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Hey everyone, first time posting here and I thought I would go ahead a make a thread for those writing on this test date.
115 days out!
115 days out!
The Official January 10, 2015 MCAT Thread
- Thread starter Jhakaasmaan
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I also just took 5 today. When you review the bio discrete (q 142) about DNA poly, can you explain what the purpose of the middle sentence was, regarding the presence of the deoxynucleuoside triphosphates in a molar ratio of 1:1. That part totally tripped me up, but it seems to have nothing to do with the answer.
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I don't think there really was a purpose of that statement, besides letting you know that equal amounts of bases were added to facilitate the DNA replication. I don't have the question in front of me but if I remember correctly, the key point is to know that the daughter strand will have the same ratio of bases as the parent strand.
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The MCAT is notorious for giving you an enormous amount of unimportant information, especially in physics passages, to trick you in over analyzing a question. If you cannot find any relation of how the information will help you answer the question, it is best to just ignore it.
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I agree with @AspiringOrtho09, but I also want to request we keep specific FL questions out of this thread.
I would be upset if I saw that before I took the test.
I would be upset if I saw that before I took the test.
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same here...lowest score yet.
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Yeah I agree, thank you.
Sorry, thought my question was vague enough
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Your question was vague, but the response by @AspiringOrtho09 wasn't.
I already took it, but there are many people who haven't.
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sorry! I did not think a vague answer would answer his question well enough, but I agree, specific questions should be posted in their appropriate thread.
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Oddly, I do better on Kaplan Verbal Sections tests than on any AAMC Verbal. I'm scoring around 65-70% on Kaplan Sections tests.. hoping to improve to at least 75% consistently by the end of next week. AAMC are trickier because the answers are so similar!
Being the white, Texas female seeking DO and realist that I am, I'm aiming for the 27-29 range. Started out with AAMC #3 as my diagnostic and did terrible. 22 overall, 7 / 8 / 7 . Improved on AAMC #4 with 24 overall, 8 / 7 / 9. And now with AAMC #5, 25 overall 7 / 9 / 9.
Still very pleased with my score consistently increasing. Even more so considering I psyched myself out after reading a couple of you guys post on the difficulty and after the PS section. Not to discuss specifics, but there was quite a bit that I struggled with. Right at the end my stupid little Mac mouse decided it was low on batteries and disconnected when I was trying to click on my last 2 guesses. So I left 2 completely unanswered.
My post-game after these practice exams has been a mix of not wanting to let go of the last 1/3 of my SN2 schedule, doing Biology Anki cards as I review the chapters, and doing verbal (7 passages per day, timed) every day. After this test I've decided the SN2 schedule has ran it's course (thank you, thank you!) and I need to focus on PS topics. The notecards and doing verbal exams have helped tremendously for their sections, so I'll continue those and add additional PS practicing.
For tonight, I'm going to see the new Hobbit movie and lounge around. No boyfriend = pizza, Netflix, ice cream
I just took it today and thought it was tough (10 PS/10 VR/6 BS). I am really struggling in BS and really hoping the real BS portion is more like VR where its not just knowing the content.
PS. I suck at biology.
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No it's free unless you want the iOS app to make cards on a iPhone/iPad. The web version can be accessed for free from any device though. What I do is make the cards using the standalone version (available at http://ankisrs.net) on my laptop then review cards on my iPhone using the web version at https://ankiweb.net. It has a little learning curve but it's great once you get used to it. A bunch of folks on here use it for med school too: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/the-official-anki-thread.1061415/
The default settings assume you have a longer time frame to learn so here are the deck settings I found best to account for the shorter time frame we have until the MCAT:
When I started I was also making long flash cards and lists (easy to do for physiology) but found Anki really does best with breaking it up into smaller chunks of info that can be quickly reviewed. Lots of pictures and trigger words help too.
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Verbal has 40 questions.
I do Anki flashcards on the EK biology book and I've been so surprised how many discretes I've gotten correct just based on the material on there. It's helped with some passage questions, too.
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Hello everyone!
I joined SDN in celebration of 3 WEEKS until our exam. How is everyone feeling?
