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- Sep 17, 2014
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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!
just don't burn out, pace yourself! we only have one shot at this old exam!
I do agree it is a risk though @GCSDOC - in a ideal world the MCAT wouldn't be changing and I would take the test in late Spring after I finish Orgo 2.
So basically you don't even really have to study that much haha, must be nice! Was your major math or physics?My goal is 33+ for the test. My AAMC 3 (pre orgo, pre studying) was a 33 (12P/11V/10B).
what verbal technique/strategy were you utilizing the first time around?Joining the thread, this is my retake from Oct 25th. I was hammered of Verbal so here I am again. Anyone have an opinion on what materials they prefer using in preparing for the Verbal portion of the exam?
So basically you don't even really have to study that much haha, must be nice! Was your major math or physics?
Of course you know what's best for yourself. Sounds like you researched it, thought it through, and are putting in the hard work. What more can we do? I'm sure you'll nail down a solid strategy for yourself with practice.I'm retaking aamc test sections b/c there is no better way to work on timing and think under pressure than by this strategy. I also am saving 9-11 for closer to test day. If you look through the forums, I have found that people who needed to retake due to a low first score, practiced by retaking their aamcs and almost every single person had an increase in their actual mcat second time around. Also, I think its more of a test taking strategy for me than a content issue.
Organic chemistry is like learning a new language. The alphabet or foundational concepts such as stereoisomers, chirality, hybridization, and electron movement is the most important part of organic chemistry. The concepts taught during second semester build on these foundational concepts. I don't think it's that big of a risk not taking organic chemistry II. If I hadn't taken it, I think I could teach it to myself. Focus on where the electrons are located and why and you will excel in not only your course but also on MCAT questions....I actually failed my first organic chemistry test and aced every single one after that (including all of organic chemistry II) when I had this insight. Maybe this might help you too!
Just saw Kaplan has more in depth answer explanations for the AAMC FLs on their site. I find them a bit more helpful at times: http://akamai.kaptest.com/GRAD/pdfs/mcat/Kaplan_Explanations_AAMC_Test_3.pdf (change the last # for each test)
I am also retaking AAMC and Kaplan full lengths b/c I ran out of tests. I am also working on my test taking strategy rather than content!I'm retaking aamc test sections b/c there is no better way to work on timing and think under pressure than by this strategy. I also am saving 9-11 for closer to test day. If you look through the forums, I have found that people who needed to retake due to a low first score, practiced by retaking their aamcs and almost every single person had an increase in their actual mcat second time around. Also, I think its more of a test taking strategy for me than a content issue.
Do you know if the BR full lengths can be found online? How did you get your hands on those full lengths? Do you have to buy the book? I have the AAMC and Kaplan full lengths that I have already taken. Getting my hands on some new tests would be ideal.Here's what SN2ed said on ranking the various tests:
I have an organic 1 final in a week. I am actually taking the MCAT before orgo 2, and I took the baseline test before I had even heard of chirality.
My goal is 33+ for the test. My AAMC 3 (pre orgo, pre studying) was a 33 (12P/11V/10B).
Yes this is a long week with finals studying and MCAT studying ramping up. I am looking forward to focusing on just the MCAT for 4 solid weeks. I have moved through the SN2ed plan slowly since October.
What finals do you have?
I'm taking the MCAT before orgo also! I feel like MCAT orgo is much more doable than actual organic chemistry for classes. The reactions are easy enough to understand if you get a feel for the mechanisms and spend some time committing the name reactions to memory. And do practice problems. Lots and lots of practice problems.
And wow! Congrats on the high baseline-- you'll do amazing.
Haha I just have the classic premed finals-- I'm a bit stressed about physics, but the rest should be fine
just registered a few mins ago for Jan 10. cost me $275 but boy I'm glad I found a seat. Time to slay this test and show no mercy
Welcome!
Portugal.
I am also retaking AAMC and Kaplan full lengths b/c I ran out of tests. I am also working on my test taking strategy rather than content!
My plan is to focus on doing timed Q's, Q's and Q's. If its something, I don't know then I write it on my list of cards. I plan on taking AAMC 8,9,10,11 and Kaplan 1-5. Between those tests, I plan on taking Kaplan PS, BS and V ST. I am currently in the process of completing the AAMC SAP, which I am doing in timed 20 min chunks (psg+psg+discretes) for the sciences and 17 min chunks (2 psgs) for Verbal.What's your plan for "working on test taking strategy?"
I don't have them, just doing AAMC FLs and maybe the SAs if I can fit them in somewhere. TBR's website looks like it hasn't changed since the MCAT first came out ha. The only place I found their exams online was at https://www.scribd.com/randomscribduser for $20 a pop. Looks kind of shady though, anyone can upload to scribd and charge a fee so could be a scam.Do you know if the BR full lengths can be found online? How did you get your hands on those full lengths? Do you have to buy the book? I have the AAMC and Kaplan full lengths that I have already taken. Getting my hands on some new tests would be ideal.
Anyone know...if I should do the SAs timed or untimed? Please lemme know ASAP. thank you.
I did all the PS/BS timed at 8min per passage. I do not think this really helped though. If I could do it again, I would just have done them untimed to ensure correct thought processes are being utilized. I have found that redoing sections of the aamc practice tests is by far the best strategy to work on timing and answering questions under pressure. Let us know your % correct on the SAs. Also, for the VR SA, if I could do those again, I would split it into three, one hour, seven passage exams. The SAs increase in difficulty from beginning to end so your first VR test will likely be higher than your last. Hope that helps!
Alright! I'll let you know. I am behind today...still lounging around....lol ahaha. Need to get it together!!!!
For me doing the practice tests before totally finishing with content review was a huge motivator. Try to take an aamc test to see where you are at, if you do poorly, you will have no trouble kicking it into high gear for the next month!
Just finished with AAMC 4.
Picked up a 13/13/13 for a composite of 39. Would be so amazing to get anything near that on the tenth!
I am just happy to see a fair improvement from my baseline.
Nice! So play more WoW and score goes up? ;>Just finished with AAMC 4. Picked up a 13/13/13 for a composite of 39. Would be so amazing to get anything near that on the tenth! I am just happy to see a fair improvement from my baseline.
AAMC3 is much easier than the later practice tests, and will be easier then your real exam.
What's false:
You need to be able to score at least 12s on the AAMC3 to even think about getting 10s or higher on the real thing. This is so off, it's not even funny. You have like 4.5 months to study. In that time you can definitely start getting 35+ on the later practice exams, and 35+ on the real thing.
FACT#1:
I scored a 33 on AAMC3 at about the same point in my studying that you were. (I think it was 10PS 12VR 11BS)
FACT#2:
I got a 40 on the real thing. (15PS 11VR 14BS)
Just that they said #3 was easier but improved by 7 points on the actual test. That thread has some good little bits of info scattered throughout.
@GCSDOC Is it the sciences that you need to work on the most?
Was thinking the exact same thing yesterday! I way overhyped this thing. Not saying it's easy but around half the questions I got wrong on #3 were due to overthinking and making the problem more difficult than it actually was.So far I have thoroughly reviewed aamc 3, 4, and 7. I agree with you in that the questions in the sciences were relatively straight forward, this completely surprised me and is a great reason how me overthinking and mentally considering this mcat to be way harder than it actually is has really affected my score. I need to transition my thought process to realize that this is just a test and that it isn't has "tricky" as I'm making it seem.