seem that relevant anymore. Any suggestions on where to find some problem sets?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Lannister]

Khan Academy has practice passages for chem/phys, bio and psych.

 

[GCSDOC]

I too liked the idea behind the 1001 books so I purchased NS content books, they have 1000+ discretes for each subject just like the EK1001. I found when I answer questions I retain the material but when I read and don't apply it I don't retain it.

 

[DesitnationMD]

I haven't used the NS content books much, but I also bought their Strategy & practice books. The s&p books have been a big help. Each one has 4 full length sections full or practice passages + strategies for each section.

If you want more MCAT practice to reinforce the material (which we all need) I highly recommend the strategy/practice books. If not books then buy a few full length exams and break them up to use as practice. 5 or so full lengths + the AAMC test is plenty for most people to prep so extra exams can be used for other practice. Also, buy ALL the aamc materials ASAP (OG, Q pack, sample test)

 

[trimethylpurine]

I haven't used the NS content books much, but I also bought their Strategy & practice books. The s&p books have been a big help. Each one has 4 full length sections full or practice passages + strategies for each section.

If you want more MCAT practice to reinforce the material (which we all need) I highly recommend the strategy/practice books. If not books then buy a few full length exams and break them up to use as practice. 5 or so full lengths + the AAMC test is plenty for most people to prep so extra exams can be used for other practice. Also, buy ALL the aamc materials ASAP (OG, Q pack, sample test)

Got their strategy books as well. Are you combining the section tests to mirror an FL?

 

[DesitnationMD]

No, cause they are on paper I don't use them to simulate a FL test. I use them as half section practice so I can work on timing/pacing a bit while also building my endurance a bit. I really like the passages and the fact that I don't need to be on a computer to do real MCAT practice passages.

 

[655703]

No, cause they are on paper I don't use them to simulate a FL test. I use them as half section practice so I can work on timing/pacing a bit while also building my endurance a bit. I really like the passages and the fact that I don't need to be on a computer to do real MCAT practice passages.

Would you say that the NS strategy & practice books for physics/chemistry/Ochem passages do a good job of presenting these topics in biological/biochemical frameworks, as the MCAT will do?

 

[DesitnationMD]

Yeah, I would say most of the passages in the S&P book fit the new MCAT well. Not all, but I found that to be true of all the company tests I tried (EK and NS suffered from this less than TPR and Kaplan). I would recommend the S&P, especially for CARS and PSych/Soc. The biochem is good too. The chem phys is prolly the least like the AAMC of all 4 books.

 

[655703]

Yeah, I would say most of the passages in the S&P book fit the new MCAT well. Not all, but I found that to be true of all the company tests I tried (EK and NS suffered from this less than TPR and Kaplan). I would recommend the S&P, especially for CARS and PSych/Soc. The biochem is good too. The chem phys is prolly the least like the AAMC of all 4 books.

Thanks! So would you say that the NS chem/physics problems are still pretty much like the way other companies present them and not really representative of the new MCAT format?

 

[DesitnationMD]

Maybe closer to the AAMC than Kaplan or TPR, but not as close as their other S&P books. I think with the physics, it's especially tough to test that stuff and train without lapsing into some generic physics scenario.
As far as AAMC likeness

CARS & Psych Soc > BIo/Biochem > Chem/Phys

For EK I'd say

Bio/biochem > Psych/Soc > Chem/Phys > CARS

Just my estimation tho.