I scored a 28(9/10/9) on AAMC 3 a week ago. It was a little depressing as my first MCAT score was a 28(9/9/10) in August. I have been doing the ExamKrackers 1001 series and the Self-Assessments so far. With the help of six more exams, I hope to get my dream score of 31. Any tips?
I joined SDN in celebration of 3 WEEKS until our exam. How is everyone feeling?
I scored a 28(9/10/9) on AAMC 3 a week ago. It was a little depressing as my first MCAT score was a 28(9/9/10) in August. I have been doing the ExamKrackers 1001 series and the Self-Assessments so far. With the help of six more exams, I hope to get my dream score of 31. Any tips?
Some examples of my cards since I wasn't very specific:
"Aerobic respiration occurs in the ___________, and converts pyruvate to ________."
Answers: mitochondrial matrix, Acetyl CoA
"3 stop codons:"
Answers: UAA, UGA, UAG
"What are the differences between the autonomic and somatic nervous systems?"
Answer: SNS is consciously controlled, considered voluntary, mostly sensory and motor functions.
ANS is involuntary, conducts signals to glands, smooth muscle and cardiac muscle.
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@juice31, mehc012 has a really fabulous anki deck that I suggest you take a look at if you're just getting started. It can be found on the first page of Anki Central thread on SDN, just look it up! It's quite extensive, but I found it to be helpful in figuring out how to format certain types of cards/questions. That said, I find it a lot more useful to make my own cards, because that's where the dissemination of information comes in. Good luck!
I would be glad to share it, but I'm still new with Anki. Does anyone have an easy method that's more versed it in? I've exported it and saved it to my desktop, but it won't let me upload it in a PM or anything. Will it work with email?
Also, how does it work when you keep adding cards to it? Do you just have to keep sending the new versions?
I will say that mehc's deck is like, 3000 cards. Mine is nowhere near that and doesn't emphasize details as much as theirs do. It has helped me immensely though!
Also, how does it work when you keep adding cards to it? Do you just have to keep sending the new versions?
I will say that mehc's deck is like, 3000 cards. Mine is nowhere near that and doesn't emphasize details as much as theirs do. It has helped me immensely though!
J/K, LOL....
I'm a computer whiz now.
I shared my deck on Anki, called EK Biology MCAT. Right now it has 156? cards. My initial question still stands about it auto-updating, I guess.
It better be a athletic beast of a boy.
I'm a computer whiz now.
I shared my deck on Anki, called EK Biology MCAT. Right now it has 156? cards. My initial question still stands about it auto-updating, I guess.
It better be a athletic beast of a boy.
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@PrecociousPiglet Welcome!
I think we are all trying hard to hit our goal scores, and I don't know what advice will work 3 weeks out.
I got a lot of good ideas from the 30+ thread when I started studying.
It's crazy that in 3 weeks and 1.5 hours we will be taking the test! (If you live in EST).
I think we are all trying hard to hit our goal scores, and I don't know what advice will work 3 weeks out.
I got a lot of good ideas from the 30+ thread when I started studying.
It's crazy that in 3 weeks and 1.5 hours we will be taking the test! (If you live in EST).
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I feel the opposite. I just want it to be behind me and would take it tomorrow if I could. I am going to try to be productive these last weeks but it's hard.
You also are now banned from the thread, please find your appropriate 1/23 thread.
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This site is my lifesaver for biology/anat courses
www.quizlet.com
It has a ton of options and makes little tests for you too!
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Thanks @ConfusedChemist and @ahisma
Just took aamc 7 and made a 38: 13PS / 13VR/ 12BS. This is weird since when I first took it I scored a 41 (15/13/15) when I was preparing for the nov 7 spot. I guess dumb mistakes do come back if you've been slacking on studying haha.
I'm going to retake aamc 8,9,10,11 in the course of the next 3 weeks and adding in TPR 2,3 and various GS tests in there too. One of the mistakes I made in my first attempt at the actual mcat was just sticking one source of FLs so I was kind of flustered by the types of passages that showed up on test day. It is better to over-prepare for this beast from as many sources as possible. You never know what can show up on the real deal.
Hoping my VR stays in the sweet spot (13-14)
Just took aamc 7 and made a 38: 13PS / 13VR/ 12BS. This is weird since when I first took it I scored a 41 (15/13/15) when I was preparing for the nov 7 spot. I guess dumb mistakes do come back if you've been slacking on studying haha.
I'm going to retake aamc 8,9,10,11 in the course of the next 3 weeks and adding in TPR 2,3 and various GS tests in there too. One of the mistakes I made in my first attempt at the actual mcat was just sticking one source of FLs so I was kind of flustered by the types of passages that showed up on test day. It is better to over-prepare for this beast from as many sources as possible. You never know what can show up on the real deal.
Hoping my VR stays in the sweet spot (13-14)
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Why not use their standalone app like you were doing earlier? I create them on my computer, and transfer them to my ipad/iphone...Anki at the mall, Anki while waiting for a cab, Anki while in the shower, Anki everywhere all the time!
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Just finished my first FL (aamc 3). I got a 6 in verbal. Verbal has consistently been my strongest section with EK 101 and TPRH. Not sure what happened. Have you guys been studying the same day after FLs or do you take the rest of the day off?
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I normally take a 10-15minute food break, and begin reviewing the FL. I simply cannot wait until the next day to find out why I got questions a,b,c incorrect!
I got a 6 on AAMC 3 VR also. I have gotten two 10's in a row on AAMC 4 & 5. I also use EK 101 and TPRH. Hang in there and your scores will come up!
Will you teach me how to do well on the BS section?
Usually take the day off; however, as we approach the test, I'll probably end up starting my post-game analysis the same day. If my scores continue to increase, I'll take the day off for sure. Like a little reward to myself.
After the tests, I always do a quick review skim over the correct answers, mostly because I hate when a question really rubbed me wrong. I just GOTTA know the answer.
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I'm with you. This is kind of a one-shot deal for me. At this point I'm sure why I didn't tank the BS section on AAMC 3 so I don't know that I can help you there. Maybe after I review it I'll be able to give you a few pointers
. It's probably been my weakest area according to practice passages. Sigh. The mcat is hard.We are seriously in the worst position. I have been so worried about PS that my BS score is failing me now. All I am hoping for is a 25 which will hopefully get me into a DO school with a strong application minus the MCAT.I'm with you. This is kind of a one-shot deal for me. At this point I'm sure why I didn't tank the BS section on AAMC 3 so I don't know that I can help you there. Maybe after I review it I'll be able to give you a few pointers
Worst case scenario is that you have to take the new MCAT. Same for me. The next 3 weeks of sleep-deprivation and burnout could decide us being accepted to medical school, and I'll take that any day. 4th quarter...game face on.
I'm with you. This is kind of a one-shot deal for me. At this point I'm sure why I didn't tank the BS section on AAMC 3 so I don't know that I can help you there. Maybe after I review it I'll be able to give you a few pointers
I've mentioned several times that the only thing I'm doing differently for BS that I contribute to my score increases are going over my Anki cards everyday (the deck is called EK Biology MCAT if you want to download it) and making notes for the passages that involve "Drug X inhibits this, so Drug X = decrease...". Keeping my thoughts organized on paper makes it so easy to determine relationships when it comes to answering questions. Also, I made a memorization cheat sheet for IR/NMR values that I write down on my scratch paper after I do verbal. Easy 1-2 questions just solely on IR/NMR spectra.
Keep your head up, this is the final stretch!
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That's a pretty modest goal considering your practice scores. What are you using for bio practice passages?
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I actually downloaded your deck earlier tonight, so thanks for that. It should be a big help over the next few weeks. And you're right. Homestretch. Let's do it.
I'm using TPRH verbal and science workbooks for pretty much everything at this point with some EK 101 passages thrown in every once in awhile. I really struggle with the test being on computers. My eyes just don't work right reading it off of the screen. That's not an excuse for a bad score, it's just something that annoys me during the test. If you knew me during high school or my first two years of undergrad when I didn't try in my classes and had no goals, you would understand why a 25 on the MCAT would be an accomplishment.
I also downloaded them. Thank you so much for that. If I do well enough on the MCAT the first go around, I'll have to tip my cap to you. I haven't started them yet, but definitely will. Why does the Christmas season have to be right during crunch time of studying for the MCAT? Or is it the other way around?
